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Water
What's new
What's in the Waste? Plastics Threatening Mighty Indus
August 2023: The World Bank pioneered the study to track the quantity and varieties of plastic waste in the Indus to push for prompt action for the sustainability of the river and its tributaries.
Find out more about the findings of the report.
Climate Roadmap Can Guide South Asia to Greener, Inclusive Future
Oct. 28, 2021 - A new World Bank roadmap aims to help South Asia adapt to hotter temperatures, melting glaciers, and more severe weather. Water and food insecurity are among the region's biggest climate risks.
Now Boarding: A Virtual Trip to See SAWI's Work and Impact
August 27, 2021 - We invite you to join a virtual expedition to learn about the South Asia Water Initiative's decade of work with transboundary river basins management, flood forecasting, groundwater conservation, pollution, climate change, and more.
Bangladesh Moves Ahead in Managing World's Largest River Delta
June 9, 2021 - Bangladesh's ambitious Delta Plan 2100 aims to create jobs, boost trade, and reduce climate risks. The plan will transform the vast delta where the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers meet and flow into the Bay of Bengal.
From Data to Diesel: Youth Videos Suggest Ways to #BeatPlasticPollution
May 19, 2021 - We asked #OneSouthAsia youth for ideas how the region can work together to fight plastic pollution. Listen to what they said.
Indian Ocean Protects, Connects South Asia
March 30, 2021 - The Indian Ocean is much more than busy sea lanes linking #OneSouthAsia to world markets. Former Sri Lankan Amb. Prasad Kariyawasam calls for regional cooperation to manage ocean resources and fight pollution for the benefit of all.
Managing Pakistan's Groundwater
March 25, 2021 - The Indus River irrigates millions of hectares of farmland and hosts a vast reservoir of groundwater key to Pakistan's water and food security. A groundwater database and management plan can help preserve supplies and improve water quality.
5 Reasons Why South Asia is Uniting to Beat Marine Plastic Pollution
March 22, 2021 - All eight nations of South Asia are working together to rid the region of microplastic pollution in the air we breathe, in glacial ice on Mount Everest, in water we drink and in fish that we eat, with huge costs to the economy and health.
Managing Coastal Out-migration in Bangladesh
Feb 11, 2021 - Thousands of poor households live along Bangladesh’s low-lying coast, vulnerable to cyclones, tidal inundation, and contaminated drinking water. Studies show that for each 1-meter rise in sea level, 1.5 million coastal residents will be displaced.
VIDEO
VIDEO
Jun 25, 2020
The South Asia Water Initiative
June 29, 2021 - The South Asia Water Initiative focused on improving cross-border management of the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra river basins that are home to nearly 1 billion people, and the Sundarbans wetlands shared by Bangladesh and India. SAWI's portfolio also included flooding, drought, pollution, and hydroelectric power.
Publications
The Impact of COVID-19 on Plastic Waste Management in South Asia: Challenges and Policy Recommendations
Sept. 30, 2021 - Plastic pollution management shouold be part of economic recovery and disaster preparedness plans throughout South Asia. A World Bank report urges policy makers to offer tax credits or subsidies to help businesses phase out plastic use.
Glaciers of the Himalayas: Climate Change, Black Carbon, and Regional Resilience
June 3, 2021 - Black carbon, or soot, emissions from brick-making kilns and home cookstoves are speeding glacier melt in the Himalayas. A new report estimates the impact on downstream areas of the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra river basins through 2040.
Groundwater in Pakistan’s Indus Basin: Present and Future Prospects
March 25, 2021 - Pakistan is on the brink of a severe groundwater crisis. To respond to climate change and a rising population, it needs a management plan to reliably measure Indus Basin groundwater and improve water quality.
SAWI annual report for FY20
Feb 4, 2021 - The South Asia Water Initiative helps identify opportunities and shared benefits from transboundary management of the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra rivers. Among the benefits: hydropower, inland water transport, and flood forecasts.
Coping with Climate Change in the Sundarbans: Lessons from Multidisciplinary Studies
Nov 12, 2020 - The Sundarbans is on the front line of climate change, battered by rising seas, intense flooding, and groundwater salinization. Research into impacts on residents' health and livelihoods can help other areas cope with similar changes in the future.
Grow Solar, Save Water, Double Farm Income
Feb. 12, 2020 - Advancements in solar and communication technologies offer new possibilities to realign the incentives and interests of India's farmers, power utilities, and the government.
Managing Groundwater for Drought Resilience in South Asia
Jan 1, 2020 - Groundwater data and management is important as South Asia undergoes climate and socioeconomic changes. This report recommends water governance improvements with regional cooperation to monitor groundwater resources and prevent contamination.
