Ancient Venus was potentially habitable for three billion years: Study
The planet had stable temperatures — between a maximum of about 50°C and a minimum of about 20°C — and water worth a shallow ocean
Rivers' dry run
Ten of the 15 monitored river basins registered a dip in their reservoir levels between May 2014 and 2019
Groundwater situation: Levels fell in most wells in 2017-18
In states like Delhi, Rajasthan, Telangana and Tamil Nadu, the number of wells having groundwater at greater depth have increased according to a …
Narmada has been killed in Gujarat, say activists
Members of Vadodara-based non-profit say the river downstream of Sardar Sarovar is now seasonal and carries only seawater and sewage
Will the inauguration of Ganga navigation destroy the river’s ecology?
Down To Earth talks to riverine experts on what could happen to the river’s flow, depth and wildlife
Kerala's Thrissur district is recharging 4.5 lakh wells
Inititated in 2008 to arrest fast depletion of groundwater, the community scheme received the Danish Water Air Food Award 2018 for offering …
This indigenous tribe of Kenya needs the world’s attention
The Sengwer hunter-gatherer people of the Embobut forest are being criminalised and dispossessed of their ancestral lands by the Kenyan State
Crisis in the Himalayas: Nearly 50% perennial springs in the region have dried up
Known as the Earth's water tower, drying up of springs at such scale will not only affect 60% of Himalayan population but also the major water …
7.5 billion and counting: How many humans can the Earth support?
Data suggests that the Earth can support at most one-fifth of the present population, 1.5 billion people, at an American standard of living
One of the biggest threats to the environment - desertification, explained
At an ongoing global workshop on desertification, the Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan said desertification threatens 30% of India’s …
Here comes the megacities
By 2100, at least 10 cities are predicted to have population over 50 million. How can society keep pace?
Road to 2030: World, especially Africa, won’t achieve access to clean water, sanitation goal, says UN
Sub-Saharan Africa region lags most & will need 20-21 fold increase in current rates of progress
State of the Climate in Africa 2021: High water stress to displace up to 700 million Africans by 2030
Extreme weather and climate change are undermining human health and safety, food and water security and socio-economic development in Africa
Micro-irrigation: The way ahead for sustainable agriculture
In the age of climate change and water scarcity, micro-irrigation can help increase crop yield and decrease water, fertiliser and labour …
Swachh Bharat Mission: Haryana still defiant
The claim of an ODF-free Haryana flies in the face of cases of class division, dysfunctional toilets and administrative inaction
Awareness is key to rejuvenating River Ganga: experts at 105th Indian Science Congress
Besides biodiversity conservation and a forestation programme in Ganga river basin, the experts recommended installation of 113 real-time online …
Budget 2020-21: Will MGNREGA become an overarching rural development scheme
The upcoming budget will see many schemes being brought under the rural employment prtogramme; a direct cash transfer may be declared to top this up
Microplastics time-bomb: Why we should not reuse plastic water bottles
Whether microplastic particles cause long-term damage is uncertain but reducing our exposure to them will be wise.
Access to drinking water, sanitation improve across states, urban-rural divide remains: NFHS-5
Despite progress on sanitation front, several states reported every third or fourth person having no access to improved facilities
India’s sanitation economy to double by 2021
It would be worth $62 billion in three years and the credit would go to Swachh Bharat Mission, say speakers at 18th World Toilet Summit
How to fight water scarcity this monsoon
Though the monsoon is behaving erratically, drought-prone districts are still water rich
Book Excerpt: Listen to the land
India's rich, diverse landscapes are brought nearly to waste by misguided decisions in name of development. The cracks in the land hold valuable …
World Environment Day 2023: Springs need urgent revival for water security in the Indian Himalayas
The neglect of springs and aquifers in the context of rivers and watersheds has led to large gaps in developing a national response to spring …
Aquatic animals will grow larger, not shrink in size, in warming waters: Study
The findings contradict the theory that aquatic animals such as fish will shrink due to global warming
Guinea worm: A nasty parasite is nearly eradicated, but the push for zero cases will require patience
The final push to full eradication requires patience and faith on the part of institutions and governments supporting the effort; also, people …