Suita Narain argues for a more logical and democratic answer to the world

Ubeshwar Vikas Mandal (UVM), an organisation of Bhil adivasis, has over the past two decades undertaken awareness raising, community organisation and protection and regeneration initiatives for pasturelands, forest areas and water bodies. The UVM-Svaraj project for small-height construction is the latest addition to these activities.

In February 2007 an agreement was signed between the World Bank, the Central Government, and Tamil Nadu state government for a mega project titled Irrigated Agriculture Modernization & Water-bodies Restoration & Management (IAMWARM). The project cost of US $556 million (Rs 2,547 Cr) was met through a loan from the World Bank.

A farm development scheme hurts farmers, favours industry The Centre recently came up with a new-fangled scheme for Maharashtra

The article

The complexities associated with interactions of various components of environment have not been examined in historical narratives of pre-colonial India.

This article examines the traditional water resources in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, which is blessed with varied and bountiful natural water resources such as khads, nalas, baudis, nawns, chhrudus, khatris, wells etc. However a recent study has revealed that 20% of the traditional water resources are in disuse, many of them dying a natural death due to poor maintenance, disrepair and the availability of modern facilities such as hand pumps and taps.

BOOK>>Towards Water Wisdom

It really makes you believe that old is gold when a Mumbai building adopts the water harvesting system that was used by the Harappan settlement in Dholavira in Gujarat some 5,000 years ago. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, formerly Prince of Wales Museum, became the first heritage structure in Mumbai to adopt rainwater harvesting recently. And, the inspiration came from Dholavira which excelled in water harvesting technology with dams, drains, reservoirs and storm water management that eloquently speak of the engineering skills of builders of that era.

Visitors to Vrindavan and the fabled land of Lord Krishna, called Braj Bhoomi, are often taken aback by its ramshackle, dirty condition. It has dried up ancient water bodies or kunds, denuded forests and lots of garbage. It also has a dreaded mining mafia running around with dynamite, digging holes and blowing up sacred hills.

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