Rivers are facing crisis of their existence. Though trees are being axed but they are not being planted in the same proportion. Small rivers are continuously disappearing and big rivers' water assets is decreasing. Rivers are getting polluted and water animals are decreasing continuously. Tributaries, which are the main source of big rivers, are also facing extinction. Amidst these concerns a three-day international Nadi convention was organised at Bandrabhan where the thinkers considered over these issues. On the concluding day, Governor Dr Balram Jakhar said that progress at the cost of harm to nature is not proper. If our ecology system is not safe then the whole creation including human beings would also meet with end. Trees are necessary for rivers and water. The Nadi Mahotsava came out with an 8-point declaration with emphasis on protection and conservation of rivers. The first point of declaration lays emphasis on making the basin as base for researches. Maximum flood level should be left for river, this suggestion has also been given in the declaration. The declaration says that Nadi Janpad would be constituted at national level and to develop banking system of the rivers. Under this provision, each river should have its own account and a balance sheet should be prepared for expenditure on the river. The delegates in the convention reiterated on deepening river basins. Work should be done on small rivers of the state. The participants emphasised on storing of rain water through various means. Special efforts would be required to make the water sources of Narmada, Betwa and other big rivers clean. Apart from optimum exploitation of nature there is also need to pay attention towards its conservation.

on january 11, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation approved a mega pipeline project to dump the city's industrial effluents in the Arabian Sea. Corporation authorities claim the multi-crore project

This is a message that has both sermons and promises. "Stop polluting the Yamuna now,' it says. We don't have to look far for the target of this admonition. Alongside is a non-descript person washing

The list includes temple, shopping mall, Games Village, road diversions and more Constructions pose a great threat to the city's water security, say activists "Government not adhering to moratorium on further constructions' NEW DELHI: A temple, a shopping mall, a depot, an entire Games Village and now road diversions

Russia's environmental watchdog yesterday said it had filed a Rbs4.35bn ($180m) pollution suit against Norilsk Nickel, the Russian mining group, in its largest ever environmental complaint against a Russian company.

When the entire nation is working for the dream project of linking all the rivers across the nation, the Tamirabarani River, one of the two perennial rivers in Tamil Nadu, is going through a dark phase. as 70 per cent of the river stands polluted. The river, which originates more than 2,000 metres from a peak in hills of the Western Ghats above Papanasam in the Ambasamudram taluk, flows through the Tirunelveli & Thoothukudi districts. A study conducted by Prof N Khaja Mohideen, Department of Chemistry, Sadakathullah Appa College, Palayamkottai, has revealed the highly polluted nature of the Tamirabarani River. According to the study, over 50,000 goats are sacrificed on the day of Adi Ammavasai function held at Sorimuthu Ayyanar Temple at Papanasam. The blood drains into the river and on the same day, at least around 50,000 persons shave their head and the hair is also thrown in to the river. The river becomes an open toilet for the over-four lakh people who throng the festival. Effluents from 4,961 small-scale industries (4,203 in Tirunelveli and 758 in Thoothukudi) and 19 large and medium-scale industries functioning in the river basin are sidetracked to the river. There are around 866 cremation grounds in the district and the ashes and bones, which have not burned, are also thrown in to the river. Illegal and indiscriminate sand mining has also affect ed the river. At Tirunelveli, dead dogs and pigs can be seen in the sewage pools of the Tamirabarani river bed that serves as a drinking water source for four districts. Moreover, the drainage of Ganeshapuram, Sindhupoonthurai and Meenakshipuram areas in Tirunelveli and wastes of hotels and hospitals are let into the river. Raj Mohan, a professor of a private college working in the field of water pollution says making Tamirabarani pure is impossible but steps could be taken to control the river getting more polluted. He suggests that the government should closely monitor the process of discharge of effluents by the industrial units and must not grant any new license for any more industries to set up their establishments close to the river banks.