RAIN WATER HARVESTING |
| Film on rainwater harvesting gets
award The Capital`s campaign for rainwater harvesting may have a long way to go but here is a public service film on the subject that seems to be earning worldwide recognition. Produced by the Centre for Science and Environment, the film on rainwater harvesting has recently received a nomination at Earth Vision -- the 13th Tokyo Global Environmental Film Festival 2004.The 90-second film, created by Leapfrog, has been directed by actress Nandita Das, scripted by Soumya Sen and shot by cinematographer Ravi K. Chandra. The film was also one of the four finalists in the Campaign Category of the prestigious Green Oscars. It also won the Best Documentary Award on the special theme of "Water for Life`` at the Vatavaran film festival organised annually by the Centre for Media Studies. "It was an honour to have made it to the list of finalists at the Green Oscars. It was an acknowledgement of quality. And this nomination has come as a further valediction of that,`` said Mr. Sen. |
| The Hindu, New Delhi, Dec. 12, 2004, Page No. 4 & www.hinduonnet.com |
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| Rainwater harvest projects launched Two projects with an annual potential to harvest more than 75,000 litres of rainwater were launched today in Pockets C-8 and C-9 of Vasant Kunj.The rainwater harvesting projects have been set up by Coca Cola in association with Delhi Government’s Bhagidari Cell, Central Ground Water Board, the Army Welfare Education Society and the Resident Welfare Associations. The projects would benefit over 1,600 families. On the occasion, MLA Vijay Lochav said that the projects would help improve the water situation in the area. In the past, Coca Cola has set up such projects in Greater Kailash, Tihar Jail, Neeti Bagh and Delhi Police Public School. |
| The Tribune, New Delhi, Dec. 01, 2004, Page No. 3 |
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| National Water Policy to be reviewed The water Resources Minister, Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi said he would review the National Water Policy to give it ‘more death ‘. He believes the policy-formulated in 2002- lacks a ‘visionary approach and has left unaddressed some issues such as puplic private partnership , water conservation and inbuilt mechanism for rainwater harvesting by industry . He will soon consult the Prime Minister , Manmohan Singh, in this regard. |
| The Hindu, New Delhi, Nov. 22, 2004, Page No. 11 & www.hinduonnet.com |
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| Gujarat watershed development The Government of Gujarat would chart out an action plan to make watershed development programme a movement to be taken to the common man. "An action plan will be prepared so that the watershed development activity does not remain limited to a few village but help all," the Agriculture and Water Conservation Minister, Mr Balasaheb Thorat, told. |
| Business Line, New Delhi, Nov. 22, 2004, Page No. 13 |
| Water harvesting systems in new
houses planned Water harvesting systems will be made compulsory in new houses being constructed in Punjab. The Department of Soil Conservation has decided to write to PUDA, municipal councils and corporations against approving maps of houses that do not have any provision for rain water harvesting. Mr Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture and Cooperatives, said.He said the water level in Punjab was going down 30 to 100 cm every year. If the situation continued, there would be a severe shortage of drinking water in the state after 15 to 20 years. |
| The Tribune, New Delhi, Nov. 21, 2004, Page No. 5 |
| Centre for pvt sector role in water
mgmt Setting up of a special cell for speedy clearance of water projects, making rainwater harvesting mandatory prior to environmental clearance, persuading states to contribute their share and central water management schemes are the main planks of the Union water resources ministry’s priority in the next financial year. Inaugurating the Water Summit-2004, organised jointly by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) and the government in New Delhi, Union water resources minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, however, said, “All issues related to private sector participation need to be addressed with due consideration to the aspiration and sentiments of the people. |
| The Financial Express, New Delhi, 8, Nov. 20, 2004, Page No. 8 |
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| Keep water dacoits at bay It was a face off between a water conservationist and a cola giant at a seminar held to discuss the issue of water conservation, Megasaysay awardee Rajendra Simgh who has done pioneering work in rainwater harvesting and watershed development in Rajasthan just could n’t think of sharing the same platform with soft drink executives whom he called “water dacoits”. |
| The Statesman, New Delhi, Nov. 20, 2004, Page No. 1 |
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| People`s participation in water
conservation to be promoted The Minister for Water Resources, Priyaranjan Dasmunshi, today announced the setting up of an advisory council, headed by the Minister of State, Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav, for the development of water resources with the participation of the people. The Ministry has proposed a scheme for artificial recharge of ground water at an estimated cost of Rs. 175 crores. Mr. Dasmunshi expressed concern at the depleting ground water level in Delhi and other parts of the country. "Many suggestions have been received from the public with regard to the development of the water resources sector which will be considered by the Ministry. There is an urgent need to bridge the gap between utilisable water and the anticipated water demand," he said. |
| The Hindu, New Delhi, Nov. 20, 2004, Page No. 13 & www.hinduonnet.com |
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| Find solutions for water crisis Young scientists were called upon to find out solutions to the problem of drinking water in Arunachal Pradesh, which records one of the highest rainfall in the country, by speakers at a State-level Children`s Science Congress in Itanagar on Thursday. |
| Business Line, New Delhi, Nov. 19, 2004, Page No. 17 |
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| Proper RWH will improve water
table’ A case study of effective RWH at a talk organized by the institution of Engineers, Lakshmanaswany said that rain water run off could be captured in sumps or used to recharge the ground water table. An apartment complex with 108 flatsin Golden George Nagar , Magopair, had been able to save about 1,000 litres a day during the rainy season, he added. |
| The New Indian Express, Chennai, 4spl., Nov. 18, 2004 |
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| Harvesting scheme for SC farmers The regional office of Nabard will be implementing the centrally-sponsored water harvesting scheme for the Scheduled Caste farmers with credit linked subsidy assistance in 2,000 units in Punjab and 1,500 units in Haryana. An investment of Rs 7 crore is to be made during a period of three years, of which Rs 3.50 crore will be the subsidy, says an official release. |
| The Tribune, New Delhi, Nov. 11, 2004, Page No. 8 |
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| Extra charges for ground water Even as the Delhi Jal Board fails to provide regular supply of drinking water to number of colonies in the city, the government has proposed to levy charges on “extraction of ground water”.Incidentally the colonies which are not getting supply water from the DJB generally depend on ground water. The Delhi Cabinet has already accepted the proposal to levy charges for extraction of ground water. |
| The Asian Age, New Delhi, Nov. 11, 2004, Page No. 13 |
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| DJB to try Rajasthan model If you find water too expensive for washing cars and gardening, then there is a solution from the skies. The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has learnt about a technique, which uses rainwater stored in tanks. Following a suggestion from Lt. Governor B.L. Joshi, the DJB sent a team to Rajasthan to study how villages store rainwater in tankaas (underground tanks made of stone and lime) and use it for months. Rainwater harvesting sends water to aquifers for recharging. "Water in aquifers has be pumped out through tube-wells, which entails a charge. But rainwater in tanks can be used for free," said DJB chief Rakesh Mohan. The board will adopt the tankaa technique at all its treatment plants and then supply the rainwater to employees who live in flats nearby. |
| The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, Nov. 11, 2004, Page No. 4 |
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| DDA tapping rain water Delhi Development Authority has for the first time made provisions for the rain water harvesting along the road linking National Highway No 8 to Dwarka via the southern boundary of the Indira Gandhi Airport . A step that could go a long way in recharging the receding ground water level in the city. |
| The Statesman, New Delhi, Nov. 08, 2004, Page No. 4 |
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| 2 yrs on, govt trickle puts off rain
harvesting plants Delhi Government has been wanting to harvest rainwater for the past two years. It has even offered upto Rs 50,000 for setting up such plants but in the past two years, only 48 people have managed to get this money. Besides, there are only seven executive engineers on the job in the past two years. The slow progress of scheme, touted as Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit’s pet, is evident from the situation at the special cell in Varunalaya, the office of the Delhi Jal Board. The design for the rain water harvesting plants has also been a stumbling block. Jal Board cell insists that the design be from the Central Ground Water Board. These designs cost a minimum of Rs 50,000. Critics of the designs include NGO Centre for Science and Environment, which says designs should match requirements and costs should be flexible. CSE expert Salahuddin says none of the applicants who took the designs from CSE have got approval. ‘‘Why should people go for expensive set up when a cheaper and more workable one is there,’’ he says. |
| The Indian Express, New Delhi, 3supp, Nov. 04, 2004 |
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| Now, roads will harvest water City roads may soon harvest rainwater, besides catering to motorists. V.K. Jain of Tapas, on whose petition the High Court made rain water harvesting mandatory in Delhi, said the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has filed an affidavit that roads could also harvest rain water like flyovers. "The Delhi government has sent a letter saying that wherever technically feasible, the DDA, MCD and PWD will get the design from the CGWB and set up acquifers along roads," Jain said. |
| The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, Oct. 29, 2004, Page No. 2 |
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| Watershed project bags award Rajasthan has bagged the prestigious India Tech Excellence Award-2004 for successful implementation of a watershed project in Mangaliawas village of Ajmer district. The project has been hailed as an example of sustainable development based on the watershed approach and community participation. The Minister of State for Energy, Gajendra Singh, will receive the award on behalf of the State during the 6th International Infrastructure Business Summit and Expo-2004 in Mumbai shortly. The award is given every year by Mumbai-based India Tech Foundation for excellence in the infrastructure sector to the best performing State. |
| The Hindu, New Delhi, Oct. 29, 2004, Page No. 5 & www.hinduonnet.com |
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| Nod to recharging of ground water
project The Haryana Government has approved a project for artificial recharging of ground water in five districts — Kurukshetra, Karnal, Kaithal, Ambala and Panipat — which fall in a sweet water zone. The total expenditure on the project has been estimated at Rs 2.85 crore. A senior official of the Irrigation Department said the actual sites for the construction of artificial recharge structures would be identified in Beneton, nullah, Nissing drain, Indri Drain, Kanthala supply channels, Amin drain, Kaithal Drain, Pundri drain Nos. I and II, Saraswati canal and drains by constructing humps, if required. As the recharge structures would be constructed on the bed of drains having silted discharge, provision of filter would be kept to make water free from silt to avoid clogging of aquifers.A total of 273 structures would be constructed under the project having a maximum of 120 structures in Kaithal district, 69 in Kurukshetra, 43 in Karnal, 24 in Panipat and 17 in Ambala. |
| The Tribune, New Delhi, Oct. 28, 2004, Page No. 14 |
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| Drops of rain, shower of success At a time when most people were looking at the heavens despairing over the dark monsoon clouds that would,’t go awa, the Shreenitas, Moumitas and Hiranmouyees of Future Foundation School were welcoming rain. They were looking forward to shower so that they could demonstrate hands on the newly installed rainwater harvesting mechanism on their school premises near Tollygunge, the first of its kind in any school in Calcutta. |
| The Telegraph, Calcutta, Oct. 26, 2004, Page No. 24 |
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| IBRD-aided watershed project in
Uttaranchal The Uttaranchal Chief Minister, Mr Narayan Dutt Tiwari, launched the World Bank-aided “Uttaranchal Decentralised Watershed Development Project” in Dehradun. A strategy has been evolved for the development of watershed areas and different organisations are being linked for this purpose. Priority has been given to the water-shed development programmes and an independent Watershed Management Directorate has been established in the state. |
| Business Line, New Delhi, Oct. 15, 2004, Page No. 19 |
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| Importance of rainwater harvesting
underlined An inter-school debate on rainwater harvesting with the objective of creating awareness among school children on the importance of water management through rainwater harvesting was organised recently by the Association of British Scholars (ABS), Guwahati Chapter, informs a press release. Speaking on the occasion, A K Baruwa, director of Assam Science Technology and Environment Council, said that ‘compulsory rainwater harvesting in urban areas will supplement the municipal water supply network and help partly meet the ever increasing demand for water.’ |
| The Assam Tribune, Guwahati, Oct. 14, 2004, Page No. 5 |
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| Harvested rain water: Waste side
story Roof water harvesting is being hailed by the authorities as the new mantra to conserve water in Delhi. However, experts say this is of little help, considering much of the water thus conserved ultimately goes waste. The civic authorities need to first segregate sewage lines from storm water drains. Rainwater harvested from rooftops is discharged into storm water drains, which merge with sewer lines in most colonies. The harvested water ends up as sewage in gutters and does not contribute towards increasing the water table level. |
| The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, Oct. 11, 2004, Page No. 3 |
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| “Make Rainwater Harvesting a
Mission” “All people – individuals households, farmers and industrialists – from urban and rural communities – must become involved in water harvesting programmes to ensure their success,” said Salauddin Saifi of the Centre for Science and Environment, during a visit in Dehradun recently. He said that people must make arrangements to ‘harvest’ the rainfall for their own needs, and community (or government) must channelise the rest for recharging of groundwater for needs of other areas. |
| Garhwal Post, Dehradun, Oct. 10, 2004, Page No. 2 |
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| Kudmbasree Mission lends a helping
hand District Kudmbasree Mission has mooted a proposal to construct rainwater harvesting structures in select drought-prone areas in all the 88 panchayats in Kochi district in Kerala. Two structures will be set up in each panchayat and the panchayat officials have to identify the places where these structures will be kept. |
| The New Indian Express, Kochi, 3supp, Oct. 07, 2004 |
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| US to funds rain harvesting in
Bengal districts Two districts in West Bengal that receive good rainfall but have water shortage during summer will have their worries resolved by a rainwater harvesting project funded by the US. A model project on rainwater harvesting funded by the US consulate here and supported by the US-AEP office is scheduled for inauguration in Purulia district’s Bagmundi town. The project, which will also run in Birbhum district’s Suri, is being implemented by the city-based Institute of Wetland Management and Ecological Design (IWMED). In both districts, availability of water for drinking and sanitation during the dry season is a major problem. |
| The Economic Times, New Delhi, Oct. 07, 2004, Page No. 3 |
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| Failing to harvest rain Rainwater Harvesting has become a statement of fashion these days in the rainstarved national capital, where the builders use it as a catchword to sell their multi-storied apartments. Yet, government inadequacies have turned these expensive harvesting plants into virtual white elephants. Sunita Narain of a leading Delhi-based NGO, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), lamented: “While evolving these grand schemes, the government has to take utmost care of the basic rudimentary infrastructure that is required to ensure the monsoon showers do not go waste.” |
| Sahara Time, New Delhi, Sept. 25, 2004, Page No. 4 |
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| Harvesting precious rain Collection and storing of surface run-off water in a suitable structure constructed in the field is known as water harvesting. Use of rain water collected in the natural ponds and surface depressions for agricultural purposes is an age old practice in our country and many natural ponds in southern parts of India are evidences for it. The tropical climate characterised by high intensity, heavy rainfall and the topographic features viz, undulates, hillocks, rugged terrains and natural vallies, collectively pave the way for excessive run-off leaving the soil profile unsaturated. They are conducive for the generation of run-off and its harvesting in dry land areas of the country. |
| Deccan Herald, Bangalore, Sept. 20, 2004 |
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| Rainwater to the rescue of residents For the hundreds of parched residents of the posh Westend Colony in south Delhi, rainwater has actually come in as a boon. According to residents, the colony has successfully launched and implemented a major rainwater harvesting project in the area. They claim, the sporadic monsoon so far has already managed to raise the water levels by over 3 feet, thanks to the 19 recharge structures placed at strategic locations around the colony. Annually, about 4,96,00,000 litres of rainwater can be harvested from our colony. These figures have been derived at after a study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)," said Poonam Bisht, convenor of the rainwater harvesting project in the Westend residents` welfare association (RWA). |
| The Times of India, New Delhi, Sept. 16, 2004 |
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| Kudumbasree plans to set up
rainwater harvesting demonstration structures The district Kudumbasree Mission will set up largescale rainwater harvesting demonstration structures at 45 sites identified as drought-prone areas in the district. The project is being implemented as part of the rainwater harvesting campaign launched by Jalanidhi, a World Bank-aided project of the Government of Kerala. |
| The New Indian Express, Kochi, 3supp, Sept. 15, 2004 |
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| DJB gives grant-in-aid for rain
harvesting In a step towards encouraging Rainwater Harvesting, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has provided Grant-in-aid scheme for the project to some Resident`s Welfare Association and Group Housing Societies of the Capital. Under the scheme, financial assistance up to a maximum of 50 percent of the total cost of the work or Rs 50,000 whichever is less has been made admissible. Till date the scheme was extended to the areas under South and South West districts. The benefit of the scheme have been extended to be used for Private /Recognised /Government schools, Industrial building, Hospitals, Charitable buildings etc. |
| The Pioneer, New Delhi, Sept. 13, 2004 |
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| Steps mooted to harvest run-off
stormwater When the South West monsoon clouds sets in over Chennai large quantities of rain water that could be harnessed will be discharged into the sea through stormwater drains that have now become sewers. However, activists are keen on promotion means to harvest this precious water. Urging the Chennai Corporation to take steps to install Rain water Harvesting structures in public places, the Rain Centre- an institution promoting water conservation has said that urban run off stormwater was a precious resources that had to be harvested. |
| The Indian Express, Chennai, Sept. 13, 2004 |
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| Govt plans to expand water
harvesting The Department of Water Resources has proposed to expand its post-monsoon water harvesting programme in Ugum-Sanguem basin, in Goa. The tributaries of Zuari and Mandovi river basins to cater to domestic and industrial water requirements. The programme also intends to recharge water table surrounding the water source for irrigation purpose. |
| Herald, Panjim, Sept. 09, 2004 |
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| Govt’s rainwater harvesting
scheme widened The Delhi government has widened its scheme of providing aid for the installation of rainwater harvesting structures. Launched last January, the scheme provides 50 per cent funding of the total expenditure — to a maximum of Rs 50,000. So far, it was restricted to registered societies in south and southwest Delhi. Now, all schools, industries, hospitals, charitable institutions and NGO buildings can avail of this one-time grant if they are located in a place where rainwater harvesting can be done (i.e, where the water table is over eight-metre-deep). |
| The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, Sept. 09, 2004 |
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| DDA for water harvesting in Dwarka To make up for the shortage of water in Dwarka, the Delhi Development Authority has decided to take on an extensive water-harvesting project in the area. This is the first environment project undertaken by the engineering department of the DDA. The DDA constructed water-harvesting systems in 11 DDA housing colonies in Dwarka, just before the advent of the monsoon. Engineering department officials say the main idea is to not only be able to increase the groundwater level in the area but also to look for means and ways by which the water scarcity faced by the residents can be resolved. |
| The Indian Express, New Delhi, Sept. 07, 2004 |
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| Stress laid on need of RWH In order to create awareness on rainwater harvesting (RWH) techniques and its need, a workshop was organised by the Uttar Pradesh Housing and Development Board in which principals and managers of 29 schools were given a chance to interact with experts in the field and were urged to implement it in their school premises. |
| The Pioneer, Lucknow, Sept. 01, 2004 |
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Policy on mandatory
groundwater recharge for industries soon |
| Business Line, New Delhi, August 28, 2004 |
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| Harvesting for the future? For the first time Keralites are trying to understand and respect the value of water, of each precious drop. Palakkad is now trying out many methods of harvesting rainwater and implementing better management of watersheds. People, especially farmers, are beginning to understand the need to collect and conserve water. "We talk to local people and make them understand the need for collective action to conserve water. Committees or beneficiary groups are formed and then propose plans for their area," says Zeena, a social worker with "Mythri", an NGO working in the area. "Based on people`s proposals, a feasibility study is conducted and plans are chalked out," explains Sunil, a civil engineer working with the same NGO. The unique nature of this new Palakkad experiment is that no plan is forced on beneficiaries. Once the village/ward level groups are formed, detailing of the project is done. Usually the local people put in 10 per cent of the total expenditure. "The beneficiary input can be in the form of money, materials or work," says Zeena. The rainwater harvesting method being implemented at Bhagyam`s village is roof style water harvesting. |
| The Hindu, New Delhi, August 29, 2004 |
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| Draw water from rock Kerala is rich in water resources with ponds, lakes, tanks and wells. However, Kasargod district at the northern tip of Kerala cannot depend directly on surface water. Human ingenuity, though, usually finds a way around natural obstacles: Kasaragod has a unique centuries-old water harvesting tradition in form of the surangam; it`s a time-tested, ecologically friendly method that is still going strong. Surangams, or tunnels, are built through the numerous hillocks in the area. These red hard laterite formations have water content in them, which these tunnels tap. |
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HC orders water
harvesting for public buildings |
| The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, August 26, 2004, Page No. 5 |
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| Quality stands next to quantity By Santanu Bose According to a report by TERI, the average consumption in Delhi is estimated at 240 litres per capita per day (lpcd), which is the highest in the country. The water demand is increasing as the city attracts more than four lakh entrants each year. Both quality and availability is deteriorating because of excessive withdrawal of the water below surface. The more we depend on ground the more the quality goes down. But the city could easily utilise various baolis (wells) to meet their water requirement. "No attempt was made to clean up the channels through which rainwater flowed into the baoli. There is no proper maintenance. These baolis could help meet city's water crisis," says Suneeta Narain of centre for Science and Environment. |
| The Pioneer, New Delhi, August 17, 2003, Page 5supp |
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Pouring excuses, dying
plans |
| The Pioneer, New Delhi, August 01, 2003, Page 1 supp |
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| Dams, Water Resources & Traditional Water Harvesting Systems Sheila Dikshit: Can the rains end her reign? The state BJP is less of a threat, but what has brought the reasonably popular state government to its knees is the heavy monsoon. For parts, of Delhi are on the verge of collapse. The congress had put its faith in water harvesting projects. The chief minister, Sheila Dikshit, has repeatedly talked about the issue. "For almost a year now state government agencies have been chanting of mantra of rainwater harvesting. A plethora of by-laws and notifications have been created. Financial incentives have been announced and promises of technical assistance have been made. But while evolving these grand schemes, the government has forgotten to take care of the basic, rudimentary infrastructure that is required to ensure that the monsoon showers do not go waste," said Sunita Narain, director, Centre for Science and Environment. |
| The Statesman, New Delhi, July 31, 2003 |
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| RWH….soon a reality With the Government's ordinance making rainwater harvesting mandatory in buildings, old or new before August 31, Chennaiites can approach several agencies who are involved in installing the structures. Mandavelipakkam's III Trust Link Street is distinct from others with its model house on RWH called Rain Centre. This 'home', featuring poster panels and providing the venue for screening of RWH films, has a sump, a loft tank for immediate use and an open well for recharging. The Rain Centre became a reality thanks to the combined efforts of the Akash Ganga Trust, Centre for Science and Environment, Chennai Corporation, CMWSSB and the TWAD Board. |
| The Hindu, Chennai, July 28, 2003 |
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| Dams, Water Resources & Traditional
Water Harvesting Systems Rainwater harvesting on a new footing This season Jamia Hamdard University (Tughlakabad), Panchsheel Park Colony (Panchsheel Park), Shri Ram School (Vasant Vihar), Janki Devi Memorial College (Rajinder Nagar) and Mira Model School (Janakpuri) in Delhi are busy reaping the benefits of a new rainwater harvesting programme introduced by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a New Delhi based non-government organisation Part of its community based rainwater harvesting programme “Making Water Everybody’s Business”, the NGO, worried about the fast depleting ground water status of these areas, has adopted the five new centres for their project this year. |
| The Hindu, New Delhi, July 20, 2003 |
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| A modern tragedy Written by Sunita Narain Every year we face acute water shortage, yet we do nothing to conserve rain water. Till a few days ago, most parts of India reeled under drought. Cities thirsted for water. The country seemed to await the first drop of rain to hit its baked earth. It has ruined. And now the same cities are full of it. Flooded, life disrupted. Dirty and unhealthy, as rainwater mixed with sewage water flows through crowded urban habitats. |
| Business Standard, New Delhi, July 22, 2003 |
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The Rain Centre |
| The Kashmir Times, Jammu, June 24, 2003 |
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Water crisis stalks
the land of Ganges |
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| By K Sunil Thomas Recycling children It is that time of the year again when water shortage assumes megaproportions in the city. The Delhi government’s favourite solution to the water crisis is rainwater harvesting. The Centre for Science and Environment, the NGO that brought out the report that most mineral water brands do not maintain standards, too, has an advertising campaign alogn these lines. The newly-opened designer flyover at the AIIMS crossing also has provisions for rainwater harvesting in its landscaped portion. |
| The Week, Kochi, June 01, 2003, Page 40 |
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Days of easy water are over |
| Newstime Hyderabad, June 1, 2003 |
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| Re-leaf from water scarcity By Sumati Mehrishi While other residential blocks set their clocks with the arrival of MCD water tankers every morning, residents of C-3 Vasant Kunj venture out to some rarely visited green spots to fetch some broad, sturdy leaves. Not for a medicinal bath or extra flavour in food. Leaves in this water-parched area are being used to serve food; thus saving litres of water that would be wasted washing utensils. Residents are gearing up to face a worse water supply scenario next month. Though they are doing well in their save-water endeavour, housewives still look forward to some technical guidance on wasting minimum water in kitchens. Sumita Das Gupta, coordinator (natural resource management at the Centre for Science and Environment), supports this move. Her colleague Eklavya Prasad stresses the need for colonies like Jor Bagh "ethically" cutting down on their "unreasonably" high water consumption. |
| The Pioneer, New Delhi, May 15, 2003 |
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| Metrowater’s campaign to save every raindrop
With rainwater harvesting becoming a buzzword, Chennaiites need to exercise caution while choosing a builder or a contractor, who can install the system best suited to the building at the most economical rates. It is here that the Metrowater Board’s rainwater harvesting cell and the recently opened ‘Rain Centre’ in Anna Nagar can help. In August 2002, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa inaugurated in Chennai the first ever 'rain centre' in the country. The Metrowater Board, a city based water conservation NGO Akash Ganga and a New Delhi based NGO Centre for Science and Environment came together to evolve this Centre. |
| The New Indian Express, Chennai, May 7, 2003 |
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| Awareness drive on Ecosan project in State India has been identified as a target area for the implementation of `Ecosan' (ecological sanitation) programme by the second international symposium on ecological sanitation held at the Lubeck city in Germany last week. The symposium was organised jointly by the German Government and International Water Association. More than 350 experts attended it from 59 countries. The Ecosan project would be implemented in the State in collaboration with the local authorities. As a first step, awareness programmes at the grass-root level would be held. Ecosan is an alternative approach that avoids the disadvantages of conventional wastewater management systems. Conventional forms of waste water management and sanitation are facing increasing criticism for ecological and economic reasons. The urgency of implementing the Ecosan project in India was felt as a large section of the population used to defecate in the open. The Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment is the resource centre to implement the project. |
| The New Indian Express, Kochi, April 24, 2003 |
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| Nandita now an ad-director with a social cause After imrinting Bollywood and Indian theatre with her talent, dusky beauty Nandita Das has turned an ad-director with a social cause, beginning with a 90-second spot on rainwater harvesting. The spot has been done for the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the NGO which hit the headlines with its startling study on the presence of pesticides in bottled water. |
| The Kashmir Times, Jammu, April 23, 2003 |
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| Green drive marks earth day A galaxy of corporate people, foreign dignitaries, bureaucrats, school children and concerned citizens turned up at Nehru Place Greens in New Delhi to water the withering trees which had been left uncared for by Delhi Development Authority. The people's initiatives was also a sort of "civil moment" to step in where the Government agencies fail to perform their duty. Glad at the initiative being a "grand success", the Chief Executive Officer of PBC, Kamal Meattle, said the coming in of a large number of concerned citizens was a positive sign. Many of those who turned up had planted trees in the greens and had come to water them. These concerned "parents" included the likes of Lady Catherine Young, wife of the British High Commissioner in New Delhi, Sir Rob Young; Sunita Narain, Director of the Centre for Science and Environment; former Lieutenant- Governor of Delhi, Tejender Khanna; Counsellor of the U.S. Embassy, Frank Foser; and president of the Kitchen Garden Association, Sarla Bhargava. |
| The Hindu, New Delhi, April 23, 2003 |
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| Catching raindrops and harvesting hope On Earth Day 2003 - dedicated to the growing crisis of freshwater in the world - the Delhi-based NGO, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), previewed its powerful and evocative public service advertisement reminding people of the enormous potential of harvesting each raindrop. In an attempt to inform people about how to harvest rain and provide a toolkit of the practice it also launched a new and comprehensive website, www.rainwaterharvesting.org. Creating water literacy is the key to change, believes CSE. Noted film actress Nandita Das has joined hands in creating this water literacy movement. She and Soumya Sen, creative director of O&M, have directed the 90-second public service advertisement to promote rainwater harvesting as the lesson from the past, which provides us the solution for the future. Made in English and Hindi (it will be available in other Indian languages too), the advertisement has been shot by Ravi K. Chandran with the same finesse he displayed in "Dil Chahta Hai". |
| The Tribune, New Delhi, April 23, 2003 |
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| Some brand new thoughts for a rainy day Next time you venture out in the rain, do some lateral thinking and carry an "inverted umbrella" along for a change. You can catch all those precious drops of falling rain and do your little bit to fight water scarcity at home. Sounds exaggerated! Well, this is the spirit of a new public service advertisement campaign launched by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in New Delhi to enhance public awareness about the importance of rainwater harvesting. Three spots of 90, 40 and 10 seconds have been directed by noted film actress Nandita Das and her husband Soumya Sen, ad-maker and creative director of O&M. |
| The Hindu, New Delhi, April 23, 2003 |
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| 'Governance vital in water-related issues'
The importance of governance in water related issues was among the points raised by participants at a media workshop in Chennai. A. Vaidyanathan, Professor Emeritus of the Madras Institute of Development Studies said mis-governance of the water sector had gone unnoticed though people suffered because of it. Sumita Dasgupta of the New Delhi based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said rainwater harvesting made a difference in drought prone parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan. |
| The Hindu, Chennai, April 18, 2003 |
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| Water - pay the attention it demands By Ch. Prashanth Reddy The year 2003 should be the starting point of stirring a debate on water- related issues just like 1991 became the starting point of a debate on economic policies, Mr Suresh Prabhu, Chairman of the Task Force on Interlinking of Rivers, said here while addressing a media workshop on `Jal Swaraj: Facing the Water Emergency'. The workshop was organised by The Hindu Media Resource Centre for Sustainable Development of M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). Ms Sumita Dasgupta of the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment said that the country had not touched the core problems of drought and added that rainwater harvesting had made a significant difference in the drought-prone areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan. |
| Business Line, April 19, 2003 |
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| KVs to start harvesting rain water: The Central Government-run Kendriya Vidyalayas' (KVs) will soon be equipped with rainwater harvesting systems. The Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), an autonomous body consisting of all KV's, has decided to take up the matter with the member schools. The project has already been initiated in some Kendriya Vidyalayas in Delhi. One of these schools, Kendriya Vidyalaya No.4, Delhi Cantonment with NGO Citizenship Development Society, recently organised a conference wherein technical presentations for the implementation of the project were made by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), another NGO. |
| The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, February 18, 2003 |
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| Dams, Water Resources and Traditional Water
Harvesting Systems The smaller, the better Michael Evenari, an Israeli scientist, was intrigued when he saw ancient towns in the middle of the Negev desert which gets only about 100 mm of rain every year. Not only did they have their own drinking water systems, but surplus for agriculture too! His research on this led to a pathbreaking finding, that small catchments manage to hold more water than larger ones. The late Anil Agarwal of the Centre for Science and Environment calculated that on average each Indian village can harvest about 3.75 billion litres of water every year! This can not only cater to all the drinking water needs of the human and cattle population, but also provide for some irrigation. |
| The Hindu, New Delhi, February 02, 03 |
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| UGC asks universities to harvest water, promises aid
Buoyed by the success of rain water harvesting in Delhi, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked all universities to harvest rainwater. For this purpoe, UGC will also consider giving financial assistance to the universities. Jamia Hamdard University has also benefited from harvesting. According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), whch drew plans for the university, the pre-monsoon water table was 45 metres below ground level (mbgl) last year. Despite poor rains, the level went up to 40 mbgl after the monsoon. Even the quality of water had improved. |
| The Times of India New delhi January 27, 2003 |
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| Dams Water Resources and Traditional Water
Harvesting Systems Water harvesting projects at Tihar In collaboration with the multinational soft drink giant, Coca Cola, and the Delhi government three large rainwater harvesting projects have been launched by the Director General, Prisons at Tihar Jail in Delhi. The Director General of Prisons, Ajay Agarwal, inaugurated the water harvesting project at Central Jail no.4. This was followed by a talk on the importance of water harvesting by the expert from Centre for Science and Environment, Aeklavaya. |
| The Hindu, New Delhi December 26, 2002 |
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| Rainwater harvesting in Tihar: Tihar's Jail Number 4 inaugurated its rainwater harvesting system this morning. Though most of Delhi faces water shortage in, for Tihar jail it is a daily struggle.They still hire water tankers for their daily water requirements.Speaking at the inauguration, Director General(Prisons) Ajay Agarwal said that the Centre for Science and Environment(CSE) gave the technical expertise. |
| The Indian Express, New Delhi, December 24, 2002 |
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| Looking ahead by Amit Kr Chanda: Viewing the environmental initiatives of "The Shri Ram School(SRS), Vasant Vihar' in areas like 'Say No To Polythene Bags', 'Anti-cracker Campaign' and 'Rain Water Harvesting; the Delhi Government recently nominated it as a 'Lead Scholl' to disseminate awarenwss about environment to 23 government and non-government schools.In this contextr, the SRS organised its first 'Eco-Meet 2002-03' on December 17 at the school's premises to discuss different issues facing the environment.R K Srinivasan of Centre for Science and Environment spoke on water harvesting and its importance. |
| The Times of India, New Delhi, December 23, 2002 |
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| Fresh deadline, drilling norm for water harvesting Ending months of confusion, the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) again extended the deadline for installing water harvesting structures to March 31, 2003. There were also complaints of the police and local authorities fleecing people before drilling was allowed. Sumita Dasgupta of the Centre for Science and Environment said :'The ban on drilling was being violated anyway. This will just legalise what was happening anyway. |
| The Times of India - Delhi - November 16, 2002 |
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| Water, water wasted everywhere by Divya
Vasisht: Not a drop to drink. If most parts of the capital see homes with taps running dry for the better part of the day, it's not just because Delhi's groundwater table is moving deeper and deeper with each passing day. It is also because there is no diluting the fact that this city wastes the liquid of life.According to Eklavya Prasad, deputy coordinator at the Centre for Science and Environment's natural resources unit, "For an average Delhi family, the amount of water used for domestic purposes on a daily basis is around 1,600 litres, of which 700 litres is used for bathing, 300 litres for personal clothing, 160 litres for flushing, 120 litres for watering plants, 200 litres for washing cars and 120 for the washing machine. |
| The Times of India, New Delhi, October 28, 2002 |
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| Water, water wasted everywhere Not a drop to drink. If most parts of Delhi see homes with taps running dry for the better part of the days, it's not just because Delhi's groundwater table is moving deeper and deeper with each passing day. It is also because there is no diluting the fact that this city wastes the liquid of life. According to Eklavya Prasad, deputy coordinator at the Centre for Science and Environment's natural resources unit,'For an average Delhi family, the amount of water used for domestic purposes on a daily basis is around 1600 litres, of which 700 litres is used for bathing, 300 litres for personal clothing, 160 litres for flushing, 120 litres for watering plants, 200 litres for washing cars and 120 for the washing machine. |
| The Times of India - Delhi - October 28, 2002 |
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| Harvesting date goes past again With the deadline for installing harvesting structures in buildings with an area over 100 square metres in south and southwest Delhi, Gurgaon and Faridabad expiring on September 30, the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), it appears, is night has passed, it has still not taken any decision on whether to extend the deadline or let it lapse. "CGWB has been ineffective in implementing its deadline schedule. They have not been able to spread awareness on the issue either", Sumita Das gupta of the Centre for Science and Environment said. |
| The Times of India - Delhi - October 25, 2002 |
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| Combining the zeal and available resources, schoolchildren in the Capital are fast emerging as the crusaders to save the environment. From planting more saplings to saying no to firecrackers and plastic bags, students have now taken up more issues to ensure that the environment is saved from further deterioration. Water harvesting plants, for instances, are being increasingly set up in many schools in the Capital. According to the Centre for Science and Environment(CSE), the water table is falling by two metres a year in the city due to excessive consumption and these plants can go a long way in helping to restore the water level. |
| The Tribune New Delhi October 19, 2002 |
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| Study to conserve Aravalli water table Colonies coming up near the southern border of Delhi and just south of it can now look forward to a steady supply of pure drinking water as a major exercise is currently under way involving the environment Pollution Authority to study and suggest ways and means of preserving precious ground water resources in the Aravalli hills area. A five member experts team led by the Chairman of EPCA, Bhure Lal, is engaged in a detailed study of nearly two dozen major mines in the Gurgaon and Faridabad regions to study the impact of both illegal and legal quarrying of stones in the area that has adversely affected the underground water table. The five member team comprising Mr. Bhure Lal, the Chairman of Central Pollution Control board, Dilip Biswas, Managing Director of Maruti Udyog Limited, Jagdish Khattar, Former Delhi Transport Commissioner, Kiran Dhingra, and Director of Centre for Science and Environment, Sunita Narain, will besides studying the impact of quarrying activity on the ground water also analyse the ecological damage this has caused. |
| The Hindu New Delhi October 19, 2002 |
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| The Ministry of Water Resources' consultation with NGOs and experts on an action plan on the National Water Policy turned out to be a mere lip service. Of the 60 odd select NGOs invited, only about 20 turned up. They too were outnumbered by a 100 strong contingent of former bureaucrats, engineers, commissioners and directors from various government departments and the Central Water Commission, turning the workshop into a Government meet. Shumita Das Gupta of the Centre for Science and Environment said, "This is a useless exercise as the policy has already been adopted. They should've involved people much earlier. The participation of NGOs at this workshop is pathetic. It is a meeting of some engineers, former government officials looking for consultancy or who already are consultants. The basic concept is at fault here." |
| The Hindu New Delhi October 18, 2002 |
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| An open letter to Mr Vajpayee, by Sunita Narain Dear Mr Vajpayee, A few months ago, you spoke passionately about the need to involve local communities in water management. You said that harnesing every drop of rainwater is a national priority and then went on to say. "This is a powerful idea whose time has come".... |
| Business Standard, New Delhi, October 16, 2002 |
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| Management holds the key The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has pioneered the concept of rain-water harvesting in the country. Education Times speaks to Sunita Narain, director, CSE, on how management of water resources could be the key to harnessing this precious gift of nature. |
| The Times of India -New Delhi October 14,2002 |
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| Vanishing wetlands leave behind water shortage and
floods These may be called urban wetlands, but it's probably for the first time that they came up for extensive discussion in Delhi. The two day workshop on 'Protection Of Urban Wetlands', organised by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in Delhi last week, highlighted that their neglect is causing water shortage and floods. |
| The Financial Express - New Delhi - October 13, 2002 |
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| Rainwater Harvesting: So that drought never returns, by Zafar H Anjum Environmentalists and economists have been raising questions such s "why should India in 2002 should be so traumatised and ravaged by a 19th century phantom like a drought." Recently, noted Indian scientist, Dr. M S Swaminathan, mooted the idea of water literacy for developing nations, especially India. He emphasized on the judicious use of water resources in the face of the fact that worldwide 2.7 billion people will face severe water shortage by 2025 (according to UN), which might lead to conflicts over water. Some time ago, late Anil Agarwal, a renowned Indian environmentalist, had argued for a community-based rainwater harvesting paradigm, not only to fight droughts but also to solve the drinking water crisis in the country. |
| The Pioneer, New Delhi, October 11, 2002 |
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| Raj Bhavan takes up rain water harvesting: Raj Bhavan, the residentce of teh first citizen of Karnataka state, has set a novel example with regard to teh benefits and uses of sustainable water management with rainwater harvesting initiatives being introduced in its sprawling 18-acre campus. Mr VIshwanath of the Rainwater Club, was instrumental in the designign of the rainwater harvesting project. Meanwhile, in his presentation at a two-day media workshop on "making water everybody's business" organised by the Centre for Science and Environment, Mr Vishwanath said rain water harvesting was teh only efficient solution to meet the growing wtaer demands of both domestic and industrial sector. |
| Deccan Herald, Bangalore, October 8, 2002 |
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| Delhi residents reap rain water harvest, By
Saurabh Sinha: When L L Bhandari, a resident of Shivalik, Blaock A, stepped out of his house this monsoon, he did not have to wade through the usual waterlogged lanes. Thanks to the harvesting structures the residents of the area had installed this year at a cost of Rs 7 lakh, even the deficit rainfall was well-used. A study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has found a rise in water tables of some areas where harvesting structures were installed. For instance, in May the water table in Panchsheel Park was 92.4 feet below ground level. Last week, the level had risen to 87.1 feet. |
| The Times of India, New Delhi September 30, 2002 |
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| The ground beneath Chennai is going dry, by Kannal
Achuthan: Chennai Metrowater statistics from 1996 to 2002 show that there has been a marked fall in the water table. In 1995, the average water level was 9.5 ft below ground level. It went down to 19 ft in 2001, despite an above average rainfall of 1600 mm. The late Anil Agarwal, foudner of the Centre for Science and Environment and author of Making Water Everybody's Business, had once said: "We have to recoginse that just pasing a law is not enough. It (urban rainwater harvesting) has to be supported with a massive campaign for public awareness and hard policy decisions...Incentives will have to come in the formed fiscal measures which support households to capture their rain." |
| The New Indian Express, Chennai September 27, 2002 |
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| Harvesting the sky: Rooftop rainwater harvesting, an age-old technology for conservation of groundwater, is quietly revolutionishing the country.Saddled with one of the largest populations and fast drying water sources, water scarcity is a reality looming large on India's horizon. Though there is no need as yet to ring the alarm bell in Bihar, it should not be chary of legislation to preserve water for its posterity.In India, the Centre for Science and Environment, a NGO, conducts 'Paani Yatras' around the country to facilitate learning of various indigenous water harvesting systems around the country. |
| Hindustan Times, Patna, September 24, 2002 |
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| CSE fellowship for Assam scribe: The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi has announced its prestigious annual fellowship for the year 2002.Mr Mrinal Talukdar, a senior journalist of Assam, working for the United News of India (UNI), Guwahati Bureau has been selected for this years' award Mr Talukdar has been awarded fellowship on the subject "Wet Desert" the acute drinking water crisis in the world's wettest place, Cherrapunjee.The theme of the fellowship is "Making Water Everybody's Business",a press release said. |
| The Sentinel, Guwahati, September 15, 2002 |
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| Gift of the clouds by Swati: While recurring droughts and an increasing number of bore wells have played havoc with the water table, the Rain Centre in Chennai hopes to recharge the earth by promoting rainwater harvesting. A model house in Mandavelipakkam with all types of rainwater harvesting systems relevant to the city, the centre was set up last month by Chennai's Akash Ganga Trust and the Delhi-based NGO Centre for Science and Environment with support from the government. |
| The Week, Kochi, September 10, 2002 |
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| They care by Daksha Hathi: EcoDesign Consultants which is listed in Water Links - 2 (Water Harvesters Directory), brought out by the Centre for Science and Environment,New Delhi, also did the water management systems for Strides Arcolab, Baikampady Industrial Area, Managalore. |
| Deccan Herald, Bangalore, September 8, 2002 |
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| They carry home water from the skies by Rahat Bano: When LOUDHAILERS of the weather office got dead-beat about the impending monsoon this year, guess who wasn't bothered in south Delhi? Those who treasured the run-off for the last two years: Jamia Hamdard University, Panchsheel Park Colony, and Shri Ram School, Vasant Vihar. The lucky three have got their calculation right courtesy the Centre for Science and Environment. The password for the success is "catch water where it falls". |
| Hindustan Times, New Delhi, September 5, 2002 |
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| Harvest from the skies by Teresa Barat: The Centre for Science and Environment(CSE) in Delhi had organised a workshop for the media to review the working of five model rainwater-harvesting projects. CSE has been promoting water harvesting as a practical solution to rechage the city's fast- depleting groundwater table and meet the problem of water scarcity. |
| Herald, Panjim, September 4, 2002 |
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| Malwa Bachao Andolan memo to CM its local woes: A women's delegation form the district led by Malwa Bachao Abhiyan's district president Shobha Vishwakarma submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Digvijay Singh in Bhopal on Thursday. Besides the issues of severe drinking water crisis, the memorandum also stated the implementation of the link project of the river Narmada-Kshipra- Kalisingh to make ease the irrigation system, development of the industries and to preserve the environment. |
| Free Press, Indore, August 24 2002, Page No.4 |
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| Nationalisation of rivers not practical: Chandre Gowda: Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister D B Chandre Gowda today said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha's demand that the Centre should nationalise all inter-state rivers was impractical and added that Ms Jayalalitha's proposal was an 'afterthought' after the failure of talks at the Cauvery River Authority meeting. He said the farmers of the constitution had thought about it extensively and had realised that it was not possible to evolve a national policy as the sharing of the river water depended on various issues including the involvement of riparian states, delta region and behaviour of monsoon. |
| Deccan Herald, Bangalore, August 30, 2002, Page No.1 |
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| Rs 1.94 crore sought by Jal Sansthan: For improving the water supply in Varanasi city area in Uttar Pradesh, the Jal Sansthan has sought Rs 1.94 crore from the State governments. This financial assistance has been sought under Drought Relief Fund. The Jal Sansthan has already sent a proposal to the district magistrate. |
| The Pioneer, New Delhi, August 29, 2002, Page No.3supp |
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| Plan to develop village ponds: The Punjab government has introduced a new plan to develop the dirty village ponds with the help of a modern technique. The scheme known as Duckweed Technology is aimed at controlling the increasing level of pollution in the state. |
| The Indian Express, Chandigarh, August 30, 2002, Page No.sp4 |
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| Pathari lake losing beauty, grandeur: The famous Pathari lake is losing its beauty and grandeur on account of pollution but nobody is paying any attention to it. Whereas on the one hand new lakes are being constructed in the Madhya Pradesh state and lakhs of rupees are being spent on conservation of water, there on the other hand neglect of ancient Pathari lake is cause of concern for the people. |
| Central Chronicle, Bhopal, August 29 2002, Page No.11 |
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| Harvest from the skies: Rainwater Harvesting has been, and still is, a viable option to reduce the water woes of Delhi citizens. Its success in many parts of the world has been amply demonstrated. According to users, the Centre for Science and Environment(CSE) projects have had the desired impact. The water table has risen by a metre or more. This, at a time when the water table is falling everywhere else. |
| Newstime, Hyderabad, August 30 2002, Page No.8 |
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| Government to release Krishna water on rotation
basis: Keeping the farmers interests in view especially during the current kharif season, the Andhra Pradesh state government finally decided to release Krishna waters to right and left canals under zone 1 on a rotation system, for irrigation purpose, through Nagarjunasagar reservoir from September 1 onwards. |
| Newstime, Hyderabad, August 30 2002, Page No.5 |
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| Alandur councillors threaten stir for water
supply: The Alandur Municipal Council resolved that its members would agitate if water supply to the town did not improve within 10 days. In a resolution addressed to the Municipal Administration Department, the council said it was against the diversion of Palar water to Tambaram as also to the switch to Metrowater supply. |
| The Hindu, Chennai, August 30, 2002, Page No.3 |
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| Delhiites go overboard on water harvesting: For water starved Delhiites, particularly the socialites and the elite, rain water harvesting has become the latest buzzword, thanks to the Delhi government's aggressive awareness campaign. So much so that they are harvesting rain even in places where it is not required. Scientists at the Central Ground Water Board say rainwater harvesting is nor recommended for places where the ground water level is less than eight metres or is increasing on a regular basis. |
| The Hindu, New Delhi, August 31, 2002, Page No.9 |
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| More water for villages: The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, will address a public meeting on the birth anniversary of the late Deputy Prime Minister, Chaudhary Devi Lal, at Hissar on September 25, according to the Haryana Chief Minister, Om Prakash Chautala. Mr. Chautala was speaking after laying the foundation stone of a canal based water supply scheme at Sisla Sismor village in Kaithal district. He announced that potable water at the rate of 70 litres per capita per day would be provided to over 2.10 crore people residing in villages in the next two years. |
| The Hindu, New Delhi, August 31, 2002, Page No.5 |
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| Ward 48 : not a drop to drink: Gour Dey Lane in Ward number 48 (West Bengal) remains under knee-deep water during the monsoon, but getting a bucket of water is nothing short of miracle. The area is reeling under drinking water scarcity for the past few years and repeated petitions to the KMC have hardly helped the residents' cause. |
| The Statesman, Kolkata, August 29 2002, Page No.IV(m) |
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| Kankaria, Chandola to be filled with Narmada
waters: The historic Kankaria lake and 200 other water bodies, including the Chandola, will be filled with Narmada waters. "We have started releasing water through the Daskroi channel to fill theChandola lake having a capacity of 150 mcft. It will provide a picturesque view to visitors coming to the city", says MS Patel state water resources secretary. |
| The Times of India, Ahmedabad, August 28, 2002, Page No.5 |
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| Sustainable use of water for irrigation: Water resources are becoming extremely scarce. Even after fully exploiting the usable the usable water resources by the middle of this century, the supply demand balance for irrigation water in India can be achieved only by improving irrigation efficiency in a big way. Since as much as 80% of usable water resources in the country are now allocated for irrigation, where water-use- efficiency is very low, this sector offers a major avenue for water savings. |
| The Economic Times, New Delhi, August 31 2002, Page No.4 |
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| Study shows urban sprawl makes bad weather
worse: Extreme weather conditions in the US have been aggravated by policies that generate urban sprawl and prevent rainwater from seeping through soil to replenish groundwater, according to a report published. The report, issued jointly by three non-governmental organisations, contains the first estimate of US ground water loses due to suburban sprawl over the past two decades. |
| Financial Times, London, August 29 2002, Page No.3 |
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| Study begins to identify sites for small dams: The Pakistan Ministry of Water and Power has started study to identify sites for the construction of small dams all over the country. The ministry sources states that the federal secretary has directed the Water Wing of the ministry to conduct a survey in various areas of the country for identifying potential sites for the new dams. |
| Dawn (Internet), Pakistan, August 29, 2002 |
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| A parched New Delhi begins to harvest
rain by Rama Lakshmi: New Delhi requires 3 billion liters (800 million gallons) a day of water but the water authority is only able to supplu 2.5 billion liters. And at least 40 percent of the water supply is lost in leakage, theft or unpain for. New Delhi gets about 27 days of rain every year."Peopel in Delhi like to sleep while the tap is running in the morning. They like to wash theri dishes in running water, and wash their cars and driveways with running hose pipe," said Sumita Dasgupta, a natural resource management expert at the Centre for Science and Environment, the prime mover behind the campaign."Now they are finishing up the groundwater too. It is a highly unsustainable lifestyle." |
| International Herald Tribune, Bangkok, August 26, 2002 |
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| A step towards reviving dead ponds by
C.K. Chandramohan: A ray of hope seems to be emerging in the water-scarce western Uttar Pradesh where a number of development blocks lying in the Doab region between the Ganga and the Yamuna have been declared "dark" by studies conducted independently by the Up Government and the World Bank thanks to an initiative by Anil Rana, president of Janhit Foundation and his team of dedicated workers. Moved by the depletion of groundwater, Mr. Rana approached the Centre for Science and Environment(CSE) and organised village-level meeting motivating people to revive the dried- up traditional ponds. Soon meetings, where Jal Bhais and Jal Behans were "appointed" became popular. Stimulated by the lectures of Sunita Narain, director CSE and Mr. Rana, these oppressed villages began asserting their right to water --much against the wishes of the vested interests. |
| The Hindu, New Delhi, August 24, 2002 |
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| Slow and steady rain is ideal for
harvesting by Saurabh Sinha: The low-intensity but consistent rainfall that the city has been receiving since Monday is ideal for recharging depleting groundwater levels, since the runoff is much less than in short, heavy showers, say experts."In the last two days, the city received about 65 mm of rain over its area of 1,486 square kilometres. Even if 60 per cent of this water rechaes aquifers, it'll yield 54 million litres," Eklavya Prasad of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said. |
| The Times of India, New Delhi, August 16, 2002 |
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| Rainwater harvesting in Delhi: off to a
good start by Smita Tripathy: As part of its campaign to spared awareness about rainwater harvesting techniques, Centre for Science and Environment(CSE) has identified five rainwater harvesting model projects in Delhi. These are at Jamia Hamdard University, Panchsheel Park Colony, he Shri Ram School, Janki Devi Memorial College and Mira Model School.The projects have been constructed by enterprising citizens who sought CSE's help to set up rainwater harvesting structures.CSE has already completed 25 projects of rainwater harvesting in schools, residential colonies. |
| Mid-Day, August 13, 2002 |
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| CII to help conserve water, environment: Concerned over the acute shortage of drinking water and alarming decline in ground water level in Delhi this summer, the Confederation of Indian Industry has decided to help the city administration in its own way.As part of the initiative, the CII has decided to organise a workshop on Water Management and Rainwater Harvesting on August 28, in which experts from the Central Ground Water Board, Centre for Science and Environment, Delhi Jal Board and several other industries would participate. |
| The Hindu, New Delhi, August 12, 2002 |
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| CSE selects water harvesting centres: The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has selected four educational institutions and a residential colony as models for rainwater harvesting.Sunita Narain, director, CSE which has provided the expertise for these five projects, said that though rain water harvesting is a not a panacea for water problems, it will minimise the stress on water shortage. |
| Hindustan Times, New Delhi, August 11, 2002 |
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| Here's how they do it: water harvesting
works by Toufiq Rashid: If you are looking for schemes that would help you conserve water in the driest of summers, here are five model water harvesting projects that are functioning in Delhi. And here is the list of the five models. - Panchsheel Park Colony, Jamia Hamdard University, Mira Model School, Janaki Devi Mahavidyalaya and The Shri Ram School.In all these places, the watertable has gone up since water harvesting projects were implemented.According to sunita Narain, director, Centre for Science and Environment, the project is important as an area of 100 hectares can have a huge impact on the watertable of the adjacent area. |
| The Indian Express, New Delhi, August 11, 2002 |
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| Water harvesting: Residents of Som Vihar housing complex in R.K. Puram have adopted rain water harvesting technology to recharge three tubewells in the complex. Structures have been set up at a cost of Rs 5 lakh by the residents with technical help from the Centre for Science and Environment and Central Ground Water Board. |
| Hindustan Times, New Delhi, August 10, 2002 |
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| Model lessons on harvesting water: "We are harvesting rainwater, are you?" Tis question greeted mediapersons who visited Mira Model School in Janakpuri on Friday. The school is one of the institutes the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) claims are "model rainwater harvesting projects."Each of the five institutes visited on Friday had adopted different techniques to recharge groundwater. |
| The Times of India, New Delhi, August 10, 2002 |
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| Rainwater harvesting is crucial to the
country, says Study: Traditional system of rainwater harvesting must be employed in the country to avert water scarcity and drought, says a study by the Centre for Science and Environment, reports UNI. The New Delhi- based organisation's study suggests several traditional methods employed in various areas to conserve water and avert scarcity. |
| Free Press Journal, Mumbai, August 6, 2002 |
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| Parched earth and public action by M.S.
Swaminathan: India is one of the few countries in the world which has over two centuries of recorded experience in managing the consequences of monsoon failure.The year 2002 is appropriate to launch the Jal Swaraj movement visualised by the late Anil Agarwal. It will involve saving and sharing rain water and using it conjunctively and equitably with river and ground water as well as treated effluents and desalinised sea water in an efficient manner for domestic, agricultural and industrial uses and for ecosystem maintenance. |
| The Hindu, New Delhi, August 6, 2002 |
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| Superstructure without infrastructure by Aditya Kaul:
With the rate at which the Gurgaon township is coming up, and the dismal scenario of water availability, it would seem the Haryana state development authorities are working according to self -made rules."Add to that the fact that Gurgaon, unlike Noida (found in the Yamuna flood plain), is devoid of a water source to replenish ground water. The city has no infrastructure at all. it is surviving only on back-up systems and tubewells. Look at the amount of smoke which comes out of generators during blackout hours. The road connectivity issue has been completely ignored. But how long can this go on?" asks Sumita Dasgupta, coordinator, National Resource Management Unit, Centre for Science and Environment(CSE). |
| The Pioneer, New Delhi, August 5, 2002 |
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| Tara Apt recycles water for gardening: While life has almost come to a standstill in many parts of the city given the acute water shortage, Tara Apartment residents say they have water for not only cooking and cleaning, but also gardening.They are recycling kitchen and bathroom water. The result is 20,000 litres of water saved every day.Eklavya Prasad from the Centre for Science and Environment(CSE) says: "Detergent water is considered harmful for plants. But it can certainly used in the toilets." |
| The Times of India, New Delhi, August 5, 2002 |
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| Want to sink a tubewell? Pay up by
Saurabh Sinha: After the government has failed to stop exploitation of groundwater or do anything to recharge it, one of its agencies wants people to pay for the sub-soil aqua reserves they draw. The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has proposed to the state government that it be allowed to charge individuals for using ground water.Centre for Science and Environment director Sunita Narain agreed. "The move may make people realise the value of groundwater, which at present is considered free. Even the low price at which municipal water is supplied needs to be looked at," she said. |
| The Times of India, New Delhi, August 3, 2002 |
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| Down the drain: Drought, water scarcity, power black-outs - all symptoms of a complete breakdown of public utilities.Individuals are left with no choice but to fend for themselves with generators and inverters for power.Rainwater harvesting and private storage tanks cater to the daily needs of those who can afford them. Organisations like the Centre for Science and Environment hold regular workshops and training sessions to educate and apprise people how to harvest rainwater and there are similar centres in other states like Tamil Nadu, engaged in water conservation.An official campaign to create awareness and provide practical information on rainwater harvesting should reach out to cooperative group housing societies and residential colonies in the metros. |
| The Times of India, New Delhi, July 1, 2002 |
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| Harvesting deadline extended: Ending months of confusion, the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) on Tuesday said the deadline for installing rainwater harvesting systems in buildings with plot area of over 100 square metres - in south and southwest Delhi, Gurgaon and Faridabad - had been extended till September 30."Groundwater meets almost 30 to 40 per cent of Delhi's requirement and it's not an endless resource. it has to be replenished," said Eklavya Prasad of the Centre for Science and Environment's natural resource management unit. |
| The Times of India, New Delhi, July 31, 2002 |
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| Has the desert arrived in city? by Shivani Singh and
Maneesh Pandey: Nostradamus may not have predicted, it, but Delhi is heading for a catastrophe. A recent World bank report says Delhi will be a dust bowl by 2010.According to Centre for Science and Environment(CSE), the average daily water consumption of Delhiite is highest in the country at 240 litres.Residents of European cities like Copenhagen consume only 111 litres a day. Says CSE director Sunita Narain: "Residents of Delhi end up wasting more water than other cities. If people start using water judiciously, the gap can be bridged." This does not mean every person in the city is a water guzzler. "While a person staying in New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Delhi Cantonment areas gets 400 litres daily, those in other parts get 30 litres," Narain said. |
| The Times of India, New Delhi, July 21, 2002) |
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| Fellowships to study rainwater harvesting: New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment(CSE) is offering fellowships for journalists to study rainwater harvesting in the country and the government's role in this area.The fellowships on "Making water everybody's business" are aimed at investigating and understanding how people and the state governments are -or are not - capturing the raindrops to drought-proof the country. |
| Deccan Herald, Bangalore, July 18, 2002 |
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| Without rain, pollutants stay put over city by Gunjan
Veda: According to data available with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), levels of respiratory suspended particulate matter (RSPM) in the city have been on the rise since the beginning of the month and the culprit according to them is the rains. "The quantity of particulate matter in the atmosphere is related to weather conditions. It is so hot and still that the pollutants just don't move," explains Sunita Narain of the Centre for Science and Environment. |
| The Indian Express, New Delhi, July 17, 2002 |
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| Turning waterlogging into a blessing By Sudeshna
Chatterjee: Even bad planning has its advantages. Take waterlogging, for instance. Clogged drains and the absence of a proper drainage system will result in the collection of rain water at 135 places in the city this monsoon.Eklavya Prasad of the Centre for Science and Environment's (CSE) rain water harvesting cell says the pr |