Civil Society - November 2019

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Environmental solutions have become more precise and impactful. Water harvesting is an example, for a long time boring a hole and putting water back into the ground was regarded as enough. Not any more, as our cover story shows. How rainwater is collected and used depends on many factors like rainfall available, topography and usage patterns.
The success at Rainbow Drive in Bengaluru could serve as inspiration for other housing estates. But what works in Karnataka may not work in Haryana where rainfall is not plentiful and soil conditions are different. In fact, solutions can across housing colonies in a city.
Similarly, ponds and tanks raise groundwater levels in their own way and create microclimates conducive to vegetation that might not have existed otherwise. Expertise is emerging in water harvesting and leading to small companies being formed to offer professional services.
The Delhi Jal Board under the Aam Aadmi Party government continues to find urban water solutions. Last issue, we reported on a constructed wetland as a low-cost sewage treatment plant. This issue we have a report on how polluting effluents from an east Delhi drain are being cleansed and recycled as usable water. A start-up has provided the inexpensive technology. Governments need to show such flexibility if the environmental problems of cities are to be addressed. There is a need for diverse solutions — sometimes varying within a neighbourhood.
Outliers like Pradip Krishen bring passion and knowledge to the search for environmental answers. He had some key insights on Delhi’s tree for this issue. Krishen’s work on urban forests has been happening in Jodhpur and Jaipur Unfortunately, the Forest Department bureaucracy has not been eager to draw on his ideas.
We caught up with Chandra Bhushan who has set up iFOREST to use technology to scale up environmental solutions. He has a great track record of working with industry during his many years spent at the Centre for Science and Environment.

Civil Society Magazine Description:

Civil Society is an independent magazine published from New Delhi.

It was launched in September 2003 to tell stories of change from across the chaotic landscape of post-reforms India.

A newly growing economy has winners and losers — as journalists we wanted to tell the stories of those who were making it and as well as those who were getting left behind.

In the past 15 years, Civil Society has come to be known for its refreshing style of covering people, events and trends. We are credited with redefining mainstream concerns in the Indian media.

Civil Society's reportage has brought to national attention individuals and groups who play leadership roles and drive change but get overlooked. We have shown that there is an India that exists beyond prime time.

This has been possible because we moved out of big media jobs to create a small and efficient enterprise through which journalists could look for stories where it may not be fashionable to look for them.

A democracy thrives on credible information. Small media entities, freed up from the demands of big capital, allow journalists to innovate and explore new frontiers. A large and complex country like India needs more alternative voices.

Started with just Rs 4 lakhs (about $6,000) of personal savings, one small car and a single computer, Civil Society has shown that it is possible for professional journalists with skills and clear values to build influential enterprises in the media.