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50 ` A Development and Environment Magazine geography and you Vol. 10, Issue 61, July-August2010 Issue61, 10, Vol. www.geographyandyou.in WATERMATTERS ■ Water Governance ■ Ecofeminism ■ Precipitation Extremes ■ Chhattisgarh & Uttarakhand Groundwater Resources ■ Cloudbursts ■ Managing Water in Thar contents GEOGRAPHY AND YOU VOL. 10 ISSUE 61 JULY - AUGUST 2010 RASAD Despite sizeable knowledge of water conservation systems, compulsions of FEATURES modern era developments have gradually turned the Thar poor so far as availability 4 Editor’s Note 16 Concept Counter and workable traditional water harvesting Cloudburst systems are concerned. Sadly, it started with VILLAGE BHU, JAISALMER BY P T WATER MATTERS Staff Reporter A groundwater irrigation that turned much of A NK 6 Policy Interventions A the desert green. — Page 36 18 State Study T Water Governance Groundwater Resources Role of Panchayats 36 Arid West 54 Sustainable Energy Uttarakhand M Ishtiaq and Ashok Managing Water in Thar Technology with Ecology Dr AK Bhatia and Kumar Sahay Dr Amal Kar IndianOil Mahendra Singh Negi Dr B N Bankapur 10 Ecofeminism REPORTS & STUDIES 24 State Study 44 Decoding Poverty TRAVEL Thinking Water Thinking Chhattisgarh Ground Staff Reporter 60 Traveller’s Diary Women Water Resource Rain Song Dr Saraswati Raju Ashis Chakraborty 46 Data Users’ Seminar Dr S Srinivasan Dehradun 13 News Roundup 28 Monsoon Roundup Staff Reporter 64 Photo Essay Freshwater News Precipitation Extremes The Dying Dal Staff Reporter Dr B Mukhopadhay EnERGY EnVIROnmENT Staff Reporter 48 International News Renewable Updates Q & A Staff Reporter 9 Term Power on Water Matters 23 Crossword 52 National 57 Term Power Ratings Renewable News India 59 Crossword Answer 42 In Conversation Registrar General and Census Commissioner Dr C Chandramouli, in conversation with the editor affably offers insights on issues of data collection and outlines the mechanisms of providing the unique identification (UID) cards. Optimistic about the new RASAD additions, Dr C Chadramouli feels that Census 2011 is poised at a momentous juncture. 2010 BY P N SOO N Editor Correspondence/Editorial Office whole, is prohibited. Sulagna Chattopadhyay G MO 1584, B-1, Vasant Kunj, New Printed, published and owned by N Special Editor Delhi-110070 Phone : 011-26122789 Sulagna Chattopadhyay. Dr Saraswati Raju For new subscriptions, renewals, ELHI DURI Printed at: India Graphic Systems D enquiries please contact Legal Advisor Circulation Manager E-mail: Pvt. Ltd. F-23, Okhla Industrial Area, Krishnendu Datta [email protected] or Phase-I, New Delhi-110020. Cover Photograph [email protected] Published at: IRIS Publication Pvt. Tribal woman ferrying water upslope, Please visit our site at Ltd. Geography and You does not Achanakmar, Chhattisgarh, by Prasad www.geographyandyou.com take any responsibility for returning for further information. unsolicited publication material. IRIS Publication Pvt. Ltd. A VIEW OF LODHI ROAD, NEW Registered Office:111/9, Aruna Asaf © IRIS Publication Pvt. Ltd. All disputes are subject to the exclusive Climate change in the form of the increasing trend in the number of above-normal Ali Marg, Kishangarh, Vasant Kunj, New All rights reserved throughout the world. jurisdiction of competent courts and unstable days during the monsoon season may be the cause for the increased Delhi-110070 Reproduction in any manner, part or forums in Delhi/New Delhi only. frequency of extreme rainfall events over the Indian region. - page 28 2 . JULY - AUGUST 2010 . G EOGR A PH Y A N D Y OU G EOGR A PH Y A N D Y OU . JULY - AUGUST 2010 . 3 EDITOR’S NOTE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR May-June 2010 Thank you for publishing several articles on urban issues. The article by Dr R B Bhagat titled Civic Amenities in Urban India is a master piece. It brings forth the real diffi culties faced by the urban establishments even after the empowerment of urban local bodies by the 74th Constitutional Amendment. However, I disagree with his remark that small urban centers lack fi nancial and technical capabilities to design the projects which can take care of public health issues, sanitation and solid waste management. In fact, the government lacks the will or it lacks vision as far as the smaller urban centres are concerned. There is no regulation what so ever at mufassil level. People are free to construct at their own will and most of the small urban centres look like fortifi ed slums. Is it not possible to enforce that all new construction has to have some semblance of organised construction with a proper provision for public health issues? It is very much possible. But this is simply not on the government’s agenda. –Shyamal Ghosh, Kolkata. For more details log on our website www.geographyandyou.in The Mishmis Material on NET News on environment I read the article ‘The Mishmi I look forward to G’nY for authentic I am a regular reader of G’nY since Hunter of Arunachal’ by Ambika in formation. I see there a dearth 2002. Earlier, I used to get some Aiyadurai in May-June 2010 issue of analytical and authentic material round up on environmental news of GnY. It was a mesmerising on geography for NET examination. which are handy for increasing the account of Mishmis with a Why don’t you start a series of knowledge base as well as teaching passionate description of their NET material in G’nY. It will be a my students. Off late I see many culture and traditions. The article’s great service to research oriented serious articles have been preferred conservationist approach is full of students who don’t fi nd quality over the small and light articles. balanced arguments and I hope information anywhere. The good Please include some news on the policy makers would take clues text books on the subject are out renewable energy as it has become from this article. I should expect dated–certain books carry data a very important subject. Dear readers, some more accounts of hunting which are at least 20 years old. I Sushma Tiwari, Meerut, UP It sounds very democratic to espouse that Panchayats decide amongst themselves tribes in the next issues of your hope you will consider my request magazine. and start the service soon. Urban Issues policies towards their future - not only in terms of basic amenities but also in terms R P Baishya, Ramesh Sagar, May-June 2010 issue published of all round development of village resources. One wonders what all these trained, Guwahati, Assam Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh many features on urbanisation. It highly professional bureaucrats who are supposed to be neutral agents of the state was extremely useful as I opted Articles on States Journal or Magazine for the same subject as a term in implementing schemes and changing the lives of people in a particular unit, be it GnY May-June 2010 issue I have been a subscriber of paper. I am also trying to point out Panchayat, block, village, whatever - are doing. Because, it now seems that what they has articles on Chhattisgarh, GnY from its inception and I the usefulness of GnY to serious are mandated to do are being delegated to the Panchayats. Let us not forget that we are Orissa, Arunachal Pradesh and look forward to every issue with students/researchers. Uttarakhand. Why don’t you genuine interest. But I am sorry to Monika R, Puducherry educationally challenged and plagued by low levels of awareness. Thus putting the onus publish articles on Rajasthan, state that of GnY has now become on the Panchayats, even to outsource quality services, is actually absolving the state Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, more a journal than a magazine. Library Editions in DVD machinery of its responsibility to facilitate basic services and amenities. It is an ominous Karnataka etc. It is important As a teacher I fi nd very little of its I heard from my colleagues who for the readers to know about content useful that I can share had participated in the data users’ trend that in the name of decentralization government is completely washing its hand off other states also. In fact articles with my students. May I request seminar, Dehradun that G’nY library from performing its basic duty of serving the nation. And what is more worrying is that the on tourism also has a lot of you not to dilute the character of editions are also available in DVDs. major casualty will be accountability of the government. We have recently seen lakhs of information on geographical GnY. Let it be a magazine and for Can I buy the DVD, kindly let me aspects of the state. accommodating serious articles know about the procedure. tons of grains rotting with no one held responsible with the dereliction of duties. From the Rashmi Singh, you can start a journal afresh. Shikha Saxena, country with a target of zero tolerance, we are now heading towards zero accountability. Patna, Bihar M K Bishnoi, Jaipur, Rajasthan Nainital, Uttarakhand The water matters issue, highlights policy matters, showcases state studies and brings to light the extreme event status in the country. The energy section is dedicated to sustainable practices by prominent oil companies and renewable energy news. Also Write, email, fax thrown in is a water matters crossword and term power to exercise your prowess. Enjoy. Write - Editorial Office Geography and You, 1584, B-1, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070, Tele-Fax 011-26122789, Email [email protected], Website www.geographyandyou.com. Include name, address and telephone. Letters may be edited for clarity and length. To contribute an article. Kindly send the abstract of your article in not more than 200 words to [email protected]. The abstract will be reviewed by our guest panelists.