Drought Update II of 2011 from WIO - 18th Oct 2011
Ranjan Panda
Dear co-sailors,
Greetings from Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO)!
On 27th August we sent out the First Drought Update for 2011 to you. In the meanwhile we got attacked by one of the most devastating floods of recent decades. Now that we are at the final stage of preparations for the first of its kind State Level Consultation on Flood Management scheduled for 23of of this month, we are shocked by more farmer deaths in the state due to drought conditions.
In fact, this has been the condition of our state and each year we experience floods and droughts together. While flood keeps us engaged during a particular period of time drought has been a silent and persistent killer. From this year on, we are trying to intensify our efforts to see that the debate and action over disasters in the state don’t die down. We really need a better strategy to cope with disasters and manage those to reduce the devastations. About a decade ago, we at WIO had termed Odisha as “Disasters own Country”. By now disasters have intensified further and in the coming years, the way we are managing them and the way climatic conditions are going to change, the situation is going to be worse. It’s time we join hands and act fast!! This Update is just another effort towards that.
Just in case you want to know it again, fifteen years ago, Water Initiatives Odisha(WIO) had started the habit of compiling Drought and Flood Updates for the state of Odisha and we used to share these among people, policy makers, media, academicians and other concerned. That time we did it through print papers and distributed photocopied updates. After continuing the effort for a few years, we could not keep up with the pace of the droughts, floods and disasters and stopped the effort a decade back. However, we kept on sending occasional updates from time to time via the internet and also through our print publications. Our friends and well-wishers have been asking us to start it again and we have too realised that the need for regular updates has become more vital than ever before with drought and disasters assuming new and gigantic proportions under new conditions of rapid industrialization and climate change. We are thus resuming the effort.
The format would however be the same: a simple compilation of news and views on drought and related issues sourced from newspapers, research reports, field studies and all other sources we can have access to. We keep it simple also to reach out to maximum number of people possible.
At the moment, it’s occasional and we may come up with these updates as and when we can, given our limited manpower and resources. However, with your inputs and support, we are sure; we shall be able to ensure regular flow of this update.
You can also find this update at:
http://climatecrusaders.blogspot.com/2011/10/drought-update-ii-of-2011-from-wio-18th.html
and
http://www.scribd.com/doc/69245766/Drought-Update-II-of-2011-From-WIO-18-Oct-2011
We request you to send in your reports of activities, your views; and any other interesting and relevant article, books, photographs, and anything that you feel we should cover in this Update. It’s YOU who is the most important FUEL of this effort.
Look forward to listen from you and your continued support.
Thanks and regards,
Ranjan Panda
Convenor, WIO
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Water Initiatives Odisha: Fighting water woes, combating climate change... more than two decades now!
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Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO) is a state level coalition of civil society organisations, farmers, academia, media and other concerned, which has been working on water, environment and climate change issues in the state for more than two decades now.