Good Food is First Food. It is not junk food. It is the food that connects nature and nutrition with livelihoods. This food is good for our health; it comes from the rich biodiversity of our regions; it provides employment to people. Most importantly, cooking and eating give us pleasure. …
early tests show that jojoba-fuelled engines spew fewer pollutants, run more quietly and for longer, and perform just as well as those that run on diesel. Jojoba is a desert shrub that can reach up to four to five metres high and typically lives for more than 150 years. It …
the Chhattisgarh government has decided to cancel the agreement under which a project to supply water from Sheonath river to factories was leased out to a private company. At a high-level meeting on April 2, chief minister Ajit Jogi instructed the advocate general, Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation (csidc) and …
For Abdul Rahim and other inhabitants of Fatehpur Taga village in Faridabad district of Haryana, power outages may be a thing of the past. No wonder they watch with rapt attention as technicians give finishing touches to a new decentralised electricity system that will use biomass gasification technology. The joint …
The Center proposes to consolidate all watershed programmes under a single ministry. The aim of the new programme, called Hariyali, is to streamline work and avoid duplication. "I am totally in favour of the move,' says N C Saxena, former secretary, planning commission. At present, three ministries run programmes related …
1973-74: Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) launched to tackle drought-affected areas. 1977-78: Desert Development Programme (DDP) started in hot and cold deserts to address the problems of great stress. 1985: National wasteland Development Board (NWDB) set up. 1989-90: Integrated Wastelands Development Project (IWDP) begins, still under implementation. 1992: NWDB strengthened …
Last fortnight I wrote about the different models of water privatisation. Questions continue to haunt me, but let me try and work towards some resolution. Firstly, there is the issue of pricing of water for the relatively rich of the developing world. It is evident that urban and industrial sectors …
Bhoomipujan of the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project was held in presence of chief minister Narendra Modi. Speaking at the function, Modi said the project would bring the city a par with other modern cities of the country.
Individuals and companies in western Australia could soon be asked to cough up US $0.25 million and US $1.25 million, respectively, for concealing or not reporting the discovery of contaminated sites. The state's legislative assembly has decided to debate such stringent laws following the discovery of 30 dumped cement-filled drums …
earthquakes shake water out of wet soil, new research suggests. Since the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, the observation that streams carry more water following a quake has baffled geologists. Some experts propose that earthquakes compress the water-bearing rocks that naturally feed streams, wringing more water from them. Others maintain …
automobiles Toyota Motor Corp will spend us $34 million to finance the improvement of anti-pollution controls on old, publicly-owned buses in the us even though it did not manufacture them. The company has agreed to do this in order to settle a Clean Air Act lawsuit filed against it by …
The Third World Water Forum took place recently in Japan to explore methods to optimally harness this vital resource, especially in developing countries. But after a week of countless meetings and seminars, the end result was far from satisfactory. The delegates, including ministers, bureaucrats and representatives of private water companies, …
Several efforts have been made over the years to control pollution caused by the printing and dyeing industry in Sanganer. At present, over 100 effluent treatment plants (ETPs) exist in various units. But about 80 of them are yet to be cleared by the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB). …
Humans usually source water from rivers, wells, ponds or underground aquifers. All these sources are ultimately fed by rain (scientists prefer the word
the timing, and background, of the recently concluded 3rd World Water Forum in Japan ensured that water be seen through the lens of conflict. Most debates centred around
Excessive heat and little light is how I would describe discussions on 'privatisation' of water. Protagonists say this is the magic bullet that will deliver safe water for all. Antagonists insist the private sector is interested only in profit, not in public good. Their claim that "Ganga is being sold …
It might sound bizarre, but is true. Venezuela's electric clocks are ticking slowly due to power shortage. The sluggish timepieces miss every midnight by 150 seconds. "The computers are not affected. The televisions function normally. No other devices, but the clocks are affected,' said Miguel Lara, general manager of the …
soil poisoned by lead can be easily decontaminated with the help of composted biosolids (organic residuals produced during wastewater treatment). Over the years the problem has become acute, especially in the case of children determined to taste
