From snake charmers to agricultural labourers: A case of Haryana’s Saperas
They still carry the stigma of being a de-notified tribe; also, the law prohibits the catching of snakes now, they say
Scanty rain in India’s largest state; kharif sowing hit in eastern UP
41 of 42 districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, except Varanasi, are reeling under severe rain shortfall, India Meteorological Department has reported
Hottest March in 122 years damages wheat crop across North India
heat is a temperature-sensitive crop that requires a cool temperature, especially in March when it is at its final stage
STPs in 3 Punjab towns lying defunct: NGT monitoring committee
Poor performance of sewage treatment plants due to delayed payment by municipal bodies, monitoring committee report to NGT
After broken dam wrecked this Punjab village twice, farmers decided to take matters into own hands
Overflowing Ghaggar river broke banks in July, destroyed Kharif paddy; villagers blame state government for disrepair
Punjab is a bleak example of India’s groundwater crisis. Here is how
In the wake of the UN report showing alarming levels of depletion, DTE analysed the groundwater crisis in the state
Water for fruits: Why Abohar and Ganganagar’s citrus revolution needs encouragement
We need to build wealth from prudent and wise use of natural resources. Use scare water for fruit economy instead of paddy
Gharial seen in Pakistan’s Punjab after 3 decades; it likely crossed over from India
Gharials were reintroduced to the Beas river in 2017, having been extirpated in the Punjab region now divided between India and Pakistan
DTE Coverage: 2023 North India deluge
Down To Earth reports from the ground on why the hills and plains of northern India got inundated
Har Gobind Khorana: The chemist who cracked DNA’s code and made the first artificial gene was born into poverty 100 years ago in an Indian village
Khorana’s legacy has also suffered from neglect that may be a result of racial bias. But this neglect is changing, as a new generation of …
Desertification in India: How Green Revolution hastened the man-made soil degradation
The biggest threat of desertification emanates from the major crops of the Green Revolution — wheat and paddy
No end to discrimination against Punjab’s Dalit women labourers, says study
A recent study examined 927 Dalit women labour households across four districts. A lot of them reeled under debt, faced sexual harassment
Jodhpur blues: How the Indira Gandhi Canal has robbed the desert citadel of its character
There is ample water in what was once a water scarce place; traditional water bodies, architecture, social habits have consequently gone for a toss
Why Punjab’s short-duration paddy varieties have not solved stubble burning
Promoted by the government, short-duration varieties now dominate Punjab’s paddy landscape and allow farmers enough time to clear the field …
Struck by higher costs, Punjab farmers wait to burn stubble; fire incidences likely to flare up
At least 5,772 incidents of stubble fire have been registered in Punjab till October 22 alone
Rising wet-bulb temperatures due to climate change pose health risks for humans
A wet-bulb temperature of 35°C is considered the maximum limit of humidity humans can handle
The ‘qissa’ of Basmati
As the European Union gets set to pronounce whether to give a GI tag to India’s Basmati rice, we explore the history of a grain that …
Farmers in Punjab are burning stubble as an act of rebellion
They are angry that even as they suffer from farm distress and do not get any proper returns on their labour and produce, the onus of stubble …
There is a desert in Tamil Nadu and the dunes are red
There are a couple of theories regarding the formation of these dunes, the most plausible being the role of south west monsoonal winds
Delhi pollution crisis: The figure of 4-10% for stubble fires is not wrong but irrelevant
There need to be different strategies to address long- and short-term exposure to pollution problems in Delhi. Governments are aware of it, but …
Use revenue-sharing model for development, land acquisition
Access to village commons improved livelihoods but some recent state policies seek to grab them
Researchers study behavioural aspect of farmer suicides
One of the major causes behind suicidal intent is depression, experts find while studying cases in Punjab, Telangana and Maharashtra
Wheat prices going strong in Madhya Pradesh, courtesy Ukraine, loss of yield in north India
Private traders are offering much higher prices than government MSP of Rs 2,015 per quintal
Pre-summer rains: How the charm of Chandigarh endures
Every year, the ‘City Beautiful’ located between the Siwaliks and the Indus Plain, plays host to a game between heat, cold, dust and …
Why have Punjab & Haryana farmers started clearing fields so early in 2023?
Usually, stubble clearance in these two states starts around mid-October and peaks around Diwali; but this time, extreme rains in September …