Traditionally agriculturalists of western Madhya Pradesh had adopted practices that made most use of the soil moisture and conserved the ecosystem to ensure a sustainable output.

Gadarif city, in central Sudan, has suffered from a shortage of drinking water for decades. Half of its daily water requirement is met through river water imported over 50 km away and from local salty wells. As a consequence of building a small dam to control seasonal floods, it was found that the dam reservoir recharges groundwater, raising the water table by few a meters.

Wilted crops dot the countryside; farmers cry for water, electricity

Cement factories utilise huge natural resources and that includes water. Niranjan Mudholkar met Pearl Tiwari, VP (CSR), Ambuja Cements Ltd & director, Ambuja Cement Foundation to find out what her company is doing different at its several plants.

Has our insatiable hunger for development and unquenchable thirst for water put us at the risk of running out of this resource. The answer is obvious if recent expert surveys that point to fast depleting ground water levels are to be believed.