Dear Prime Minister, This is a year of severe drought in Gujarat and western Madhya Pradesh - an area that is well known for natural disasters of this kind. During the last general elections, your
Briefing paper on climate change for members of Parliament by Anil Agarwal - Calling upon policy makers to recognise India's stake in the international climate change negotiations.
This paper presents the potential of rainwater harvesting for drought-proofing India's villages. It urges members of parliament and state legislative assemblies to ensure that the governments take up rainwater harvesting on a large scale to improve local food security. There is enough rainwater in every village of India to meet drinking water needs and critical needs of agriculture. This strategy would complement India's current water management and agricultural strategy which aims at ensuring national food security rather than local food security.
One person dies every hour in Delhi due to ambient air choked with particles. Diesel exhaust is a major source of fine particles that are the most lethal. Environmental regulators in California and elsewhere are putting the brakes on diesel cars.
