WASH News South Asia
News feed maintained by information specialists from IRC and partners.
Sri Lanka: Treasuring every rain drop
03 Nov 10
“Let not a drop of water that falls from the sky flow into the sea….” These were the words of Parakramabahu, a 13th century Sri Lankan monarch who constructed the Sea of Parakrama,a massive rainwater harvesting reservoir, which to this …Continue reading →
India, Bangalore: water utility workers get right to information training
02 Nov 10
Staff from the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) are getting training to better deal with public queries under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The BWSSB will be the first department in Karnataka state to arrange a certified …Continue reading →
India, Uttar Pradesh: floodproof handpumps and toilets
28 Oct 10
In Bahraich district of northern Uttar Pradesh, India, handpumps fitted on a raised platform were the only source of drinking water to the 400,000-odd people during floods. The idea for the raised handpumps was promoted by District Magistrate Rigzin Samphel …Continue reading →
ADB launches My View H2O: The Asia-Pacific Video Contest
07 Oct 10
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is launching its second video competition which is open to all aspiring filmmakers across the globe. The video contest – My View H2O: The Asia-Pacific Video Contest – promotes awareness of the causes, implications and …Continue reading →
India, Tamil Nadu: housing and toilets for women self-help groups
30 Sep 10
An Indian NGO that provides housing and toilets for women’s groups was a finalist in the 2010 World Habitat Awards. Established in 1979, the Integrated Village Development Project (IVDP) mobilises poor women to form self-help saving groups (SHG). Some 6,700 …Continue reading →
India, Nagaland: sanitary napkin vending machines installed in schools
28 Sep 10
Automatic sanitary napkin vending machines have been installed in five schools in Kohima district, Nagaland, as part of India’s total sanitation campaign. The installation was an initiative of the Communication and Capacity Devlopment Unit of Nagaland’s Public Health Engineering Department …Continue reading →
India, Orissa: cholera-diarrhoea epidemic claims 140 lives
15 Sep 10
At least 140 people have died from cholera and diarrhoeal diseases in the Indian state of Orissa. Worst hit is Rayagada district, where 39 deaths have ocurred and 784 affected persons have received medical attention since first week of August …Continue reading →
Bangladesh, Dinajpur: 3,000 villagers stage water protest
15 Sep 10
A ground water resource conflict culminated in a mass protest as nearly 3,000 villagers besieged a power plant in northern Bangladesh. The villagers threatened to cut the electricity supply to the water cooling system of the Barapukuria power plant in …Continue reading →
Pakistan: sanitation crucial to survival for flood victims
15 Sep 10
Millions remain without proper sanitation in flood-affected Pakistan. “Sanitation is ‘the invisible problem’ in disaster relief and by highlighting the problem, behaviour change happens,” according to Bill Fellows, the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) global cluster coordinator working with United …Continue reading →
India, Bangalore: new legislation lets water board tackle water thieves
10 Sep 10
A recent amendment to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) Act enables the board to take tough action against water theft and meter tampering. So far the BWSSB has booked criminal cases against 15 violators and subsequently disconnected …Continue reading →
