Bhubaneswar: At least 65 persons have reportedly died so far due to sunstroke even as severe heat wave continues to whip the entire state, throwing normal life out of gear. However, the revenue department confirmed only ten deaths out of the 65. As many as 17 places have recorded maximum temperature between 40 to 46 degrees Celsius on Thursday with Sambalpur town becoming the hottest place as mercury soared to 46 degrees there.

KOCHI: In a major initiative to find a solution to the drinking water woes of West Kochiites, a Rs 1,000-crore project is being prepared by the state government in association with various agencies. The project, which is expected to be completed in three years, will benefit the residents of Varappuzha, Cheranalloor, Eloor, Mulavukad and surrounding areas. The project is being planned as part of the Japan-aided drinking water project, said Hibi Eden MLA.

The shortage of drinking water has long been a threat to the development and future of country's capital, but a recent report suggests turning seawater into fresh water could turn the tide to an old problem in Beijing.

The cost of desalinating sea water - to make it safe to drink - is expensive, Guangzhou Daily reported Tuesday, and along with the construction of the required pipeline the investment would equate to a minimum price of seven to eight yuan, roughly one US dollar, per ton.

Wars keep children out of school. So does sickness. But in Niger, a sun-baked land where drought occurs with alarming frequency, a major impediment to education is thirst and the long trek required to quench it.

The school day had already begun on a recent morning as a procession of small children on donkeys, school-age all, made their way over a sandy field, joining other youths gathered with their animals around deep holes in the ground.

The Federal capital is facing an acute shortage of some 98 million gallons of water per day. Its daily requirement is 180 million gallons. Some of the city’s sectors have lost complete access to drinking water – clean or otherwise!

JAIPUR: Rajasthan has been allotted 13 per cent of the total funds for providing drinking water the Centre claimed on Monday. Union minister for rural development, drinking water and sanitation minister Jairam Ramesh on Monday said that the Centre has sanctioned the highest allocation of Rs 1,300 crore to the desert state and assured that Rajasthan would get top priority in various central schemes for provision of drinking water.

NEW DELHI, 21 MAY: Expressing concern over the scarcity of safe drinking water at stations and trains, the parliamentary standing committee on railways has asked the railways to take effective steps to ensure safe potable water to passengers. The panel headed by Mr T R Baalu (DMK) in its report tabled in Parliament said scarcity of packaged water in long distance trains and unsealed water bottles at railway stations are matters of concern. The committee said it is distressed to note that though the new catering policy was issued in July 2010, it is being implemented at a very slow pace.

The entire Vidarbha region in Maharashtra is facing a drought-like situation following huge water scarcity due to drying of lakes and wells in most of the villages due to intense heat wave conditions. Approximately 4,300 villages are facing the grim situation as village wells and water bodies are drying up fast, prompting the administration to supply water through tankers for human consumption and live stock.

PARADIP: Jagatsinghpur district has been witnessing a steep decline in groundwater level. The quality of water also deteriorated. Sources said groundwater level in the district has gone down to a great extent following unrestricted drawing of water by industries in the area. In the last few years hundreds of industries - big and small - have mushroomed in this coastal district. As there is no restriction, industries have been exploiting the situation to the hilt, resulting in the depletion of water table. As a result, water scarcity in the district has become acute.