The Third Pole

Articles by The Third Pole

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  Mar 06, 2020

  As water crisis hits Hindu Kush Himalayan region, better planning and management are need of the hour

  Cities and towns in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region, initially designed for much smaller populations – if designed at all – now have to deal with the inflow of much larger numbers, and that too of people in distress. Managing water sources becomes far more difficult in such circumstances.
  climate change Nepal Asia Himalayas Spiti Valley Hindu Kush FWeekend International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development Darchula Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region
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  Feb 28, 2020

  Sharda river's changing course is creating perpetual refugees, rendering infrastructure futile

  As the Sharda River submerges their land and homes, refugees from then East Pakistan and of Uttar Pradesh are being displaced again and again.
  Uttar Pradesh Gorakhpur Sharda river LongReads FWeekend long-reads Mahakali Sharda Rahul Nagar Dhanhara Ghat
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  Feb 26, 2020

  In desert regions of Pakistan's Umerkot, a women-led initiative to grow jujube berries yields a sweet harvest

  The journey began in 2015 when 10 women planted 50 fruit berry (jujube) trees grafted with indigenous wild berries. The extension of such orchards could fulfill the nutritional requirements and could reduce malnourishment among pregnant lactating women, children and women in drought affected areas of Umerkot and Tharparkar.
  Pakistan Sindh province FWeekend long-reads Umerkot berries Rator Jujube ActionAid-Pakistan Ariz Zone Research Institute Tharparkar jujube trees jujube berries jujube orchards Sindh Drought Resilience Programme
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  Feb 18, 2020

  Kashmir: Mining expands on rivers despite dire warnings, threatening local livelihoods

  Despite warnings from research commissioned by itself, the government has thrown open mining auctions in Kashmir, threatening the stability of the riverbed, flood control mechanisms, and local livelihoods
  Jammu and Kashmir Kashmir IIT Jhelum river Irrigation and Flood Control LongReads FWeekend long-reads mining in Kashmir Central Water and Power Research Station Jhelum and Tawi Flood Recovery Project Water Resources Act illegal mineral mining
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  Feb 16, 2020

  Mahakali: An account of women's lives along the river basin as men migrate in search of work

  Men are conspicuously absent from the villages and towns on the banks of the Mahakali – the transboundary river that marks the western border of Nepal with India.
  Nepal Himalayas Flash Floods IUCN FWeekend long-reads Mahakali World Population Prospects bank erosion Darchula Baitadi women in Nepal
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  Feb 10, 2020

  Mahakali: Conflict escalates as locals lose out on livelihoods; municipalities at loggerheads over revenue

  Mahakali is also the main source of income for the municipalies [Bhimdatta municipality and Mahakali municipality], heightening tensions, since they were given the power to manage the river resources two years ago.
  Nepal FWeekend long-reads Mahakali Bhimdatta livelihoods along Mahakali Kalika Women Empowerment Centre National Natural Resource and Fiscal Commission Mahakali municipality
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  Feb 09, 2020

  In Nepal, locals along Mahakali river deprived of livelihoods as contractors take over, laws flouted

  It needs an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report to collect more than 250 cubic meters of sands and pebbles. Neither the Bhimdatta or Mahakali municipality have produced such reports.
  Nepal World Wildlife Fund FWeekend long-reads Environmental Impact Assessment Mahakali river Bhimdhatta Municipality-12 Environment Conservation Regulation Initial Environmental Examination Lekhraj Bhatta
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  Jan 30, 2020

  In Bhutan, misinformation, lack of funds pose major hurdles in move towards electric vehicles

  Even if the introduction of 300 electric vehicles pans out as expected by 2021, the UNDP funding stops there. If Bhutan hopes to continue with an electric vehicle programme beyond next year, the government will have to find new sponsors – a process that could derail the programme’s future.
  Bhutan Petroleum greenhouse gas emissions Electric car Electric vehicles UNDP Thimphu FWeekend long-reads National Environment Commission Vomit Comets
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  Jan 26, 2020

  Beyond Achro Thar's scenic landscape, harsh reality of salt miners' living conditions, wages

  The miners working on these salt lakes in Achro Thar live in destitute conditions with no access to healthcare and no money to travel out for miles to visit a medical centre
  Sindh salt Jhuggi Indus long-reads Thar Desert Achhro Thar Bakhreeji Mudaker Banddhi Wari Legal Aid Society salt lakes salt miners salt collector
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  Jan 12, 2020

  Despite India-China bilateral agreement, water data on Brahmaputra might be inadequate

  While much of the flow in the Yarlung Tsangpo that enters Arunachal Pradesh in India as Siang is generated in the south aspect of the Himalaya, there seems to be an absence of flow data in the stretch of the river from the crestline to the China-India border.
  India China Arunachal Pradesh Tibet Brahmaputra Teesta FWeekend Yarlung Tsangpo long-reads Arupjyoti Saikia Brahmaputra China-India hydropolitical relations Great Bend of the Yarlung Tsangpo