AU team in Ladakh to study water scheme implementation
rayagraj: A team of researchers from Allahabad University's department of geography is currently conducting a field survey in the remote and high-altitude regions of Ladakh.
Led by associate professor
Pawan Sharma
, the study focuses on evaluating and strengthening the implementation of the govt of India's flagship Jal Jeevan Mission (Har Ghar Jal) in ecologically fragile and topographically difficult terrains.
The initiative is part of a project sanctioned by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi.
The Jal Jeevan Mission, which aims to provide every rural household with a functional tap water connection, faces formidable obstacles in the Himalayan regions.
The research team is closely examining ground-level realities, infrastructural bottlenecks, and traditional water practices in villages scattered across the high Himalayas.
In these areas, extreme cold, limited oxygen availability, and poor connectivity severely impact both habitation and the feasibility of consistent development interventions.
During their fieldwork near the Changla Pass, situated at an altitude of 17,688 feet, the team encountered life-threatening health emergencies.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Urologists: What 90% Of Men With ED Don't Know (Start Doing This)
health-paradise
Learn More
Undo
Pawan Sharma, who is the project director, suffered a severe drop in oxygen saturation levels—below 55%—along with a high fever, necessitating urgent oxygen support.
Another team member, Harnam Singh, developed symptoms of high-altitude sickness, including vomiting and chest pain. Despite these grave challenges and the limited availability of medical support in the region, the researchers showed remarkable grit, continuing their mission with the aid of portable oxygen cylinders and prescribed medication.
The team has also been deeply engaging with local communities, including village water committees, tribal groups, and especially women, to gather nuanced insights into the actual functioning of the Jal Jeevan Mission on the ground. The findings indicate that in several villages, residents continue to rely on glacial melts, springs, and age-old storage tanks for water, with piped supply often proving inconsistent and seasonal.
The research emphasises the significance of blending traditional ecological knowledge with contemporary water delivery mechanisms to achieve sustainable outcomes.
The overarching objective of the study is to develop a policy framework that is context-sensitive and sustainable, aligning with the environmental, hydrological, and cultural specificities of the region. The focus is on integrating perennial traditional sources with piped infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted access to potable water in these high-altitude Himalayan settlements.
"Our effort is not just to assess policy performance but to co-create a realistic and integrated model that considers the region's geographical challenges, local water wisdom, and community participation for long-term water sustainability in Ladakh," said Sharma.
Follow more information on
Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here
. Get
real-time live updates
on rescue operations and check
full list of passengers onboard AI 171
.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
Students' cooperation essential to dismantle drug network: DCP
Mangaluru: Drug dealers have been targeting students. Programmes need to be organised to create awareness among students to build an addiction-free society, said Mithun HN, deputy commissioner of police (law and order). He was speaking at an Addiction-Free Day event held on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Mahanta Shivayogi Swamiji at the Roshni Nilaya School of Social Work auditorium on Saturday. The programme was organised jointly by the district administration, Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat, health and family welfare department, information and public relations department, Karnataka State Temperance Board, and School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya (Autonomous). The DCP emphasised the need for student cooperation to dismantle drug distribution networks. "If students experience mental distress, they should seek medical advice instead of falling into bad habits. The QR codes have been installed in every school and college campus, allowing individuals to scan and provide information to help rescue those involved in addictions from these networks," he said. Joachim Stany Alvares, chairman of the Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, said that in the current era, young people are increasingly drawn to addictions that negatively impact their physical and mental health. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like IBM and AWS: Driving manufacturing excellence with SAP on AWS Cloud - SAP Transformation CIO | AWS Undo In such a scenario, the celebration of Addiction-Free Day is a meaningful event to raise awareness among the youth on the issue, he said. Dr Prajakta Rao, psychiatrist, District Mental Health Programme, explained that the consumption of drugs like marijuana, cocaine, and heroin not only affects physical and mental health, but also has a detrimental impact on society. Such addictions can lead to social disadvantages like disrupted education and employment, she said, and urged the youth to stay away from drug abuse and join hands in creating an addiction-free society. Police sub-inspector Maruti P called upon students to be vigilant about the ill effects of drugs and not fall prey to bad habits. Sadashiva Ullal, chairman of Mangaluru Urban Development Authority (Muda), was present. An anti-drug pledge was administered during the event. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
In 15 mnths, Rims reports 62 transplants & 87 donations
Ranchi: A total of 62 transplants were successfully conducted while 87 organ and tissue donations were recorded at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims) between April 2024 and July 2025. State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) on Saturday generated awareness about the impact of organ and tissue donation on society. It honoured the families of deceased, who had pledged or donated eyes while stressing that one can illuminate another's life even in death. Urging the society to come forward in organ donation , Rims director Dr Raj Kumar said, "Why the hesitation to donate organs when someone is declared brain dead?We once faced similar resistance to blood donation. Thankfully, awareness changed that. The same shift in perception is needed for organ donation." Tributes were paid to late Sushant Singh, whose family had donated his organs. His father, Surendra Singh, through a video message, said, "I feel my son is still alive. People have received a new lease on life through his organs." Among the eye donors honoured at the event were late Ishwar Singh, Ram Ratan Ram, Sharda Vora, and Haradhan Mahto. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo by Taboola by Taboola Their families were felicitated with certificates and shawls in recognition of their compassionate decisions and the lives they helped transform through their donations. A total of 2,183 registrations were reported between April 2024 and July 2025. Out of these, 1,503 were male and 680 female. A total of 700 were in the age group of 18 to 30 years, 1,038 in the age group of 30 to 45 years, 355 in the age group of 45 to 60 years, and 90 above 60 years of age. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Fisherman loses part of foot after rare flesh-eating bacteria infection in Mumbai
Mumbai: A 78-year-old fisherman from Worli lost a portion of his left foot due to an infection caused by a rare "flesh-eating" bacteria, according to doctors who treated him for a 20-day period before discharging him last week. The bacteria was identified as Vibrio vulnificus, belonging to the same family that causes cholera, an acute diarrhoeal infection. Vibrio vulnificus is found along the coasts, and infections could be caused either by eating contaminated raw shellfish or oysters or exposure due to broken skin while wading through contaminated salt or brackish water. "Vibrio vulnificus infections have been reported in India, but are extremely rare," said Dr Gunjan Chanchalani, who heads the critical care department in Wockhardt Hospital, near Mumbai Central railway station, and was part of the team that treated the fisherman. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai On June 26, the fisherman was brought to the hospital in a near-death situation. "He was in septic shock, with a bad left leg wound. We realised the infection was spreading through his body and his blood pressure was low," said the doctor. Through scans, tests, and history-taking from family members, the doctors realised he had necrotising fasciitis (flesh-eating disease) after a minor foot injury during a routine fishing trip off the Worli coast. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo He recalled a sharp prick while wading through brackish water a few days earlier. Necrotising fasciitis, which can be fatal, is caused by a combination of different bacteria, with the most common being Group A Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus. It is known to spread throughout the body within 48 hours, and the key is to identify the organism causing it and administer the right antibiotic. The Wockhardt microbiologists found Vibrio vulnificus in the culture they grew in the lab within 48 hours, and he was started on doxycycline, the antibiotic that works on cholera as well. However, as the infection spread through his bloodstream (sepsis) and lungs, he was on a ventilator for seven days. Also, surgeons had to carry out three debridements—removal of dead (necrotic) skin tissue to help the wounded leg heal — but they had to finally amputate the front portion of his left foot. "His son told us fishermen in their colony have had similar infections," said Dr Chanchalani. "This could be due to salinity of the sea water getting reduced or pollution due to climate change," she added. Dr Rahul Pandit, who heads the ICU at H N Reliance Hospital in Girgaum, said, "Flesh-eating is a loosely used terminology; the bacteria destroy the skin, soft tissue, and fascia (muscles)." Necrotising fasciitis is not commonly seen in Mumbai, he said, with a few ICUs getting one or two cases a year. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
