Water Conservation

Best of BS Opinion: India needs a new approach to managing gold and water

Today, we look at the challenges and opportunities that India faces in various areas, from gold to flowers to water, and most importantly, China.

Saving water: India needs a balanced management template to avert crisis

Though big dams such as the Sardar Sarovar and pipe-building programmes such as the Har Ghar Nal Yojana seek to address the issue of access, the real challenge is ensuring balanced water ecology

Trump takes break from trade war to make America's showerheads great again

Trump repeals Biden-era showerhead water limits in new executive order, saying low pressure affects his 'beautiful hair'; critics slam the rollback

Govt launches water conservation campaign from Haryana's Panchkula

Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil on Saturday stressed the importance of water conservation, stating that it is the need of the hour, as he launched the nationwide campaign "Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain-2025" from Panchkula. Addressing a gathering at the event, Patil said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had emphasised turning water conservation into a people's movement, and "today's event is a reflection of that." He emphasised that the need of the hour is to save water because water cannot be created. "Water will be the first criterion on which future generations will evaluate us. To secure water conservation for the future, we need to advance in water storage by making various plans and experimenting with different methods," said the Union Minister. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini was also present at the occassion, according to an official release. The Union Minister said that, due to the visionary leadership of the prime minister, the growing problem of water scarc

Govt approves 56 new watershed development projects worth Rs 700 crore

The Rural Development Ministry has approved 56 new Watershed Development Projects that will be undertaken at a cost of Rs 700 crores in the ten best-performing states, the government said on Monday. In a statement issued here, the ministry said the projects will be undertaken in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim. "Department of Land Resources announces sanction of 56 new Watershed Development Projects at a cost of Rs 700 crores under the ongoing scheme of PMKSY-WDC 2.0 in the 10 best-performing states...," the ministry said. "Each project will approximately have an area of 5,000 hectares, but in hill states, it may be lesser. The initiative prioritises visible field impacts by allocating Rs 700 crore to cover approximately 2.8 lakh hectares, ensuring timely recovery of degraded land and efficient utilisation of funds," the statement said. "These projects would further help in increasing the income of

NYC issues first drought warning in 22 years, pauses aqueduct repairs

New York City on Monday issued its first drought warning in 22 years after months of little rain -- and will restart the flow of drinking water from an out-of-service aqueduct as supplies run low. Dry conditions across the northeast have been blamed for hundreds of brush fires. They had already prompted New York City and state officials to implement water-conservation protocols when Mayor Eric Adams upgraded the drought warning and temporarily halted a USD 2 billion aqueduct repair project that had stopped drinking water from flowing from some reservoirs in the Catskill region. Last week, a park on the northern tip of Manhattan caught fire, sending smoke billowing across the city -- less than a week after a brush fire in Brooklyn's Prospect Park. "New Yorkers should not under estimate the dry weather and what it means," Adams said at a news conference, noting the recent fires. "The fire risk is high and the fire risk is real." The city may elevate the warning to an emergency if dry

State secures top position in water conservation via public participation

Raipur district ranks first in the state in water conservation work with public participation in Chhattisgarh, where a total 35,758 water-conservation works have been completed

IUCN award conferred on conservation scientist Bibhab Talukdar on Friday

The organization now employs around 200 people in its various divisions

Assam to undertake Rs 800 cr project to rejuvenate 129 'beels': CM Sarma

Assam government will undertake an Rs 800 crore project to rejuvenate 129 'beels' (lake-like wetlands) in the state to boost fish production and aid in water storage, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday. "To be executed in collaboration with Asian Development Bank, it will revive 4000 hectares of beels to give fillip to indigenous fish production and water management,' Sarma posted on 'X'. Beels are the backbone of Assam's hydrological resources which enable flood mitigation, groundwater recharge, river flow regulation, erosion control and are a source of fisheries. Rejuvenation and restoration of the beels will lead to additional fish production of 1,200 kg/hectare annually, he said. The project is aimed at increasing the water storage capacity of the beels as well as conserving and managing the indigenous fish species. A beel is a lake-like wetland with still water. These lake-like wetlands are biodiversity hotspots in Assam and are home to many types of aquatic

Tapping wastewater: Govt floats 50% reuse mandate for bulk users by 2031

50% reuse target for new bulk users and 25% for existing bulk users after FY31

Jal Jeevan Mission: 160 mn rural families have access to tap water now

Nearly 16 crore rural households, ensuring 78.58 per cent of rural homes, now have access to potable water, a sharp increase from the 17 per cent coverage when the Jal Jeevan Mission began, according to the Jal Shakti ministry. Aimed at bridging the rural-urban divide and improving public health, the mission's objective is to provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to every rural household by 2024. As of October 6, the ministry said the mission has provided tap water connections to 15.19 crore rural households, ensuring 78.58 per cent of rural homes now have access to potable water, a sharp increase from the 17 per cent coverage when the programme began. The initiative, which is also tackling water quality and drought-prone areas, is directly benefiting 19 crore rural families. The mission has added 11.95 crore new tap water connections since its launch, with states like Goa, Haryana, Telangana, and Himachal Pradesh achieving 100 per cent rural household coverage. ...

Restoring river ecosystems vital to ensuring economic stability in India

River basin conservation also strongly influences the attainment of broader goals related to environmental conservation, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development

Centre to spend $300 mn to mitigate floods, conserve water in big cities

The federal government spending, the first flood control measure focused on water bodies, was approved recently and will also incorporate early-warning systems, said Krishna S. Vatsa

Water shortages feared as snow in Hindu Kush Himalaya hits record low

The Hindu Kush Himalaya is experiencing significantly lower snow persistence this year, raising serious concern over water security for downstream communities, according to a new report. Leading experts from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), a Nepal-based intergovernmental organisation, have urged water management officials to initiate drought management strategies and preemptive emergency water supply measures. The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region heavily depends on the cryosphere -- frozen water on the Earth's surface, including snow, permafrost, and ice from glaciers, lakes and rivers. This frozen water is a critical source of freshwater for around 240 million (24 crore) people living in the HKH region and has far-reaching benefits for around 1.65 billion (165 crore) people downstream. Snowmelt accounts for around 23 per cent of the total water flow of 12 major river basins originating in the HKH. However, its contribution varies from river to

Water level at India's main reservoirs declines to 23%, says CWC report

The water level of the country's 150 main reservoirs has dropped to 23 per cent and is also 77 per cent less than last year's levels at this time, according to Central Water Commission (CWC) data. Last week, the live storage of these reservoirs was at 24 per cent. The present storage is merely 77 per cent of last year's levels and 94 per cent of the normal storage, CWC data stated. In its latest weekly bulletin, released on Friday, the commission said that "the total live storage available is 41.705 billion cubic metres (BCM), equating to 23 per cent of the total capacity". "This is a significant decrease from the 53.832 BCM recorded during the same period last year and the normal storage level of 44.511 BCM. Consequently, the current storage is only 77 per cent of last year's levels and 94 per cent of the normal storage," the commission said. The 150 main reservoirs monitored by the CWC have a combined live storage capacity of 178.784 BCM, which is around 69.35 per cent of the to

K'taka bans use of drinking water for car washing, gardening, imposes fine

As per the Bengaluru district administration, for up to 5 km, a 6000-litre water tanker will cost Rs 600, an 8000-litre water tanker will cost Rs 700, and a 12,000-litre water tanker will cost Rs 1000

Water Act 2024: HP, Rajasthan and UTs first to decriminalise small offences

Experts have raised concern over central government overreach and the weakening of state autonomy, as well as the potential for leniency towards large units

In 2050, 33% of global river sub-basins could face water scarcity: Study

In 2050, one-third of global river sub-basins are projected to face severe scarcity of clean water due to nitrogen pollution, new research has found. Analysing more than 10,000 global river sub-basins, an international team of researchers found that nitrogen pollution dramatically increased the number of river basin systems considered scarce with regards to its water quality. The supply of clean water for all is one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030. They projected that nitrogen pollution could render many sub-basins in South China, Central Europe, North America, and Africa to become water scarcity hotspots. The team, led by Wageningen University in The Netherlands, has attributed the nitrogen pollution to urbanisation and agriculture. Their findings are published in the journal Nature Communications. River sub-basins are smaller working units of river basins, which are a large source of drinking water but also remain locations of large scale urban

California approves new rules for turning wastewater into drinking water

When a toilet is flushed in California, the water can end up in a lot of places: An ice skating rink near Disneyland, ski slopes around Lake Tahoe, farmland in the Central Valley. And coming soon kitchen faucets. California regulators on Tuesday approved new rules to let water agencies recycle wastewater and put it right back into the pipes that carry drinking water to homes, schools and businesses. It's a big step for a state that has struggled for decades to secure reliable sources of drinking water for its more than 39 million residents. And it signals a shift in public opinion on a subject that as recently as two decades ago prompted backlash that scuttled similar projects. Since then, California has been through multiple extreme droughts, including the most recent one that scientists say was the driest three-year period on record and left the state's reservoirs at dangerously low levels. Water is so precious in California. It is important that we use it more than once, said

From water conservation to cleanliness: PM puts forth 9 resolutions

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday put forth nine resolutions ('sankalp') and as many requests ('aagraha') before people, urging them to work towards fulfilling them. The PM proposed these ideas while addressing the inaugural function of the Swarved Mahamandir on the second and final day of his visit to his parliamentary constituency Varanasi. "My first request is save every drop of water and make more and more people aware about water conservation. Second: Go from village-to-village and make people aware about digital transactions, teach them about online payment. Third: Work to make your village, your locality, your city number one in cleanliness." "Fourth - Promote local, local products as much as possible, use only Made in India products. Fifth - As much as possible, first see your own country, travel around in your own country and if you want to go to another country, then you should not feel like going abroad until you see the whole country. "And these days, I keep tellin