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| Press Releases |
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- FUNDS UTILIZATION UNDER ARWSP
[Date: 29/10/06 Source: PIB]
The Ministry of Rural Development is concerned by the un-utilisation of funds under the Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) in several states. As per the ARWSP guidelines, the states are required to submit proposals for release of second instalment after having utilized 60% of their available funds by December end. As on date, only four states viz. Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Mizoram and U.P. have already submitted their proposals for release of second instalment in respect of ARWSP.
- Wake up call on Reservoir Siltation Nationwide
[Date: 26/10/06 Source: Indiatogather]
Siltation studies of 27 dam-created reservoirs spanning the nation, obtained using the RTI law indicate that all is not well. Storage capacities of the reservoirs have been dropping and the loss is alarming; what's worse, little is being to done to stop the wastage, find Himanshu Thakkar & Swarup Bhattacharyya.
- Financial Assistance for Rainwater Harvesting
[Date: 26/10/06 Source: S. Vishwanath, Rainwater Club & SE-WES]
Arghyam, a registered public charitable trust setup with a personal endowment from Ms.Rohini Nilekani, provides some financial assistance to initiatives on rainwater harvesting in India. The mission of the foundation is to promote equity and sustainability in access to water.
- Rural Poverty and Environment — Available Funding and Deadlines
[Date: 25/10/2006 Source: IDRC]
IDRC’s Rural Poverty and Environment (RPE) program invites concept notes for research projects that will enhance good governance, equitable access to and sustainable management of common pool resources. Call will close on November 30, 2006.
- Use Dugwells in Arsenic Affected Areas
[Date: 24/10/06 Source: Dr.D. Chakraborti, Jadavpur University & SE-WES]
A recent paper published by the School of Environmental Studies, Jadavpur University, recommends use of dugwells for collection of drinking water in arsenic affected areas to reduce health risks. Allowing overnight settling of particles and subsequent filtering, before consumption of the collected water for drinking, reduces arsenic contamination to a great extent if water contains sediments with high arsenic content, outlines the paper.
- The Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy
[Date: 23/10/2006 Source: SciDev.Net]
The Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy are seeking entries from inspirational and innovative local sustainable energy projects from Asia, Africa and Latin America. There are five international awards in total, each with a first prize of £30,000 and a second prize of £10,000. Prizes will be awarded for schemes which address the following areas: food security, health and welfare, light, and education and enterprise. Closing date is 14th November, 2006.
- Dengue Fever: Growing Threat Rivals Malaria, Ebola, Experts Say
[Date: 18/10/2006 Source: National Geographic]
An outbreak of dengue fever in India has infected more than 5,700 people and killed 103 in the past seven weeks. Formerly under control in some parts of the world, the mosquito-borne disease has made a rapid resurgence in recent decades, leading scientists to put dengue on par with better-known killers like malaria and the Ebola virus as a global health threat.
- Deadline for Sending Entries to Nirmal Puraskar Award Extended
[Date: 18/10/2006 Source: DDWS, GOI]
Last date for submitting entries to “Nirmal Puraskar Award”, given away by the Government of India for clean villages every year, has been extended to 31st October 2006. Steps like, revised prize money and online submission of entries have been introduced to facilitate larger participation. More than 2000 panchayats are expected to participate in this event.
- Revise Norms and Accord Priority to Water and Sanitation
[Date: 17/10/06 Source: Press Information Bureau, GOI]
Project Directors of District Rural Development Agencies (DRDA) and Chief Executive Officers of Zila Parishads, in the National Conference held recently, recommend according high priority to water and sanitation provision and revision of existing norms. The recommendations, related to water and sanitation, include revision of standard distance of travel from 1.5km to 0.5km for water collection, increasing per capita water need to 55litres from 40litres, increased allocation for IEC, regular revision of subsidy as per market cost and removal of toilet as a criteria in the BPL survey are among some of the important recommendations of the conference.
- Urban Rainwater Harvesters Database
[Date: 13/10/2006 Source: CSE]
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) is compiling a database of all the Urban Rainwater Harvesting Systems (URWH) implemented across the country over the past few years. In this connection, CSE is seeking information from individuals/institutions those who have taken up rainwater harvesting initiatives at their houses, colony, office, institution, or helped others build a system, or involved in protectin/ a lake or waterbody across the country. This initiative will help in analyzing the impact and take appropriate steps for future interventions in this important area. Fill up the simple online questionnaire to be a part of this initiative.
- Stormwater:
Expensive Nuisance or an Opportunity?
[Date: 11/10/2006 Source: Mike Young, Univ. of Adelaide]
Droplet, a discussion paper by Mike Young and Jim McColl, recommends the use of market-based incentive mechanisms to improve management of wastewater. On-site management of wastewater, including storm water, generated at a property through methods like reuse, recycling, gardening, ground water recharge, etc., reduces the need for higher public spending on facilities like sewers and treatment plants. Therefore, the proposal of credit system to property owners for better management of wastewater at the source of production will encourage adoption of efficient wastewater management methods and help to address one of the greatest concerns of sanitation around the world.
- Turbulent Waters
[Date: 10/10/2006 Source: Times of India]
The article by Kshithij Urs & Richard Whittell on water privatization looks at various initiatives in the past and the issues around it. The authors raise concern over privatization of water supply services contemplated by several cities of India quoting past experiences such as exclusion of services to poor, high increase in water tariff and poor management of schemes witnessed in some of the projects around the world.
- GRANT COMPETITION: 2007 Global Development Marketplace (DM2007)
[Date: 10/10/2006 Source: IRC source News]
World Bank will award grants to innovative proposals aimed at “Improving Results in Health, Nutrition and Population for the Poor”. The grant, ranging from US$ 50,000 to US$ 200,000 (EUR 40,000 – EUR 160,000), will be provided to NGOs, civil society organisations, foundations or development agencies. Last date for receiving the proposals is 17th November 2006.
- SACOSAN 2006: India scores below its neighbours on sanitation
[Date: 10/10/2006 Source: IRC Source News]
India scores below all its neighbours as far as access to sanitation is concerned. India scores 38 percent coverage of its population, Nepal 39 per cent, Pakistan 42 per cent, Bangladesh 59.5 per cent. Sri Lanka and Myanmar top the list: 76 per cent in Sri Lanka and 82 per cent of the population in Myanmar has access to sanitation facilities according to the reports presented by respective countries. According high priority to sanitation, increasing financing, and active participation of hardcore poor, women and children in all sanitation related activities were among the agreed actions in the Islamabad Declaration. For more, visit the website of SACOSAN2, Ministry of Environment, Pakistan and read India Country Paper by GOI.
- A $3 Water Purifier That Can Save Lives
[Date: 10/10/2006 Source: New York Times]
Lifestraw, a personal water filtering device manufactured recently by Vestergaard Frandsen, has been found to be effective in filtering parasites and bacteria present in contaminated drinking water sources, which are responsible for large number of water related diseases across the developing world. However, this device has been found to be less effective against very fine viruses and chemical contaminants present in the drinking water. For more, visit the website and read news.
- Movement towards MDG Goal No. 7 Inadequate
[Date:05/10/2006 Source:UKWN]
Responses to the inquiry of International Development Committee (UK) on the progress towards MDG Goal No.7 of Water and Sanitation reveal inadequacy of efforts. Failure to prioritise water and sanitation in the developing countries, inadequate and declining quantum of assistance, neglect of sanitation, lack of capacity building, need for increased focus on IWRM and school hygiene are some of the key areas of concerns identified by the United Kingdom Water Network (UKWN) as part of its response to the inquiry. Provide your inputs to the inquiry before 20th October 2006.
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