The Union Government is initiating steps to minimise Arunachal Pradesh's present 50 per cent share to 10 per cent in the centrally sponsored drinking water supply schemes.

Shortage of water rendered most of the farmers unable to sow cotton at the most appropriate time, said District Council members during Wednesday's session. They deplored the daily seven to 10 hours of load-shedding as this was taking toll on the physical, psychological and financial status of Hesco consumers.

Nearly $13bn will be invested over the next ten years in securing water supplies in the face of climate change, the Australian government has announced. The investment includes $1.5bn in new urban water investment to help secure water supplies for homes and businesses in the face of climate change. Announcing the government's plans, Climate Change and Water Minister Penny Wong said most Australian towns and cities can no longer rely on rainfall to supply drinking water.

The Sindh High Court issued notices to the federal, provincial and city governments in a writ petition seeking ban on supply of contaminated water by any means.

Top World Bank (WB) officials have said that the bank would soon provide Nepal new aid worth US$127 million to ensure the success of the ongoing peace process. Talking to media persons at the end of a four-day visit to Nepal on Tuesday, Michel Mordasini said that the bank is ready to extend all possible assistance and cooperation to the country but it will depend on the "level of implementation" and continuation of peace process.

the pleas of the 50 survivors of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, who reached Delhi on March 28, are far from being heard. Travelling over 800 km on foot, they came to the capital to remind the prime

Nearly 15 lakh residents of Pimpri-Chinchwad can now look forward to getting clean drinking water. If the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation is to be believed, citizens' long-cherished dream of getting "completely clean, pure and unpolluted drinking water' will come true in two years time.

Expressing concern over acute shortage of water in Sindh, Awami Tehrik chief Rasool Bux Palijo has said that even drinking water is not available in the province but water is still being released in Chashma-Jehlum and Taunsa-Panjnad link canals and Thal Canal. In a statement faxed to Dawn here on Sunday, he alleged that through the canals 40,000 cusecs of Sindh's share was being stolen. Not only this, but Tarbela Dam was being filled while Sindh was crying hoarse for water, he said.

Residents of different villages in Adenzai, Talash and Timergara localities of Lower Dir district have complained about the outbreak of waterborne diseases, especially typhoid, during the past 20 days. They alleged that health department was doing nothing to cope with the situation. Talking to Dawn on Monday they said that children and grown up people had been suffering from high fever with pain due to the said diseases. They said the number of victims was increasing with each passing day.

Sixteen percent of the filtered water supplied to Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) is infected with bacteria, revealed a recent survey conducted by Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak EPA) over the filtration plants installed in Islamabad. According to the report, four out of the total 24 functional filtration plants in the federal Capital give out contaminated water even after filtration, which, as the report stated, was rich with bacteria besides other health-risking ingredients. The sectors where these plants are situated are I-9/1, I-10/1, G-9/2 and I-10/2.