-TheWire.in In conversation with the chair of the committee that devised the New Water Policy, which proposes a shift in focus towards the long-neglected demand-side management of water. India’s new National Water Policy (NWP) argues that limits are now being reached on solving the country’s water problem from the supply side. The seven-member Mihir Shah Committee proposes a shift in focus towards the long-neglected demand-side management of water. Mitali Mukherjee spoke with Shah...

-Hindustan Times On Saturday, two landslides claimed 18 lives in Idukki and Kottayam districts. Residents of Kootickal and Kokkayar, the two worst-hit hamlets, witnessed a tragedy of such magnitude for the first time Thiruvananthapuram: The death of 24 people in flash floods and landslides caused by heavy rains in the hilly areas of Idukki and Kottayam districts in central Kerala has once again highlighted the recurring natural disasters in the state. Kerala has...

-The Hindu The low rank on the Global Hunger Index should push India to look again at its policies and interventions This year’s Global Hunger Index (GHI) did not go down well with the government. This was expected given that it ranks India 101 out of 116 countries for which reliable and comparable data exist. To add insult to injury, the GHI puts India far below some of its neighbouring countries. Barring...

-Hindustan Times Edible-oil prices continue to be dearer due to high global prices, prompting the Union government last week to tighten measures Vegetable prices, especially of tomato and onion, have risen in urban centres, including the national capital, on the back of higher fuel prices and damage to summer crops due to heavy rains, wholesale and retail trade data showed on Sunday.  Edible-oil prices continue to be dearer due to high global prices,...

-Hindustan Times Farm experts say cotton crop is considered the largest consumer of pesticides and insecticides and Punjab can reduce its chemical load with a dedicated policy on organic farming Punjab lacks a policy to promote organic cotton cultivation even as farmers associated voluntarily with it see viability of chemical-free production of the cash crop. Farm experts say cotton crop is considered the largest consumer of pesticides and insecticides and Punjab can reduce...