baglihar collapse: A diversion tunnel at the Baglihar hydro-electric dam on the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir collapsed on June 5, 2005, due to the river's rising water level. Media reports said construction at the project site had to be halted. Earlier, a bridge had also reportedly been washed away due to the river's increased flow. Less than a month ago, Pakistan's request to stop work on the project was turned down by World Bank's neutral expert Raymond Lafitte, appointed to mediate in the dispute between India and Pakistan over the project (see Down To Earth, 'Baglihar Progress', July 15, 2005.
caution, delhi: A health status report prepared by the Central Ground Water Board reveals that the quality of Delhi's groundwater has deteriorated further with dangerously high levels of nitrate, fluoride and bacterial contamination. Water samples from Sarai Kale Khan in south Delhi, which was among 57 sites surveyed, contained 1.57 microgrammes (g) of mercury per litre, as against the permissible 0.001 g. Samples from Okhla West and parts of north-west Delhi had high nitrate content while the flouride content exceeded the permissible limit in 30 per cent of the places, especially those in south-west, west and north-west Delhi.
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