Page 5 - Water Crisis

World Food Day 2023: We must not take water for granted

Freshwater is not infinite, and we need to stop taking it for granted, writes Dr QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization

Poor water quality in 44 of 46 localities of Shillong, govt to launch probe

More than 95 per cent of drinking water supplied to 46 localities of Shillong is harmful for consumption due to the presence of bacteria, high iron content and low pH value, a report of the State Food Testing Laboratory has stated. Concerned over the quality of drinking water supplied to residents of Shillong, the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People, a social organisation, collected water samples from the 46 localities of the city and sent those for testing on August 22. The report, which came recently, indicated that water in only two localities -- Demthring and Mawblei was safe. "The water samples showed the presence of Coliform and E. Coli, low pH value (acidic), high turbidity, and iron content above the prescribed limit indicating that the water in these localities was unsafe for drinking," an office-bearer of the organisation told PTI. Acidic water causes corrosion of pipes while high iron content has health implications and the presence of faecal coliforms in water

Cauvery issue: Karnataka bandh on Sept 29 likely to disrupt normal life

Normal life is likely to be affected, especially in the southern part of the state, with pro-Kannada and farmers' organisations calling for Karnataka Bandh' on Friday to protest the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. Kannada Okkuta', an umbrella organisation for Kannada outfits including factions of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, Kannada Chalavali (Vatal Paksha) and various farmers' bodies have given a call for the statewide dawn-to-dusk shutdown. There will be a massive protest procession from Town Hall to Freedom Park in the city, in which people from all walks of life are likely to participate, the organisers said. They have said that the bandh is for the entire Karnataka and that they will try to shut highways, toll gates, rail services, and also airports. The opposition BJP and JD(S) too have extended their support to the bandh, as also hotels, autorickshaws and hail riders associations in Karnataka. "Autorickshaw Drivers' Union and Ola Uber Drivers and Owners' Association .

HCL, WEF's UpLink opens applications for Zero Water Waste Challenge

Indian firm HCL and UpLink, the open innovation platform of the World Economic Forum, have invited applications for the Zero Water Waste Challenge, which is part of the Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative. The challenge calls for innovative water usage approaches to improve freshwater conservation from supply to demand, moving towards zero water waste, according to a release. This is the second of five challenges from HCL and UpLink's Aquapreneur Innovation Initiative. The initiative aims to create innovation ecosystem for the global freshwater sector. The deadline to apply is October 2, 2023. Under this initiative, HCL committed USD 15 million until 2027 to support the water-focused entrepreneurs. Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson of HCLTech said that as climate change continues to intensify and fresh-water resources become scarcer, corporates have a unique opportunity to make a substantial difference. "At HCL, we are committed to help resolve this global crisis. In partnership w

Will take action on officials for non-compliance of water release rules: HP

With heavy rains and flash floods devastating Himachal Pradesh, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena on Friday pitched for stringent action against dam authorities not following water release guidelines, saying "it is time to send notices and not letters or reminders". Chairing a meeting on safety issues regarding the discharge of water from dams, Saxena said that though a part of the devastation was natural but responsibility must also be fixed for the failure of the dam authorities in complying with relevant provisions of the Dam Safety Act (DSA) and the Central Water Commission (CWC) guidelines of 2015. Strengthening of early warning system was stressed after 24 students from Andhra Pradesh were washed away as water from the Larji Dam was discharged without prior warning in 2014, he said, adding that the Act provides for surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of all specified reservoirs. However, many dam authorities have failed in fulfilling their duties, resulting in the

Heavy rains cause severe waterlogging in U'khand, SDRF rescues 50 people

The SDRF team reached the spot at night and taking prompt action, rescued about 50 people from the submerged houses and took them to a safe place by raft, said officials

High ocean temperatures harming Florida coral reef, crews race to help

Steps away from the warming waters of Florida Bay, marine biologist Emily Becker removed covers from the dozens of water-filled tanks under her watchful eye. Nestled in seawater carefully maintained at about 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29 degrees Celsius) lay hundreds of pieces of coral some a sickly white from the bleaching that threatens to kill them, others recovered to a healthy bright iodine in colour. As Becker looked over the coral, crews of reef rescue groups arrived in trucks carrying more brought up by divers in a massive effort aimed at saving the coral from an ocean that is cooking it alive. People jumped into action really quickly, as best as they could, Becker said, wiping sweat from her brow. Up and down the chain of islands that form the Florida Keys, coral rescue groups and government and academic institutions have mobilized to save the coral from a historic bleaching event that experts say threatens the viability of the third-largest reef tract in the world. They've

Cauvery issue: TN CM urges PM to intervene, advise K'taka to release water

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to advise Karnataka to immediately release Cauvery water due to the State as per schedule and clear the 28.8 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft) shortfall. Stalin, writing to Modi, said the Supreme Court had fixed the share of water to be delivered by Karnataka to Tamil Nadu at Billigundulu, on the inter-state border, as per the monthly schedule. Unfortunately, Karnataka is not honouring the order in letter and spirit and not adhering to the directions of Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA). In the current 2023-2024 water year, Karnataka has released only 11.6 tmc ft of water, as against 40.4 tmc ft due at Billigundulu from 1 June to 31 July, 2023. "Such a huge shortfall of 28.8 tmc ft has been thrust on Tamil Nadu, even while Karnataka has a gross storage of 91 tmc ft in its four major reservoirs, against their full storage capacity of 114.6 tmc ft." On the other hand, the storage position in

Yamuna shows rising trend, Delhi urges people to stay put in relief camps

With the water level in the Yamuna showing a rising trend, the Delhi government urged people on Monday to stay put in the relief camps while assuring them that they are not facing any threat, even as some of them returned to their homes and shops to begin the exercise of rebuilding them. Authorities meanwhile continued the work of pumping out water from flooded roads, with officials saying the water has been cleared from almost all the roads, barring a carriageway of the ITO stretch and Rajghat. However, the removal of silt and mud is being done. Delhi is in the middle of battling one of its worst flood-like scenarios due to the recent heavy rain, with more than 25,000 people evacuated from inundated areas. According to official data, approximately 26,784 people have been evacuated from the flood-affected low-lying areas of Delhi, out of whom around 18,416 people are staying in 47 relief camps (including temporary camps as well as pucca buildings -- schools, community centres etc.).

Himachal Pradesh authorities urge people to boil water before drinking

The water supply in Hamirpur town of Himachal Pradesh was restored on Saturday after a gap of six days amid incessant rainfall in the state, but residents claimed the water is so muddy it is unfit for drinking. Many residents of the town also complained that they were being forced to purchase water from tanker owners at Rs 1,700 per tanker. Officials of the Jal Shakti department said there is a possibility of water bodies getting muddy because of the torrential rain over the last few days and people should take precautions to prevent any water-borne diseases. Superintending Engineer, Jal Shakti, Neeraj Bhogal said although the department was determined to provide clean drinking water, precautions should be taken. He advised the residents of Hamirpur district to boil water for at least 20 minutes before drinking and regularly clean water storage utensils and tanks. Hamirpur district witnessed an outbreak of water-borne diseases in January and jaundice in June this year. The depart

A water crisis in slow motion

India's struggle with flood management, climate change, and its misaligned priorities pose a serious threat to clean water supply in cities

15 killed by floods in China as seasonal torrents hit mountain areas

At least 15 people have been killed by floods in southwestern China as seasonal torrents hit mountain areas, authorities said on Wednesday. Another four people were reported missing by mid-morning in Chongqing, a vast mountainous region of 31 million, almost all of which has now been designated as having flood risk, according to the local government website. The Chongqing floods appear to be China's deadliest amid deluges in other parts of the country. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated. In just one southwestern province, Sichuan, more than 85,000 people have been evacuated due to flooding, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. Chongqing's flood warning has been upgraded from level four to level three, reflecting the growing seriousness of the crisis. Rescue teams in inflatable boats were ferrying villagers to safety and workers were clearing roads blocked by landslides, according to photos posted on the government website. Seasonal flooding hits large parts of C

Take steps to prevent shortage of drinking water and irrigation needs: KCR

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday instructed the officials to take measure on a war footing to stockpile water in the State's reservoirs from Krishna and Godavari rivers including 'Kaleshwaram'--multi-purpose lift irrigation project. Rao, also known as KCR, held a high level meeting with officials at Secretariat on rainfall, availability of water in the rivers like Pranahita, water storage in the state's reservoirs, electricity demand etc, an official release said. KCR wanted the officials to take steps to prevent shortage of drinking water and irrigation needs in the state, in view of deficient rainfall during June. The Chief Minister advised the officials to give priority to supply of drinking water and to monitor water reserves in the reservoirs under the Godavari and Krishna continuously. KCR said that water reaching through Pranahita should be lifted through Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla projects and fill Mid Manair. From there, half of the water will b

Statsguru: Adequate groundwater buffers can help reduce pain of drought

India had 398 billion cubic metres of extractable groundwater resources in 2022, recharged largely by the monsoons. The usage continued to go up even after 2011, but moderated after 2013

Water near ethanol plant in Ferozepur found unfit for drinking: CPCB

Water samples drawn from 29 borewells near an ethanol plant here were found unfit for drinking, a new report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has said. Samples from 12 of these borewells had an unpleasant odour and those from another five had grey or blackish water. Total dissolved solids (TDS), boron and sulphates were found in high concentrations beyond acceptable limits, according to the report submitted to the National Green Tribunal. Water samples taken from two borewells located inside the plant contained huge amounts of heavy metals, including arsenic, chromium, iron, manganese, nickel and lead, it said. In January, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann ordered the immediate closure of the plant after a months-long agitation against the unit by villagers. An inspection team also found that 10 borewells and six piezometers were installed on the plant premises allegedly without obtaining permission from the CGWB (central ground water board) or the PWRDA (Punjab Wate

More than 50% of world's largest lakes are losing water: Research

More than 50 per cent of the largest lakes in the world are losing water, according to a new study, with key culprits unsurprisingly being warming climate and unsustainable human consumption. The study, published in the journal Science, is the first comprehensive assessment of trends and drivers of global lake water storage variability based on an array of satellites and models, said lead author Fangfang Yao, University of Virginia, US. He said this new method of tracking lake water storage trends and the reasons behind them could give water managers and communities insight into how to better protect critical sources of water and important regional ecosystems. Motivated by environmental crises such as the drying of the Aral Sea between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Yao and colleagues from the University of Colorado Boulder (US), Kansas State University (US), France, and Saudi Arabia set out to measure changes in water levels in nearly 2,000 of the world's biggest lakes and reservoirs,

55 wildlife creatures suffering from dehydration rescued in Mumbai

At least 55 wildlife creatures including birds and reptiles, many of them suffering from dehydration, were rescued in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region in the last three days, an NGO claimed on Wednesday. The Forest Department and Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW) were flooded with calls about dehydrated animals stranded in residential areas, said Pawan Sharma, founder of RAWW, an NGO, and an honorary wildlife warden. An eight-feet-long Indian Rock Python was found in a housing society in suburban Mulund which is located on the edge of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, said Sharma. Joaquim Naik of the RAWW rescued it and released it in the wild, he added. In neighbouring Thane, a pregnant cobra was found severely dehydrated and distressed near a residential area. It was treated by veterinary doctors and kept under observation. The reptile was in severe stress due to which it had abandoned its eggs which were unfertilized, according to Chinmay Joshi, a zoologist attache

Rising heat: Tankers roped in to supply water in Maha's scarcity-hit places

Eighteen villages and four settlements in Jalna and Hingoli districts of Marathwada region in Maharashtra are currently facing water shortage and tankers have been roped in to supply water at these places, the administration said in its report on Wednesday. The report issued by the divisional commissioner office said the administration has acquired 447 wells across six districts of Marathwada so far. "Due to the summer season, various places in Marathwada are facing water issues. Eighteen villages and four wadis (settlements) in Jalna and Hingoli districts are facing water shortage. Therefore, the administration has started supplying water through tankers at these places. Of them, 10 villages and four settlements are from Jalna, while eight villages are from Hingoli," the report said. In order to meet the water needs of the people, the administration has also acquired 447 wells in six out of the total eight districts of Marathwada - 85 each in Aurangabad and Jalna, 177 in Hingoli, 1

Lucknow faces crisis as Gomti water level drops; no winter rains to blame

Early onset of summer has led to a drop in the water level of Gomti river to 1.4 feet below the normal 346.7 feet due to the extreme weather

Carrying out studies to implement micro-irrigation projects: Kerala govt

The Kerala government has said that it was carrying out studies and making efforts to implement micro-irrigation projects in the state to ensure availability of water for cash crops, like cocoa, castor and cloves, in the hilly areas. Kerala Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine announced this initiative of the state government after inaugurating a weir-cum-tractor way constructed at Alakkad Parakkadavu across the Eryam River in Kadannappally-Panapuzha Grama Panchayat in Kannur district of the state. The Minister said that the government was going ahead with various irrigation projects that can ensure water availability for the agricultural sector. He said that while carrying out the Parakkadavu project, besides a facility for irrigation, it was also considered as a potential source of drinking water. Augustine said people should be cautious about a possibility of severe drinking water shortage in the near future. "Ground water level is decreasing in Kerala," he pointed out. He