A group of students raise awareness to preserve the beauty of wetlands I have always enjoyed the trips and picnics our school takes us for. They are a good break from studies and a time to refresh our minds. This year, our school decided to take us to the Ropar wetlands in Punjab. But, we were not excited. We were hoping for a trip to Jaipur or some other historical place.

When the rain gods do not send water for irrigation, farmers look downwards, at groundwater, for help. But, years of groundwater exploitation and lack of recharging, has led to a fall in the water tables. For instance, in north and central Gujarat, water tables have dropped to 20m per decade since 1974, as per a study by the Central Ground Water Board. If this continues, extracting groundwater will get more expensive because we have to dig deeper, or worse, groundwater will be only a myth for future generations.

On World Environment Day, let’s find out what the Conference of the Parties (COP) is and its role in saving our environment.

Researchers say that global warming is a cause of frequent and high-intensity thunderstorms

Wetlands purify water through natural processes where aquatic plants act as bio-filters. Plants absorb phosphates and nitrates from the water and roots help to put back oxygen into the water. Constructed wetlands are a cost-effective method of treating wastewater and polluted water bodies. These are low cost solutions and can be easily made or replicated.

Sattu is a powder made by grinding a mixture of roasted pulses, mainly chickpeas and cereals. It is rich in protein and leaves one satiated for a long time. Apart from the laddu, a refreshing summer drink is made out of sattu, which helps us in bearing high temperatures and keeps our stomach healthy. It is also ideal for people suffering from peptic ulcer and can also fight diabetes.

Rising temperature has made heatwaves more severe and common. ************************************* This year (2018), even before the summers had begun, the India Meteorological Department warned the districts of Raigad, Ratnagiri and Mumbai in Maharashtra about heatwave-like conditions. Temperatures in these districts are expected to touch 38°C. This is 6°C above the normal temperature for the summer months. Farmers and daily wage labourers are the worst-hit...

Millions of years of evolution . . . replicated in an instant!

Water is the essence of life, and we need to adopt practices to save and reuse it