Reaping rainwater

As the parched city of Chennai watched disinterestedly, stormwater drains carried precious water -- and of course, much of the city's refuse -- to that eternal dump, the sea. These drains were at one time touted as the ultimate answer to post-rain flooding, which would stagnate on the city roads for days.

India

The Union ministry of urban development has issued a notification stipulating that construction activities that create noise will not be allowed after 10 pm. However, construction of highways, roads, and other government undertakings has been excluded from the purview of the regulation.

Going dry

the groundwater situation in the foothills of the Kangra valley, especially in Nurpur and Jawali subdivisions, is quite grim today. There are no water canals for irrigation in these areas. Fetching water from the rivulets passing by is also difficult. Hence, in the last few years, the underground water in these regions has been overexploited.