Sushmita Sengupta

This monsoon could be different for Chennai, which has been in the news for its rapidly vanishing waterbodies and waterlogged roads. Estimates show that the capital of Tamil Nadu has lost over 60 per cent to development projects and illegal encroachments of its wetlands in the past four decades. Moreover, in a changing climate, as rainfall becomes erratic with more violent downpours and worsening dry spells, the paved-over city sees devastating flash floods, such as in 2015. But authorities appear to have found a solution to the nagging self-created water problem by converting green spaces in the city into “sponge parks”.

Final summary: The United Nations' policy brief from July 2025 underscores the severe health repercussions of land degradation and drought, linking them to diseases such as cholera, malaria, and cardiovascular issues. It highlights the mental health impact, including anxiety and depression, due to displacement and resource scarcity. The brief calls for integrated policies and innovative financial support to combat these ecological challenges.

In January 2023, over 800 houses developed cracks overnight in Joshimath, a Himalayan town in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, forcing terrified families to evacuate the hilly terrain.

The latest water contamination crisis underlines safe sanitation is the key to safe water quality Published on Summary

Down To Earth speaks with Professor Kanwarpreet Singh about how advanced tools are being used to map groundwater recharge zones and support the