The India Water Portal Blog

The Daily Water Zen

Bihar Flood News & Updates on the Portal here: http://www.indiawaterportal.org/bihar

Videoblogging from S.Vishwanath of the Rainwater Club, www.rainwaterclub.org
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Subject: Nonprofits & Activism
Duration: 3:07 mins

Surface water bodies called tanks were indispensable for Bangalore. Built at a time when the city was rural, these man made structures provided water for tank irrigation and cultivation of such crops as rice. Now that the city urbanizes what is the new role for surface water bodies?

They obviously can harvest flood waters, they can recharge ground water, they are a biological rich and diverse space, and they modify the micro climate and are wonderful recreation spot for concrete jungles.

For all these parameters to work an institution should be around to plan, manage and invest to create these public goods and benefits. Unless a city has an Urban Water Management Authority, interventions ill be piece meal and at best sub optimal.

This open well adjacent to a lake called Amrutahalli, has water throughout the year for all non potable needs. This water is pumped up using solar energy and is cheaper than any other water that this institute can access. How is this to be integrated in the overall water plan for the city?
Institutional challenge for Bangalore which it needs to fast address before it runs out of water.

Bangalore- Benefits of a lake

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Water News

News Updates Contributed by: Binayak Das
Want to get these updates by email?: Click Here
Bihar Flood News & Updates on the Portal here: http://www.indiawaterportal.org/bihar

Bihar Floods Updates

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/epidemic-outbreak-in-bihar-nothing-new-ramadoss/72746-3.html?from=rssfeed
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/357098.html

http://www.centralchronicle.com/20080904/0409301.htm
http://www.pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=42273

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=10&theme=&usrsess=1&id=220832
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/2/hi/south_asia/7593843.stm

Daily News:Water & climate change: India to be one of the worst affected

http://www.indiaenews.com/india/20080903/141737.htm

Water & storage: Kotekeshwar project in jeopardy

http://www.livemint.com/2008/09/04004856/Govt-may-ban-Congress-MP8217.html

New site for Bihar floods 2008

India Water Portal has just started a new site to track the Bihar floods. All future updates will take place there.
Click here to go to that page: http://www.indiawaterportal.org/bihar
Please bookmark this URL for reference.

This new website (or portlet) is to facilitate communication between various people who are involved in the relief efforts and general citizens of the country and others. If you have a question or comment please use the comment link available after each post. We will do our best to respond to any questions that you have, facilitate your work, or put you in touch with relevant people.

If you or your organisation is working on relief work, please send us your updates for posting. If you are accepting contributions for the relief work we will try to post that information too.

We have an Ask A Question service: http://www.indiawaterportal.org/Network/askq/kb where you can post water-related questions which are forwarded to water practitioners for their input and answers. You could use this service.

Kosi Bihar Floods 2008 - News analysis

According to the BBC, government sources say that 60,000 to 80,000 people remain to be rescued in a ‘final and crucial’ stage of the rescue operation. More than 650,000 people have already been rescued and the death toll is at 90. Contradicting the government figures, an NGO Mandan Bharti Jagriti Samaj, says that 500,000 people remain to be rescued.
See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7595223.stm

The Hindu cites army sources as saying that 3 lakh more people need to be rescued, a task that will be accomplished in the next 3 days.
http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/03/stories/2008090360451400.htm
It also draws attention to the flood situation in Assam where over 10 Lakh people have been affected. The Majhuli river island in the Brahmaputra is almost entirely submerged with the river water.
http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/03/stories/2008090360451400.htm

According to the Times of India, the overall flood situation has eased slightly with receding waters. However fresh areas were innundated in Purnea district, where the Kosi breached its embankment near Dhodia village. 6.48 lakh people have been evacuated to safe places, of whom, more than 2.52 lakh are taking shelter in the 257 relief camps set up by the government
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bihar_flood_situation_improves_slightly/articleshow/3441374.cms

CNN-IBN is talking about the lack of clean drinking water:
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/floodhit-bihar-battles-shortage-of-drinking-water/72615-3-1.html?from=rssfeed

Deccan Herald has an article talking about the relief camps:
http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Sep32008/national2008090388102.asp

http://Biharfloodrelief2008.blogspot.com which is run by a group of people engaged in relief and rescue activities talks of different things — problems like dealing with snake and scorpion bites and the current items required like milk powder and life jackets in the relief camps. They are accepting donations.

Kosi Bihar Floods 2008 - biharfloodrelief2008.blogspot.com

Pix: from biharfloodrelief2008.blogspot.com

http://biharfloodrelief2008.blogspot.com is tracking the work of some Bihar based groups working on flood rescue and relief currently in the area around Forbesgunj in Araria district. They have been involved in flood rescue and relief work in the previous year too.

The website is currently requesting two volunteers who are good swimmers to help them with the evacuation work. See here

They will start relief work soon, and are also accepting donations. More details at their website. There are several photos and videos at their website of the flood scenes and rescue work.

Kosi Bihar Floods 2008 - Sri. Dinesh Kumar Mishra

Shri Dinesh Kumar Mishra of Barh Mukti Abhiyan has been campaigning on the flood issues for a long term. Following is a note from him on the historical context of flooding in the Kosi basin:

Dr. Jagannath Mishra, former Chief Minister of Bihar, has given a pathetic description of floods in Bihar. He said that “Nobody from the government has gone to Saharsa so far. If the people in Saharsa are surviving, they must be saying that we are engulfed in water since ten days and nobody is there to think about us. This is quite worrisome. I will suggest that we must try to look after those surviving there. We must try to save them, whether by boats or a helicopter�?�.. The flood in Saharsa is not a flood, this is unprecedented�?�.we cannot call it a flood, it is a deluge.” But wait, he is not talking about the recent floods (2008) in Bihar. He was making a speech in the Bihar Vidhan Sabha on the 13th September 1984 about a similar incident that took place on the 5th September 1984 near Navhatta in Saharsa district of north Bihar when the Kosi had breached its embankment at 75th kilometer south of the much talked about Bhimnagar Barrage and come out of the jacket just as it happened at Kusaha this year. Obviously, the powers that be refuse to take any lessons from the past mistakes and their executive wing, the Water Resources Department, is immune to any criticism and learning. The 1984 incident had uprooted nearly half a million people from their homes and hearths and engulfed 96 villages spread over 7 blocks of Saharsa and Supaul districts then. They could return to their homes only after the Holi festival in March 1985.

News Updates on Current Flood Activity in India

News Updates Contributed by: Binayak Das

This is a set of news links on Bihar floods and other smaller floods currently creating turmoil in India. Floods are a monsoonal activity? Flooding is natural, but way we manage infrastructure, floodwater routes and flood relief is what needs to be radically addressed. Even urban floods are on the rise.

A few days back, an apartment in Bangalore had to get rubber rafts. Its good that Bihar is getting attention all across; their deluge especially related to Kosi is an yearly event. Even in UP, more then 700 lives were lost during the recent floods.

Water & Floods: Please follow the links for more Bihar and other flood stories

http://www.thehindu.com/holnus/002200808291758.htm

http://www.thehindu.com/holnus/000200808291761.htm

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080063354

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/oneindia-all-news/~3/J04rRVGgxws/15-lakh-marooned-people-evacuated-in-bihar-1220002875.html

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/oneindia-all-news/~3/90QMbeA1pZc/aid-agencies-rush-flood-hit-bihar-nepal-1220004360.html

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/oneindia-all-news/~3/0L9iFAJMHxg/flood-threat-recedes-1219999176.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/29/india.flooding1?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1186614

http://www.ptinews.com/pti/ptisite.nsf/all/53E7AF0A0D7BECB2652574B400453B84?Opendocument

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/bihar-floods-many-families-stay-home-and-fight–back/72448-3-1.html?from=rssfeed

http://news.indiainfo.com/2008/08/29/0808292142_uttar_pradesh_flood_toll_rises_785_losses_rs28_bn.html

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/oneindia-all-news/~3/J04rRVGgxws/15-lakh-marooned-people-evacuated-in-bihar-1220002875.html

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/UN-rushes-to-assist-in-relief-ops-for-Kosi-flood-victims/354905/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/2/hi/south_asia/7587368.stm

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Bihar-floods-Were-eating-raw-rice-without-boiling-it/354959/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/2/hi/south_asia/7585797.stm

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Bihar_floods_More_trouble_as_Met_forecasts_heavy_showers_/rssarticleshow/3419153.cms

http://www.centralchronicle.com/20080829/2908303.htm

http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/aug/29bihar1.htm

Kosi Bihar Floods 2008 - Field report from Supaul, August 31st

Eklavya Prasad of Megh Pyne Abhiyan (see previous report here), gives an update based on the experience of Megh Pyne Abhiyan in rescue efforts in the last few days:

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There is still enormous urgency regarding the rescue operations, and the attention should be focussed on rescuing all the stranded people more than relief (important as that is) at this juncture. Many people are still stranded and in grave danger. According the this news report for example, the state Disaster Management Dept. is saying that as of 29th August about 1.5 lakh people had been rescued but 20 Lakh people were marooned.

There is a great need for boats. The boats could be hired from other nearby districts in Bihar. The requirement for this is money which we do not have at present so we need donations to hire the boats. Please see the contact information below for donations. Further, if there is a possibility to bring boats from other places like West Bengal to the flood-hit areas, please contact us regarding this (Ekalavya Prasad: graminunatti@gmail.com, 09810307445)

1.) On Saturday, a meeting was called by the Chief Minister with international relief agencies. This meeting was attended by Eklavya and an report on this will be made available here soon.
2.) Dr. Dinesh Kumar Mishra held a press conference on Saturday. Dr. Mishra has been a long time writer and campaigner on the flood issue in Bihar (see previous articles from him written on this topic last year here and here through the Barh Mukti Abhiyan. We will try to get some information about this.
3.) Mr. Eklavya Prasad featured on programmes on Zee News, NDTV and CNN-IBN where he made the same points about the urgent attention needed for the rescue efforts.

Danger points: As mentioned in the earlier report, the check dam near the Hydropower station at Kataiya in Vasantpur block is still under threat and its collapse could spell further disaster for the region.
The Murligang Branch Canal of the Janakinagar Main Canal from the Kosi crosses the Bhutahi Nadi at Uday Chowk. The eastern bund of the canal is already damaged and the western bund also looks vulnerable. If it gets damaged, the Triveni ganj area will be affected. (These reports are from talking to the local people)

The Army is trickling in but they have not yet reached remote areas they are concentrating on the more accessible areas. So there are many people who have not been reached yet. The situation is desperate for many people, we are seeing people hanging on to bamboo trees waiting to be rescued. How long can they wait ?

One of the difficulties in this rescue work is that these areas like Supaul are not the usual ones affected by floods so the local people have not had past experience with negotiating rivers in heavy spate. In response to the government appeal, Samta an NGO member of Megh Pyne Abhiyan from Khagaria (which has experience dealing with floods in the past) had sent a team of
rescue workers to Supaul.

The situation has shown some of our deficiencies in disaster management. The local NGOs are not able to respond quickly as they have to wait for funding approvals from the donor agencies. The government has also not responded quickly and at the needed magnitude. In many places the initial rescue work was done by the local communities including distribution of water and food
packets, and moving people using tractors. But these efforts have their limits.

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The Megh Pyne Abhiyan initiative in Bihar is accepting contributions. Currently the urgent need is for more boats for the rescue efforts. Contributions can be made to Gramyasheel, an NGO partner of the Abhiyan, which will then be used where felt most appropriate for flood relief. Contributions can be made to Gramyasheel�??s State Bank of India accounts below or by sending a cheque to the address for Gramyasheel given below:

Contributions from India can be made to - State Bank of India, Supaul, account no.30195975673, branch code no. 05998

Contributions from abroad can be made to - State Bank of India, Supaul, account no.11114440759, branch code no.0190

OR by sending a cheque to the Gramyasheel address as given below:

Mr. Chandrashekhar, Gramyasheel, Behind Jail, Nayanagar, Supaul �?? 852131; BIHAR state, INDIA. Telephone: +919430858277

Please send an email to graminunatti@gmail.com with a cc to portal@arghyam.org for informing of your contribution so it can be accounted for properly. A receipt will be sent for your donation through postal mail. However Gramyasheel is not an 80G registered organisation, so you may not be able to get tax exemption for your donation.

More information about Maegh Pyne Abhiyan:
http://www.indiawaterportal.org/tt/rwh/case/Megh%20Pyne.doc (English)
http://www.indiawaterportal.org/tt/rwh/case/Megh%20Pyne-Hindi.pdf (Hindi)

Contact information:
Ekalavya Prasad: graminunatti@gmail.com, 09810307445

Note: The Megh Pyne Abhiyan project has been supported by Arghyam Trust (which maintains the India Water Portal in collaboration with partners), for the past two years for their work in Bihar. As such, we are able to vouch for the integrity
of the network
– India Water Portal team
Contact us for clarifications at portal@arghyam.org

Kosi Bihar Floods 2008 - Media reports

CNN IBN:

Field report from Supaul:
http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/72535/flooded-furious-water-puts-bihar-on-the-boil.html

About survivors trying to pick up the pieces and start afresh:
http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/72549/bihar-flood-survivors-living-on-the-edge.html

Patna Railway Station deluged with victims:
http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/72539/patna-railway-station-deluged-with-victims-stories.html

NDTV:

Panel discussion including a member from the National Disaster Management Authority
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/videopod/default.aspx?id=37077

The Hindu:

Boat capsizes, 20 killed
http://www.hindu.com/2008/08/31/stories/2008083159760800.htm

http://biharfloodrelief2008.blogspot.com/ : Set up by one of the local groups involved in the rescue and relief work, contains details of their activities, and photos and videos of the floods, and addresses for contributions,

BBC World

Detailed reports on ongoing flood relief activities.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7590365.stm

A thousand pixels away, the flood in pictures:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7586256.stm

The Daily Water Zen

Videoblogging from S.Vishwanath of the Rainwater Club, www.rainwaterclub.org
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Subject: Science & Technology
Duration: 2:09 mins

Bangalore is awash with them and is proud to host India’s largest installation of solar water heaters. Every household now automatically gets one and it saves the family Rs 500 /- amonth approximately in water heating charges.

Solar water heaters

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