Netsol Water Solutions

GUWAHATI: NGO Jana Jagriti, which has been spearheading a campaign against construction of dams in the upper reaches of Brahmaputra by China, has said the agreement recently signed between Indian and China on exchanging hydrological information is a mere "renewal" of an already existing pact between the two countries. Jana Jagriti president Ashok Singhal on Friday claimed an agreement on exchanging hydrological data was signed five years ago, which would have expired on June 4 this year. "No new agreements or MoUs have been signed to address the concerns of the people of the Northeast. The government has failed to get any assurance from China on India's concerns over diversion of Brahmaputra water in China," he said. Jana Jagriti claims China has planned 39 hydel projects on Brahmaputra in Tibet region, where the river is called Tsangpo. The NGO also claims to have information about the location of the dams planned by Beijing, but refused to reveal the source

NASHIK: Revival of the British era check dams in Devnadi and Malungi rivers has changed the face of Bhatwadi, Wadgaon and Temburwadi (Ashapur) villages in drought-hit Sinnar tehsil in Nashik district. Even when the area is reeling under severe drought and is dependant on tankers for drinking water supply, these villages boast of not just sufficient drinking water but also enough water for farming. Sunil Pote, one of the founders of Yuva Mitra (NGO) which had revived the check dams in Sinnar in 2011. "These are the only villages which do not need water tankers. The check dams are providing water to 1,280 hectares of land in Bhatwadi, 1,800 hectares of land in Wadgaon and Temburwadi (Ashapur). Revival of the check dams has led to diversion-based irrigation systems in these villages. Farmers in the area have also grown better rabbi crops than last year." Encouraged by the success of the check dams, the NGO has also revived check dams at Lonarwadi last week and is now working o