The death toll in the Kerala floods increased to 88 on Tuesday with an "extremely heavy rain" warning issued for three districts, even as the weather in deluge-hit Karnataka and Gujarat improved, allowing authorities to speed up rescue and relief operations.

Record rainfall and floods in some parts of the country have killed hundreds of people. Yet, some areas have seen less than average rain. Some statistics bring to light how these weather patterns are anything but normal. Is this going to be the new normal? Uneven rainfall patterns across the country has been rising.

Flood fury continues in Southwest India. According to the reports, 42 are dead in Kerala and 24 in Karnataka. Also, more than two lakh people have been evacuated to safer places from three districts of Kolhapur, Sangli, and Satara. Watch this video to know more.

Development is the real casualty after the Supreme Court clamped down on construction activity in three states including Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The blanket ban, which is the result of the states' failure to implement solid waste management systems, will bring to grinding halt construction activities, dealing a body blow to the real estate and allied sectors. Experts say the ban is unlikely to remain for long, even as states like Maharashtra prepare to challenge the order, but many fear that it will surely dampen the market sentiment.

Water today is undervalued, misused and misallocated. Too many of us take it for granted - we turn on the tap and it flows. But did you know only 4% of Earth’s water is freshwater and only 0.5% of that is safe for human consumption? As shocks of drought and deluge unleash their devastation, water has forced itself to center stage. It demands that we change fundamentally; it asks that we value it profoundly.

Waste management is a huge challenge as well as a crisis for our country. Some cities have managed to put in successful waste management systems. The government evolved a new set of waste management rules that mark a significant shift. A survey by Centre for Science and environment has rated cities like Alleppey in Kerela, Panaji, Mysuru, Aizawl, Pune, Suryapet in Telangana and Surat as those that have made a significant leap forward and could become models for the country.

Indian cities are producing unmanageable amounts of garbage and solid waste every day. The figures are frightening. What can India do to solve its mounting garbage menace?

http://www.ndtv.com/video/property/the-property-show/india-s-mounting-garbage-problem-437454?yt

Waste management is a huge challenge as well as a crisis for our country. Some cities have managed to put in successful waste management systems. The government evolved a new set of waste management rules that mark a significant shift. A survey by Centre for Science and environment has rated cities like Alleppey in Kerela, Panaji, Mysuru, Aizawl, Pune, Suryapet in Telangana and Surat as those that have made a significant leap forward and could become models for the country.

Challenge to preserve water

The Urban Debate focused on basic necessity of 'clean air and water'. Our model cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai are choking, people are forced to breathe poisonous air, and garbage disposal is an everyday problem. Our cities are becoming inhabitable. Will the Finance Minister finally include an allocation to fight pollution in the Union Budget? Magicbricks Now caught up with Dr.