A short film on water issues in Kalimpong.

Rohan Rao,
Secretary,STH,
Kalimpong,
Dist-Darjeeling,
Email - sth.secretary@gmail.com

Rainfall data for March 2014

With the start of the pre-monsoon season in 2014 (March to May), SHWB and Sikkim remained deficient in rainfall as was the case last year in 2013. 

Rohan Rao

Secretary,STH,

Kalimpong,

Dist - Darjeeling,

Email - sth.secretary@gmail.com

  

Clean drinking water in a disaster zone : Tricia Compas-Markman

In times of disaster, clean drinking water becomes a rarity, but a necessity. Engineer and designer Patricia Compas-Markman dedicates her work to addressing this need, innovating technology that will give disaster victims, soldiers, or anyone in distress with purified water.


Read more here

Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling

Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability

Excerpts of the IPCC report are reproduced below :-

1.    In recent decades, changes in climate have caused  impacts on natural and human systems on all continents and across the oceans.

2.    In many regions, changing precipitation or melting snow and ice are altering hydrological systems, affecting water resources in terms of quantity and quality. Glaciers continue to shrink almost worldwide due to climate change affecting runoff and water resources.

3.    Many terrestrial, freshwater, and marine species have shifted their geographic ranges, seasonal activities, migration patterns, abundances, and species interactions in response to ongoing climate change

4.    Impacts from recent climate-related extremes, such as heat waves, droughts, floods, cyclones, and wildfires, reveal significant vulnerability and exposure of some ecosystems and many human systems to current climate variability.

5.    Climate-related hazards exacerbate other stressors, often with negative outcomes for livelihoods, especially for people living in poverty .Climate-related hazards affect poor people’s lives directly through impacts on livelihoods, reductions in crop yields, or destruction of homes and indirectly through, for example, increased food prices and food insecurity.

6.    Adaptation is becoming embedded in some planning processes, with more limited implementation of responses.

7.    Adaptation experience is accumulating across regions in the public and private sector and within communities. Governments at various levels are starting to develop adaptation plans and policies and to integrate climate-change considerations into broader development plans.

The full report is here

     
Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling

STH activities (28Mar2014) : Talk on ' Major Environmental Challenges in the Himalayas' in NSS Orientation program at Kalimpong

Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling

Landslide in Washington state USA : 22Mar2014

Seminar on 'Living with Hazards' at North Bengal University, Dist Darjeeling (27-28Mar2014)

The Convenor, Prof Subir Sarkar of the Dept of Geography, North Bengal University can be contacted on 9434110158 (M)


Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling

Cyclonic circulation dumps rain and ice over many parts of SHWB and Sikkim

The precipitation is welcome and comes after an almost bone-dry period from Oct 2013 till now. In Kalimpong we are facing severe water shortage and also the numerous horticultural establishments in Kalimpong, not to mention the tea gardens of Darjeeling were also parched after a rainless winter season

Rainfall on 20Mar2014
Kalimpong : 22mm (4.30 to 5.30pm)
Darjeeling : 9mm


Praful Rao
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling

STH to participate in ATREE seminar on 25/26Feb2014

STH President Wg Cdr Prafulla Rao (retd) will be participating in a seminar "Linking Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Adaptation and sustainable landscape development goals in the Eastern Himalaya" as a resource person.

The two day event (25/26Feb2014) has been organised by ATREE (Ashoka Trust for Reseach in Ecology and the Enviroment), START (SysTem for Analysis,Research & Traning) and CDKN (Climate & Development Knowledge Network) in an effort to identify ways in which awareness of oncoming climate changes can be better linked with disaster risk reduction planning, in the context of Eastern Himalaya, especially Indian East Himalaya.

Rohan Rao,
Secretary, STH
Kalimpong,
Dist-Darjeeling,
Email - rohan.rao1313@gmail.com

21Feb2014 - DDMA (east) conducts mock drill on earthquake preparedness in and around Gangtok,Sikkim.

21Feb2014 - District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA East) in coordination with Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority, Land Revenue & Disaster Management Department conducted a preparatory mock drill on the earthquake preparedness at 1100hrs today in various places in and around Gangtok which is a precursor to a Mega Mock drill scheduled on 10Mar2014.

East District Collector-cum-chairman JS Raje said in an official release that the exercise was carried out to sensitize and spread awareness on earthquakes.

Source : sikkimfirst.in
Image : sikkimexpress.com

Rohan Rao,
Secretary, STH
Kalimpong,
Dist-Darjeeling,
Email - rohan.rao1313@gmail.com