In the scope of Indian agriculture, a variety of crops is cultivated in India due to the vastly distinct weather and soil conditions that are available in various topographies across the country. These crops are majorly divided into food grains, cash crops, plantation crops and horticulture crops. Water is one of the essential resources that are required for proper growth of these crops. The majority of the farmers are still dependant on growing water intensive crops. Irrigation water, exclusive of precipitation and stored moisture, is required to meet the consumption rate of a crop during its growth period. But the amount of irrigation water required differs for each plant, not only because different plants need to survive different environments, but also because each plant has its own unique physical features.The rural Indian population is largely dependent on agriculture as its primary source of livelihood. Agriculture is one of the major contributors to India’s GDP, with an 18% share (KPMG report), this population plays an integral role in the Indian Economy.

In this regard, we would like to highlight some of the most water intensive crops that are popularly grown by Indian farmers.

Read on…

https://claroenergy.in/5-most-water-intensive-crops/

Prof. Manohar Khushalani appeared live in a program anchored by the charming Gargi Rawat, on the NDTV series, WE THE PEOPLE. with Co-panelists Raghav Chadha and VK Madhavan. There were also Videocons with Medha Patkar an Other from Chennai.

On We The People we talked about an an issue that concerns everyone – India’s impending water emergency. The crisis is all around us. Chennai is facing the worst water crisis it has ever seen. With lakhs of people depending on private water tankers as taps go dry, establishments have had to be shut down, children are skipping school and lining up for water. And while Chennai is the largest city facing a water crisis right now, there’s a drought like situation in almost half the country. Parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh too are reeling under the crisis. On this show, panelists talked about steps we can take to prevent an impending water emergency.

If you are really worried about the Water Crisis in India don’t miss this program. Click on the link below. It was telecast at 6pm Saturday, 29th June, 2019

A sperm whale was found washed ashore dead after swallowing 64 pounds of plastic debris. The male sperm whale was found on the Murcian coast in southern Spain in late February, reminding us how critical plastic waste in the oceans has become.

Read more:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/trevornace/2018/04/09/yet-another-dead-whale-is-grave-reminder-of-our-massive-plastic-problem/

By Reya Mehrotra

With no Cauvery water connection and borewells running dry, Green Glen Layout in Bellandur has got its forces together to catch every drop of rain. Various apartment complexes in the layout have taken up rainwater harvesting and each is doing it their own way. With each heavy rain, apartments in Green Glen Layout save more than 3,000-4,000 litres of rainwater and have installing meters to curb water usage.

Read the full article here

https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/two-apartment-complexes-in-bellandur-are-setting-an-example-in-harvesting-the-rain/articleshow/70014902.cms

The Philippines was able to save more than $1 billion in losses because of its natural systems, according to a World Bank report.

In its Lifelines: The Resilient Infrastructure Opportunity report released last week, the World Bank and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) noted that “combining infrastructure with nature-based solutions” reduces countries investment needs.

Read on…

https://www.manilatimes.net/mangroves-reefs-reduce-losses-from-disasters-World-Bank/573837/

Are we repeating the same mistakes again and again. Right now Chennai is facing the worst water crisis in history. It has 3 Rivers, 4 Reservoirs, 5 Wetlands, 6 Forests. One of the reasons for both the drought and earlier floods in Chennai, was because of real estate encroachment in Wetlands and around Reservoirs. Now read this Hindustan Times report, to find out what is happening in Maharashtra

https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/54k-mangroves-to-be-razed-for-bullet-train-in-maharashtra/story-VWD4CQFhEYygxU6XwhZdMI.html

Manohar Khushalani was a Panelist in a discussion on Niti Aayog report on Loksabha TV

https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/no-drinking-water-will-be-available-by-2030-if-we-don-t-conserve-now-report-119062000071_1.html

precipitation from the atmosphere. Some countries have large fresh water resources. The benefits these countries enjoy due to their vast fresh water resources are numerous.

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/countries-with-the-most-freshwater-resources.html

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/energy/will-new-categorisation-of-hydropower-plants-lead-to-sector-s-revival–65074

Prof. Manohar Khushalani, Editor, OneVorld, was interviewed extensively by the wire service, ANI, on the looming Water crisis in India. His interview forms part of it’s report circulated to all newspapers and news media in India and abroad.

He advocated water harvesting at community and individual level, quoting his own example, about how he built his own water harvesting in his home, as far back as 2003

No drinking water will be available by 2030 if we don’t conserve now: Report

The government is depending upon the desalination in Chennai which is very expensive also however they forget that the earth is a limited planet and oceans will dry. What will we leave for our children and grandchildren? We may have a lot of money but we cannot ask our children to drink money instead of water. Using ocean water and desalination is not the solution but water harvesting is” said former director of National Water Academy Professor Manohar Khushalani.

“It is a collective responsibility of the government and people of the country to save water and contribute to increasing the groundwater levels,” he added.

Mr Khushalani is presently working as professor in Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi and has also authored books ”Irrigation Practice and Design in five volumes”. (Published by Oxford & IBH Sponsored by NBT)

“It is not very difficult and expensive to harvest rainwater. One can easily do it commonly in group housing societies or individually. We will just have to make our heart little bigger and more responsible to be thinking about our next generation,” the professor told ANI.

He has made a water harvesting structure inside his residence, in which he has been harvesting rainwater since 2003, helping the raise the groundwater level in his area.

“I made this water harvesting structure in 2003 when my sixty feet deep tube well dried up. I decided to put all rain water collected on my terrace into it. There are two conditions in doing rainwater harvesting. Number one, first rainwater should not go into it, secondly filtered water should go into the ground otherwise it will contaminate the groundwater. The rainwater which is collected on my terrace flows through a pipe which is connected to the bore. After sixty feet, the soil filters the water by itself. The water which falls from the terrace or from height should be harvested but not the water on the roads during rains because it carries lots of dirt with it which may lead to groundwater contamination,” he said.

Mr Khushalani further suggested that the regions which are facing drought should not do farming of sugarcane as it absorbs a lot of groundwater. “By becoming aware today we can avert the danger tomorrow,” he concluded.

To see the original report click on the link below

Manohar Khushalani Recommends Water Harvesting

The ANI report has been featured in a large number of newspapers such as Pioneer, NDTV, First Post, New Indian Express.

https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/no-drinking-water-will-be-available-by-2030-if-we-dont-conserve-now-report20190620014626/

http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2019/jun/20/no-drinking-water-will-be-available-by-2030-if-we-dont-conserve-now-1992810.html

http://www.pioneernews.in/21-indian-cities-will-run-out-of-groundwater-by-2020-report

https://www.firstpost.com/india/indias-metro-cities-will-run-out-of-groundwater-in-next-10-yrs-claims-niti-ayog-report-40-populace-will-have-no-access-to-drinking-water-by-2030-6850271.html

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/21-indian-cities-will-run-out-of-groundwater-by-2020-report-2056129