Retracing Her Path 1: A Journey along the Teesta River in Bangladesh

June 30, 2017July 2, 2017 SANDRP1 Comment

Above: A local fisherman fishing upstream of the barrage (Photo: Gauri Noolkar-Oak)

Guest Blog by Gauri Noolkar-Oak

Few journeys take us through a string of experiences that nourish the senses and the soul. A thoroughbred urban, city-lover, I nevertheless knew deep down that my journey of such nourishment would be with a river. I began researching rivers by chance, but with time, I grew to first like and then worship the entity. In early 2017, I acquired a grant from the Joke Waller-Hunter Initiative to study water conflicts in the Teesta basin, and I knew: this was going to be it.

My journey was inspired by the book “Empires of the Indus” written by Alice Albania, a brave woman who travelled the Indus river from mouth to source, and explored her history and cultures. But beyond that, I hardly had a plan; I did not know how long the journey would take, whether I would be able to see the whole river, and when I would return home. When I landed in Dhaka at the end of April this year, all I knew was that I wanted to see the Teesta right from her confluence with the Brahmaputra River in Bangladesh all the way up to her source at Tso Lamo in Sikkim, on the Indo-China border. Continue reading “Retracing Her Path 1: A Journey along the Teesta River in Bangladesh” →

Western Ghats

The state of the Aghanashini River Estuary

June 28, 2017May 11, 2019 SANDRP4 Comments

-Guest Blog by Vidyadhar Atkore

Aghanashini –is a small village situated on the southern bank of Aghanashini River in the Kumta taluka of Uttar Kannada district in Karnataka state. River Aghanashini draws its name from this village, it is also known as Tadri river as Tadri village is situated on the river mouth on the north bank. Vast estuary and open sea at the village makes you humble. A drive along the bank of estuary is pleasant experience in the hot summer. On one side, big coconut trees and on other side, isolated, stunted mangrove patches draw your attention. Continue reading “The state of the Aghanashini River Estuary” →

Dams

India’s hydro generation drops to below 10% for the first time

June 28, 2017June 29, 2017 SANDRP3 Comments

For the first time in independent India’s history, hydropower generation from large hydropower projects in India in 2016-17 year fell below 10% of total electricity generation and is likely to go further down in years to come. It is well known that hydropower generation as proportion of total power generation has been going down. However, this proportion is generally seen in terms of installed capacity (measured in Mega Watts), and not actual generation (measured as Million or Billion Units[i]). Continue reading “India’s hydro generation drops to below 10% for the first time” →

DRP News Bulletin

DRP News Bulletin 26 June 2017 (Why India should not push Pancheshwar Project in Nepal)

June 26, 2017June 26, 2017 SANDRP1 Comment

India should not push Pancheshwar Project in Nepal DIPAK GYAWALI asks a lot of pertinent questions here, including this one about PANCHESHWAR DAM: “Did it (India) not ram the Mahakali Treaty down Nepali throats in 1996 against all sane voices of caution and then has been unable to move an inch forward in all these two decades since then? As per the agreement, Nepal was to have received additional irrigation benefits from Tanakpur from an outlet with a sill level built maliciously high: Nepal has already spent billions building canals and distribution structures on its side but not only is there no movement on the Indian side, rather the latest Mughlani communication has been that you Nepalis can build all the canals you want on your side but we will do nothing until after the 6480 MW Pancheshwar high dam is built (when, in the next century?).” Continue reading “DRP News Bulletin 26 June 2017 (Why India should not push Pancheshwar Project in Nepal)” →

DRP News Bulletin

DRP News Bulletin 19 June 2017 (Farmers across the country are angry: Demonetisation has played a big role here)

June 19, 2017June 19, 2017 SANDRPLeave a comment

Farmers Protest spreads Crops of Wrath: Demonetisation played big role From a persisting cash crunch due to demonetisation to a price free fall because of a bumper produce, it’s a big bag of woes for farmers in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The report explains how demonetisation played a major role in current farmer’s crisis. Another article explains how demonetization has a role in addition to other factors. In addition to low prices, what has aggravated the situation is the Central government’s demonetisation move late last year that has adversely hit the rural and agrarian economy. According to Lalchand Mali, a farmer from Barkheda Panth, notebandi has almost finished the farmers in the rural areas. Even after selling their produce, they do not get money in our hands before at least two-three weeks and sometimes even a month. A third article again mentioned demonetisation along with bumper harvest and lack of water as reasons for the farmers’ situation.

Skewed farm policies continue to anger farmers Key message here that rainfed area needs to get similar support as do the irrigated area is very important point. Continue reading “DRP News Bulletin 19 June 2017 (Farmers across the country are angry: Demonetisation has played a big role here)” →

Gujarat · Madhya Pradesh · Maharashtra · Narmada

Sardar Sarovar gate closure without resettlement or justification is a inhuman, unjust decision: Will SC intervene?

June 18, 2017June 18, 2017 SANDRP4 Comments

On June 17, 2017, a PIB Press Release from Union Ministry of Water Resources announced, “Narmada Control Authority (NCA) has cleared the final raising of Sardar Sarovar Dam (SSD) in Gujarat by lowering of gates and impounding of water in the reservoir upto its Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of EL 138.68 mts. The NCA which met here yesterday under the Chairmanship of Dr. Amarjit Singh, Secretary (WR, RD & GR) considered all aspects of environmental and Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) issues.”

The gate closure will lead to submergence and displacement of lakhs of tribals and farmers of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, without even proper resettlement as legally required. There is also no justification for the decision as the canal infrastructure necessary to use the additional water that the dam will store with increase in height from 121.92 mts to 138.68 mts is not even ready. Continue reading “Sardar Sarovar gate closure without resettlement or justification is a inhuman, unjust decision: Will SC intervene?” →

Dams

North-East India Rivers Profile (Brahmaputra Basin)

June 13, 2017June 18, 2017 SANDRP1 Comment

The profusion of rivers in the northeast India is simply unparalleled. There two major rivers Brahmaputra and Barak have been joined by tributaries in abundance – small and big, the bigger tributaries often surpassing some prime main stem rivers of other states of the country.

Interestingly, both Brahmaputra and Barak, after flowing through the length of the state, merges with other rivers at Bangladesh, to finally fall into the Bay of Bengal. On the other hands, both the rivers, notwithstanding their accompanying hydro disasters in the corresponding Brahmaputra valley and the Barak valley (also known as Surma valley) during monsoon, makes the floodplains fertile by the endowment of fine nutrient laden silt load.

Continue reading “North-East India Rivers Profile (Brahmaputra Basin)” →

Dams · DRP News Bulletin

DRP News Bulletin 12 June 2017 (Rain Bearing Clouds Thinning Out Over India: IMD Study)

June 12, 2017June 13, 2017 SANDRP2 Comments

A recent IMD study has found that rain-bearing clouds have been thinning out across the country over the last 50 years. The study, published in the IMD journal Mausam, shows that between 1960 and 2010, annual mean low cloud cover (responsible for the bulk of the rainfall) over India has been decreasing by 0.45% per decade on an average.

According to the study, the number of rainy days is also declining during the monsoon season at an average rate of 0.23 days for every decade. This means that the country has lost approximately one rainy day over the last five decades. The study found that while the number of rainy days is decreasing, there is not much change in the total amount of rainfall. This shows a trend towards shorter, heavier bursts of rain.

That is bad news, because heavier raindrops can dislodge wheat and rice grains from their stalks while on the farm. It also means rainwater flows down a slope that much faster instead of percolating underground.

Meanwhile, a new NASA study has warned the amount of rainfall in the Earth’s tropical regions will significantly increase as the planet continues to warm. As per study rainfall is not related just to the clouds that are available to make rain but also to Earth’s “energy budget” — incoming energy from the Sun compared to outgoing heat energy. High-altitude tropical clouds trap heat in the atmosphere. If there are fewer of these clouds in the future, the tropical atmosphere will cool.

Continue reading “DRP News Bulletin 12 June 2017 (Rain Bearing Clouds Thinning Out Over India: IMD Study)” →

Dams

Jammu and Kashmir Rivers Profile (Jhelum and Chenab Basins)

June 8, 2017June 13, 2017 SANDRPLeave a comment

This report discusses a few of the significant issues in the Jhelum and Chenab basin two of the main tributaries of the Indus and provides the readers a snapshot of the issues confronting the water resources development in the basins. On the basis of these factors, the health and status of the Jhelum and Chenab basins is determined using an assessment matrix providing qualitative weights to each of the indicators and influencing factors to arrive at the overall score of the river categorizing a riverscape as healthy, sick and dying.

Continue reading “Jammu and Kashmir Rivers Profile (Jhelum and Chenab Basins)” →

Dams · Ganga

About Matri Sadan Fight Against Illegal Mining In River Ganga

June 6, 2017June 6, 2017 SANDRP1 Comment

Finally on World Environment Day, Swami Shivanand has withdrawn [I] his fast unto death agitation. It was thirteenth day of his indefinite hunger strike including six days of water fast (from May 25 – 30, 2017) against illegal mining in Ganga.

The saint ended his protest around 6pm on June 05, 2017, only after receiving written assurance from the Central Government. As per information, referring to Matri Sandan repeated pleas, UP Singh Director General of National Mission for Clean Ganga has accepted that there were violations [II] of rules specially Rule No. V of Environment Protection Act during mining in Ganga. Subsequently he has asked Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board initiate criminal proceedings against the officials [III] concerned for non-compliance of the rules.

Continue reading “About Matri Sadan Fight Against Illegal Mining In River Ganga “ →