Temples of irrigation and land management
From the 9th century to the 16th century, south Indian kingdoms did not have irrigation or public works departments. Temples were given the job …
Coming back to life
When villages work with each other to regenerate the environment, there are unexpected blessings. Sometimes, they are as big as a river
A grand water helpline
the timing, and background, of the recently concluded 3rd World Water Forum in Japan ensured that water be seen through the lens of conflict. …
This study looked at how rivers throughout the world are faring — and the findings are disturbing
Within the next 70 years, certain species of fish could die out completely due to longer periods of low oxygen levels
A tiger reserve declared this year can rejuvenate Vaigai, India’s heritage river
The Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve will provide protection to Megamalai, the Vaigai’s primary catchment, in turn helping water …
Mangrove coverage is declining, but there is hope, flags study
Mangrove coverage can increase despite sea-level rise if sediment supply is sufficient and land accommodation space available, according to the study
Water reserves in 71 of India’s 91 reservoirs have dipped: CWC
A delay in arrival of the monsoon, especially in western India, will worsen the water woes even further
`Bioregionalism could become a global movement'
French architect Didier Prost is an advocate of bioregionalism, which calls for a renewed focus on local people and knowledge to innovate for …
Geomorphologist Robert James Wasson discusses flood risk reduction in India
In this video, Robert James Wasson from National University of Singapore points out that India is the second most flood-prone country in the …
Environmentalists block waterway
Environmentalists have opposed a plan to transform the Paraguay and Parana rivers into a waterway linking the impoverished interior regions of …
Dams and sea deliver death blow to Nile delta
Sandwiched between an encroaching sea and dams that prevent silt from reaching it, the Nile delta seems doomed.
Landslide dams river, and then frees its fury
Through many weary days and nights since March, the residents of a south Ecuadorean valley kept a wary eye on a landslide holding back the rain-…
Non-profits organise conference to draw up a national river charter
Former environment minister, Jairam Ramesh, criticises Modi government for diluting environment regulations
Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (August 7, 2023)
Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
Encroachment, concretisation, pollution killing Mandakini river near Chitrakoot
Political leaders abetting the Mandakini’s death by building hotels along its banks in Chitrakoot
Union Budget 2020-21: Half-hearted effort to revive rivers, including Ganga
Fund allocation dips for Namami Gange and National River Conservation Plan
Reluctant to upgrade
Textile dyeing units would rather extract groundwater than treat and recycle wastewater due to the costs involved and a lack of adequate policy …
A new R&D lab to help small hydropower projects
The turbine model testing facility is touted to be a step for make in India, as it is said to the first independent facility for turbine …
Cleaning India’s polluted rivers
More than 38,000 million litres of waste water enters the major rivers, water bodies and even percolates into the ground every day
Maharashtra sugarcane farmers taught green skills
The Mukti Sangharsh Movement is teaching farmers in Maharashtra's sugar belt scientific methods of moving from single-crop, fertiliser-intensive …
Mughal system stilll supplies water at zero cost
Mughal builders are known the world over for the Taj Mahal. But their water engineers built a supply system in 1615 that still provides water to …
The rivers, blue and black
Book>> Dirty, Sacred Rivers: Confronting South Asia’s Water Crisis by Cheryl Colopy, OUP, Rs 1,295.
Discharge of mining waste into rivers affects 50 times more people than tailings dam disasters
Potentially detrimental substances like lead, zinc, copper and arsenic carried downstream from mining sites accumulate within river courses and …
Increasing Costa Rica’s riparian forests can improve its water quality, carbon storage
Reforesting 20 hotspots can provide large increases in water quality for 50,679 people dependent on rivers
Climate crisis in North East India: Why are rainfall patterns changing?
Climate change behind increasing variability and unpredictability of rainfall in the region, say experts