In some areas of Bangladesh and West Bengal, concentrations of As in groundwater exceed guide concentrations, set internationally and nationally at 10 to 50 ?g l?1 and may reach levels in the mg l?1 range. The As derives from reductive dissolution of Fe oxyhydroxide and release of its sorbed As.

It was a unique ceremony for a unique award given to a unique rural community of India. In what is perhaps the first ceremony of its kind, President K R Narayanan flew to Hamirpura, a village in Alwar district, to felicitate the village of Bhaonta Kolyala

It was a sight from the air that nobody could miss. The barrenness of the Aravalli hills stretching out from Delhi to Alwar is something President K R Narayanan could not help remark about, as his

To choose the most outstanding environmental effort was by all means a daunting task. There were several worthy candidates. To begin with, the award focussed on individuals. Realising that there

... for reviving the Arvari river, for showing that a healthy ecology and good water management mean prosperity, for proving that drought is a myth

The loss of life in the super cyclone that hit the Orissa coast last year was not an act of God . Had the emergency plans been in place, the loss would have been considerably reduced. It is time the government focused on a village level emergency plan ,

A translation of select portions of President K R Narayanan s speech after presenting the award

In Guraiya village , it's women empowerment all the way

Although Bhaonta Kolyala village walked away with the Down To Earth Joseph C John Award, the judges came across several such communities worthy of praise. The Guraiya Watershed Community in Madhya Pradesh, Krushak Charcha Mandal in Maharashtra and AJCB Br

A caste ridden society transforms the depleted forests into a green haven