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They live along the river bank, but have no water to drink - the story of dry Betwa
They live along the river bank, but have no water to drink - the story of dry Betwa

By Satish Malviya

Large portions of the ‘perennial’ Betwa river in Madhya Pradesh are bone dry due to over exploitation of the groundwater and the river. Poor villagers living along its banks trek long distances to fetch drinking water while rich tubewell owners sell aquifer waters. Will the Ken-Betwa link project solve the region’s water crisis? A ground report.

Large portions of the ‘perennial’ Betwa river in Madhya Pradesh are bone dry due to over exploitation of the groundwater and the river. Poor villagers living along its banks trek long distances to fetch drinking water while rich tubewell owners sell aquifer waters. Will the Ken-Betwa link project solve the region’s water crisis? A ground report.

A 5 km trek through jungles and a 100-foot descent to fetch water – a day in the life of tribal villagers in Panna
A 5 km trek through jungles and a 100-foot descent to fetch water – a day in the life of tribal villagers in Panna

By Arun Singh

Hundreds of tribal families in Bilhata, Katahari and Koni villages inside the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh are dependent on jhiriya, a local water source, to meet their water needs. Adivasi women trek several kilometres each day through the thick jungles and climb down steep hillsides to collect water from the jhiriya. Forest officials say that these villages need to be relocated due to the Ken-Betwa Link Project.

Hundreds of tribal families in Bilhata, Katahari and Koni villages inside the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh are dependent on jhiriya, a local water source, to meet their water needs. Adivasi women trek several kilometres each day through the thick jungles and climb down steep hillsides to collect water from the jhiriya. Forest officials say that these villages need to be relocated due to the Ken-Betwa Link Project.

"Our fields are barren. People are falling sick"
"Our fields are barren. People are falling sick"

By Mithilesh Dhar

Dhanbad, Bokaro, Singrauli ... the coal mines are mining miseries for people living close to them

Dhanbad, Bokaro, Singrauli ... the coal mines are mining miseries for people living close to them

Raja Bhoj, the great Bhojpur lake and its Mandideep 'island'
Raja Bhoj, the great Bhojpur lake and its Mandideep 'island'

By Manoj Misra

Twenty five kilometres south east of Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, and a few kilometres downstream of Mandideep is the ancient township of Bhojpur with its 1000-year-old 'mystery' and the world's oldest, still functioning dam.

Twenty five kilometres south east of Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, and a few kilometres downstream of Mandideep is the ancient township of Bhojpur with its 1000-year-old 'mystery' and the world's oldest, still functioning dam.

'Everything washed away in floods; the clothes on our bodies are all that's left'
'Everything washed away in floods; the clothes on our bodies are all that's left'

By Satish Malviya

Extremely heavy rainfall has led to massive floods in Madhya Pradesh. More than a thousand villages in five districts are flood-hit. Hundreds of thousand people have lost their homes, belongings, stored food grains and crops in the field. A ground report from marooned villages in Vidisha district.

Extremely heavy rainfall has led to massive floods in Madhya Pradesh. More than a thousand villages in five districts are flood-hit. Hundreds of thousand people have lost their homes, belongings, stored food grains and crops in the field. A ground report from marooned villages in Vidisha district.

Having missed the December 2022 deadline, will all households in Bundelkhand, UP get tap water by Diwali?
Having missed the December 2022 deadline, will all households in Bundelkhand, UP get tap water by Diwali?

By Pratyaksh Srivastava

Uttar Pradesh government is working on a war footing to provide the promised tap water connections in every household of the seven districts of the rain-deficient Bundelkhand region by this Diwali.

Uttar Pradesh government is working on a war footing to provide the promised tap water connections in every household of the seven districts of the rain-deficient Bundelkhand region by this Diwali.

Ancient cave art at Madhya Pradesh's Panna Tiger Reserve awaits conservation
Ancient cave art at Madhya Pradesh's Panna Tiger Reserve awaits conservation

By Arun Singh

There are several historical sites in Madhya Pradesh's Panna Tiger Reserve where painted rocks depicting the life and times of Gond adivasis are found. Despite being declared as monuments of national importance in 1990, little has been done to preserve the prehistoric heritage. Details here.

There are several historical sites in Madhya Pradesh's Panna Tiger Reserve where painted rocks depicting the life and times of Gond adivasis are found. Despite being declared as monuments of national importance in 1990, little has been done to preserve the prehistoric heritage. Details here.

The Gond Warrior Queens, a Hill Fort and its Baoris
The Gond Warrior Queens, a Hill Fort and its Baoris

By Manoj Misra

Ginnorgarh, some 60 kms from Bhopal, was the stronghold of Gonds under Rani Kamlapati, which, after her demise, was occupied by Dost Mohammad, the founder Nawab of Bhopal. The Ginnorgarh fort, now in ruins, is not only picturesque but is also an architectural marvel.

Ginnorgarh, some 60 kms from Bhopal, was the stronghold of Gonds under Rani Kamlapati, which, after her demise, was occupied by Dost Mohammad, the founder Nawab of Bhopal. The Ginnorgarh fort, now in ruins, is not only picturesque but is also an architectural marvel.

Running out of space at the Panna Tiger Reserve?
Running out of space at the Panna Tiger Reserve?

By Arun Singh

The recent death of a two-year-old male tiger in the Panna Tiger Reserve, the most critical tiger habitat in the country, raises hard hitting questions. Is the reserve running out of space for the growing number of tigers? And, what happens if the Ken-Betwa river linking project submerges a major portion of the core area of the Tiger Reserve?

The recent death of a two-year-old male tiger in the Panna Tiger Reserve, the most critical tiger habitat in the country, raises hard hitting questions. Is the reserve running out of space for the growing number of tigers? And, what happens if the Ken-Betwa river linking project submerges a major portion of the core area of the Tiger Reserve?

Bundelkhand: Water crisis drives villagers into becoming climate refugees
Bundelkhand: Water crisis drives villagers into becoming climate refugees

By Biswajeet Banerjee

India accounts for the highest number of people forced to flee their homes due to climate-related disasters such as floods, cyclones, droughts and the growing water crisis. This summer, as water sources dry up, many more prepare to leave their homes in Uchchadi village of Chitrakoot to become environmental refugees.

India accounts for the highest number of people forced to flee their homes due to climate-related disasters such as floods, cyclones, droughts and the growing water crisis. This summer, as water sources dry up, many more prepare to leave their homes in Uchchadi village of Chitrakoot to become environmental refugees.

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