In one season, land prices in Dhangharwadi shot up from Rs 6,000-10,000 per acre (0.4 hectare) to Rs 1 lakh per acre. But people in this little village in Maharashtra

LUCKNOW: With the subsidence of land leading to cracks in about a dozen districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow, causing panic among the villagers, the State government has sought to allay their fears, saying that the phenomena was not related to seismic activity. Fissures in land, of one metre in depth and about 1.40 feet wide, have been reported mainly in the drought-hit Bundelkhand region.

The Uttar Pradesh government has set at rest all speculations regarding the cracks appearing on the crust of the earth in some districts of the state. Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, UP chief secretary Atul Gupta said that the government had consulted groundwater experts and scientists from the Geological Survey of India which had also sent teams to the affected areas. "This phenomenon has been taking place since the last three years and there is nothing to worry about," the chief secretary said.

Low on water Little groundwater recharging a cause groundwater level in Dhaka has dropped to 61.18m below the surface putting the sprawling metropolis at

The Centre has announced that 4.455 million wells will be taken up for recharging groundwater in hard rock areas for the benefit of farmers. The government has asked the states government concern to take necessary steps to implement the decision before monsoon this year. The Artificial Recharge of Ground Water through wells scheme was launched keeping in view the concerns of over exploitation of groundwater resources in the country as well as to ensure sustainable water resource management and irrigation facilities in the affected areas.

To arrest seawater intrusion at Besant Nagar, the Groundwater circle of the Public Works Department has proposed a pilot project to divert rainwater from Taramani and its neighbouring places to recharge the Besant Nagar and Thiruvanmiyur areas. The project was approved by the State-level steering committee under the chairmanship of PWD secretary and has been sent to the Ministry of Water Resources for approval.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games are being touted as Delhi's ticket to the list of world-class, ultramodern metropolises. The grand plans that leave no stone unturned

The Delhi government has given approval to the artificial recharge of groundwater in the city. The irrigation department will implement nine different works in the different parts of the city to improve the water table. The government has also approved a Rs 110-crore proposal for the improvement of drainage in the city.