The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs at its meeting here on Thursday approved a scheme of the water resources ministry for creation of a data bank to coordinate and process information with regard to water resources, reports our correspondent. The scheme, called "Development of Water Resources Information System", will be implemented during the current Plan period at a cost of Rs 234.3 crores.

Over 90 per cent of the Rs 8.21 crore project to close the Beki embankment breach at Narayanguri is complete by now, while the rate of erosion is reduced considerably at Bahari in Barpeta district. Highly-placed sources in the State Water Resources Department (WRD) told this newspaper that by June 15 the rest of the work was expected to be complete. Meanwhile, a sanction of Rs 5 crore has been granted for opening the silted up mouth of the Manas at Mathanguri. The BTAD is to execute the work by excavating the mouth of the Manas, sources said.

People, administration are equally culpable

Taking into account the scarce water resources in the state, the Public Health Engineering department of Mizoram has embarked on a mission to raise awareness among the public regarding Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) system in the hilly terrain. The Aizawl Development Authority Building Regulations, 2008, which came into force from May 2, has made RWH mandatory for every newly constructed house in Aizawl. The RWH system has been practised effectively in rural Mizoram for the last two decades.

Professional help sought for data collection; findings to be part of PMC's Environment Status Report While it is no secret that the unprecedented and unplanned growth of the city has put severe pressure on its various resources, for the first time the Pune Municipal Corporation is coming forward to actually study and assess the impact of the damage on at least one critical area

COCA COLA, which is at the centre of a raging water usage controversy in India, has for the first time admitted to the full gravity of the water problem surrounding its plants in the country. The US soft drinks MNC has announced that it would more than fully compensate for water drawn by its various bottling plants in the country.

COCA COLA, which is at the centre of a raging water usage controversy in India, has for the first time admitted to the full gravity of the water problem surrounding its plants in the country. The US soft drinks MNC has announced that it would more than fully compensate for water drawn by its various bottling plants in the country.

The Rotary Club of Mumbai inaugurated Enviro-Park in the premises of St.George Hospital at the hands of Mumbai Sheriff Indu Sahani yesterday on 5th June, the world environment day. President of Rotary Club, Mr Rumi Jehangir, Dolly Thakur, Mrs Kalpana Munshi, Chairman, Rotary Club, were also presenton the occasion.

A recent study - "Linking Community-Based Water and Forest Management for Sustainable Livelihoomds of Poor in Fragile Catchments of the Indus-Ganges Basin' - conducted by People Science Institute (PSI) here, shows a remarkable shift from farm- based to non-farm activities in Hilaungad Watershed of Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand. Only 14 per cent people are still practising agriculture, a figure which was 51 per cent 10 years ago.