-The Hindu In any new National Water Policy, the aim should also be to encourage conserving water resources and efficient usage The complexity and scale of the water crisis in India calls for a locus specific response, that can galvanise and integrate the ongoing work of different Ministries and Departments through new configurations. Such an integrated approach must necessarily cut across sectoral boundaries and not stop at the merger achieved between the...

-The Tribune Along with better forecasts, we need better monitoring and reporting of actual rainfall, water levels in Rivers and incidents of landslides. More timely and location-specific forecasts that would enable the disaster management authorities to take the necessary advance actions would help. Such emergency action plans would follow only if there is a functional, accountable and participatory disaster management mechanism in place. This month’s flood disasters in two states distant from...

-The Hindu Pampa, Manimala, Achencoil still above danger level Amid havoc caused by torrential rains over the past week leading to floods and landslips, the Kerala Government has constituted an expert committee to regulate the release of water from 81 dams across swollen Rivers. The hydroelectric, irrigation and drinking water dams in the State are several decades old and designed in a pre-climate-change era. Climatologists, structural engineers, and hydrologists are on the committee...

-IndiaToday.in Six people have died after heavy rain triggered landslides in parts of Kerala. The IMD, meanwhile, had sounded a 'Red Alert' for at least five districts in light of the situation. Six people have died and dozens are feared missing after heavy rain triggered landslides in south and central Kerala on Saturday. The deaths were reported from Thodupuzha and Kokkayar in Idduki and Koottikkal in the Kottayam district. In addition to floods...

-The Hindu Average precipitation tendency has been decreasing, especially the monsoon rains: IMD official Chandigarh: The hill state of Himachal Pradesh has been gradually witnessing lesser snow in the past decade and the area under the snow is also decreasing. The trend triggered by climate change has alarmed environmentalists, considering the importance of seasonal snow cover as a major input in controlling the hydrology of the River basins in the ecological fragile...