WASH News South Asia
News feed maintained by information specialists from IRC and partners.
Bangladesh: Towards “sanitation for all by 2010”
07 Mar 08
DHAKA, 4 March 2008 (IRIN) - “Half the slum is knee-deep in water during high monsoons. There is no electricity, no water supply. And the worst is that we do not have toilets,” said Tara Mia, a vegetable hawker who lives with his wife and three children in a Dhaka slum.From 2010-2015 Bangladesh will be [...]
Pakistan: Open defecation-free communities - one village at a time
07 Mar 08
KAMRA, 6 March 2008 (IRIN) - Until recently, Mohammad Nafees was like most children in his village when it came to relieving himself.“I used to poop outside. Just over there,” the nine-year-old giggled, pointing to the green field near his family’s home in the mountain village of Kamra, about 70km east of Islamabad.With UK funding, [...]
India: River-linking pacts to end water woes
05 Mar 08
Fri, Feb 29 01:20 AM, Yahoo! News IndiaThe governments of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat are poised to sign three new agreements to link their rivers in an attempt to harvest surplus water for irrigation and drinking purposes, and address shortages in some of the states. It could be a long-term solution to Mumbai’s [...]
India: Yamuna banks - A goldmine of water
03 Mar 08
AT THE heart of the protest against development projects on the Yamuna riverbed lies well-calculated science and concern for water security. In a study on water recharge potential of the Yamuna banks, protestors have found that the floodplains are a “goldmine of water” for Delhi. In the estimate, it has been found that by concretising [...]
India: Tossing copper, silver coins in rivers may help reduce water pollution
03 Mar 08
BHOPAL, FEBRUARY 26: The religious practice of devotees tossing coins in rivers across India can also be a recipe for purifying their water. One just needs to replace the regular metal coin with one made with copper-silver which can help in containing the river water pollution.The idea was one of the solutions mooted by a [...]
South Asia workshop: Sanitation and hygiene programmes must reach the poor
03 Mar 08
Participants at the South Asia Sanitation and Hygiene practitioners’ workshop in Bangladesh from 29 to 31 January 2008 identified five priority messages they will push in 2008:Sanitation and hygiene programmes must reach the poor and this is what should guide partnerships.More policy focus and funds are needed for urban sanitation for the poor.Local government and [...]
Bangladesh: New water filter to combat arsenic poisoning
07 Mar 08
DHAKA, 10 January 2008 (IRIN) - An innovative, locally designed arsenic filter, known as the Sono filter, now offers hope for millions who lack access to safe drinking water in Bangladesh.Occurring naturally in ground water in trace amounts, arsenic can have serious health implications for those who ingest it over extended periods.Read more: IRIN, 10 [...]
Sri Lanka: Malteser International Lent-Campaign 2008 focus on water supply
07 Mar 08
Cologne. During the Malteser International Lent Campaign “40 Euros for Sri Lanka“, the British water engineer Suzanna Lipscombe reports from Sri Lanka on a weekly basis. In Sri Lanka, Malteser International concentrates on programmes that provide clean drinking water for the population in remote areas. No sophisticated technology is needed to achieve this goal - [...]
India: water crisis in coastal states
03 Mar 08
Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drinkA lack of access to safe, clean water may not be the most obvious problem for those living along India’s extensive and beautiful coastline. Yet it is becoming increasingly apparent that most regions of India’s 13 coastal states are facing serious difficulties when it comes to providing [...]
India: Engaging With Citizens to Improve Water and Sanitation
03 Mar 08
Thursday, January 24, 2008Engaging with citizens results in service improvements, enhanced efficiency and greater public goodwill, a number of forward-looking Indian public service providers are discovering.A new publication, Engaging with Citizens to Improve Services, published by the Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) examines 10 initiatives designed to improve service, extend coverage and make public service [...]
