Center for Science & Environment CSE Store Equity Watch Gobar Times Down to Earth
 
 
     
 
WATER IN NEWS


MOEF releases draft National Environment Policy (NEP) 2004

The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has recently released the draft of the NEP-the first-ever official document that draws a road map of the future of environmental management in India. On the water front, it offers recommendations on how to protect and nourish river systems, groundwater and the wetlands. Are these focussed and comprehensive enough to bring about long-term, sustainable changes? How do you as a stakeholder rate the policy? Let us know and we shall highlight your comments through our various information channels….
Your opinion counts!
Download

Write to us at water@cseindia.org or sumita@cseindia.org


Newsletter on floods in Bihar released
Samajik Shaikshanik Vikas Kendra (SSVK), a Bihar based NGO, has launched newsletter on floods in the state titled "Bihar Insight". The inaugural issue, supported focuses on the problems of floods coincidently at a time when the state is ravaged by one of the worst recorded floods. Bihar Insight is a compilation of news clippings on floods in Bihar published during the month of July 2004 in more than a dozen national and regional newspapers. This initiative is the first of its kind ever since the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a New Delhi-based NGO had brought out a special issue on Bihar floods and its coping strategy during 1991.

"Being launched at a time when the state is reeling under the devastating impact of floods, it has more inclusive purpose of highlighting the issue on a national scale to attract the attention of the state, business and civil society actors. It also wants to give a direction to a host of voluntary efforts that have come up all over the country to respond to the plight of the flood-affected," said Deepak Bharati, SSVK in an interview to a national daily.

The inaugural issue of "Bihar Insight" is an effort to keep the debate on various social issues alive among the policy makers, intellectuals as well as politicians. "We wish to reach out to all those interested in the upliftment of Bihar so that a plurality of thoughts go into seeking solutions to the problems of the state", Bharati said.

Some of the experts on disaster management and floods including Dinesh K Mishra, Neeraj Labh, Mukul Sharma, Raghupati, Vijay Pratap, Arun Das, Baagish K Jha, Ranjeev and Hemant are in the advisory panels of the newsletter.

Courtesy: http://www.indianngos.com/issue/disaster/pressrelease/floods.htm


Back to Top


HC orders water harvesting for public buildings

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (August 26, 2004) directed the DJB and other civic agencies to allow water harvesting in public sector buildings, wherever feasible. It has also sought compliance in this regard from authorities on those flyovers that got their designs approved from the agencies for water harvesting. This report has to be submitted within four weeks.Meanwhile, the Central Ground Water Authority has also been asked to collect data on underground water for the last three years and furnish it before the court on the next date of hearing.This order was passed by a division bench of Chief Justice B.C. Patel and Justice B.D. Ahmed following a petition by V.K. Jain of Tapas
Source: The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, August 26, 2004, Page No.5


Progressive judicial interventions from the Kerala High Court to curb indiscriminate groundwater exploitation.


While the administrative set up in the country has failed totally to stop the indiscriminate groundwater exploitation by the industrial and commercial units, the judiciary is finally emerging as a saviour of the threatened groundwater reserves. Two land-mark decisions in this regard were given by the Kerala High Court in the last few days. For more>>

Back to Top


Panchayat to decide on the fate of packaged drinking water unit
The Kerala High court on November 5, 2003 has directed the Chottanikkara Panchayat to take a fresh decision on permitting a packaged drinking water unit in consultation with the groundwater department. On November 5, 2003 KHC has directed the Chottanikkara Panchayat to take a fresh decision on permitting a packaged drinking water unit in consultation with the groundwater department. Declining the petitioners plea to permit the operations of the plant, the court said, "this being a commercial venture, without license from the panchayat, the same cannot be permitted." The court has asked both the parties to maintain a status quo, till a decision is made.

Chottanikkara Panchayat had given approval for 'Pure Packages Drinking water unit' Dec 18, 2002. But due to the objections of the Kudivella Sanrakshana Samiti (drinking water protection committee), the panchayat cancelled its earlier permission. The owner of the packaging unit, Sunita Kurian Thomas filed a petition against this decision. Justice K Balakrishnan Nair, in his order directed the petitioner to reply to the panchayat's latest order, meanwhile has asked the panchayat take a decision in a month's time.
Source: Mathrubhumi, Dec 11, 2003

Stop groundwater extraction in Plachimada

The Kerala High Court today directed the Panchayat and State Government to ensure that Coca Cola stopped extraction of ground water in Plachimada within a month. It also asked the department of groundwater to conduct more studies independently.

Source: Malayala Manorama, dated December 16, 2003

 

Five month diploma course on rainwater harvesting

The University of Madras is planning to start a post graduate diploma on rainwater harvesting during the academic year 2004-05. This was announced by Dr Thyagarajan, Vice Chancellor of the university during his special lecture on the 40th annual convention of Indian Geophysical Union. More details awaited.
 
Related Links
Newsletters on floods
 
Back to Top
   
 
   
Now buy viagra online from different online pharmacies and sort out all sexual performance related issues. You can get comprehensive and up to date source of drug information online. Not only Viagra, but you can buy cialis online also at some discounted price. From the site casino online also you can buy these.