Sir,

Nice writeup. As I started reading, my memory went back 20 yes to MDC & the discussions.

Thank you Sir

Prabhu BV

Ram is doing a fabulous job. Every one who sees the results will be inspired to follow in his footsteps.

I feel that we have made good progress in harnessing solar energy. The power cuts, even in the rural areas have become rare in the ares around me. I think RWH has succeeded wherever it has been tried. I think we may be able to reverse the trend and cause it to move northwards.

Now, we have two more problems: air pollution and traffic jams. The government cannot solve it alone. Public participation is needed. I think some of us need to talk about it and do our bit. To begin with, there is a need to cut down on vehicular movement, and switch over to electric vehicles.

Regards, and Godspeed.

Surjit

Grateful to you & Joseph for the inspiring details.

SIRS with great pride of being your associates.

DS Suri

Our compliments to Ram Sharma

Thanks for sharing

Harikumar

Please do an internet and YouTube search for Autism and see the role of poisonous chemicals in causing it. BTW Autism is increasing and is projected to reach more than 4 % of the population. If the rate does not increase further, we will still have 300 million people with Autism.

True that Pabal gets only about 500 mm rain in a year. But your ground slopes towards the Vel river. The land towards East and North East is at a higher elevation and is vacant. Prima facie, I believe that rain water from there flows into your property. So, the effective rainfall you get is 1000 mm or more. Along with recycling, enough to have an orchard giving you fruits and vegetables worth more than Rs one lakh per month.

Will contact you on your direct email ID.

Have also looked up the satellite image of Vigyan Ashram and find that, indeed, they have a rain water harvesting tank. However, I believe that they can do more, thereby supporting an orchard and a larger number of students.

River linkage is a grandiose project that will gobble up land and other resources. I think it is better to do grassroots projects.

Only Western Rajasthan and Ladakh are deserts. Western Rajasthan is already receiving water from the Rajasthan Canal. Ladakh is not involved in river linking. All other parts of India can manage water with conservation, recycling and rain water harvesting — all grassroots projects.

The problem in Chennai is the high variation in annual rainfall. In some years, it can be as low as 20 inches. In other years, it can be as high as 120 inches. Our ancestors made tanks in almost every village. These tanks collect water in surplus years and provide water in drought years. Now, these tanks need de-silting.

De-silting the 600 plus tanks in and around Chennai will mitigate both drought and floods. This will be much better than spending more than 1000 crores on setting up desalination plants.

Chennai also needs to de-silt the four rivers that flow through the city.

Unfortunately, the good citizens of Chennai mainly think of flood relief but neglect flood prevention.

Glad to note that Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI) is doing good work towards lake conservation in Chennai. See http://www.indiaenvironment.org