(Feature Image: – IMD’s District Wise Cumulative Rainfall Map for 01 June to 23 July 2023)
India received 389.2 mm rainfall till 0830 hrs on July 23, 2023 in SW monsoon. This being 5% above the normal rainfall till this date of 370.9 mm, India Meteorological Department and with it, the whole nation calls it Normal Monsoon. But anyone who is familiar with the rainfall pattern across India will not call it Normal.
We must urgently develop new parameters for describing the monsoon that also take into account spatial (across states, districts, Tehsils, blocks) and temporal variability. These parameters should take into account the departure from normal for each unit of space for each day and combine such departures to arrive at a figure that will better describe the monsoon for each unit of space. It can also take into consideration the high intensity rainfall events as also the longer dryer patches. This will help us understand not only the nature of monsoon rainfall, but also alert the farmers and everyone else but also help us understand how this pattern is changing over the years. This should not be so difficult for IMD to initiate and accomplish quickly. When aggregated at river basin level, this will also help us understand the actual rainfall pattern in each river basin but also how it is changing. Is this too much to ask?
HYDRO POWER PROJECTS
Andhra Pradesh 2 workers dead in mishap at Greenko RE project According to Nandyal SP K Raghuveer Reddy, a group of seven workers entered a tunnel at the Greenko project site near Pinnapuram village in Pangam mandal at around 9 am on Friday (July 21 2023). Due to inclement weather, mud blocks crashed on two workers, leaving them dead on the spot. The deceased were identified as Sonu Kumar (20) and Munnar Singh Bhokta (35), both residents of Chatra district in Jharkhand. Police registered a case under section 174 of the IPC and are further investigating. The bodies of the deceased were shifted for postmortem. Negligence of the management has been alleged and an inquiry has been demanded. Why was the work happening in such an inclement weather? https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/amaravati/two-workers-dead-in-mishap-at-greenko-re-project-in-aps-nandyal-district/articleshow/102022029.cms (21 July 2023)
Arunachal Pradesh Govt approves allotment of two power projects to NHPC Government has approved the allotment of 2,000 MW Subansiri Upper Hydro project and 1,800 MW Kamala project to state-run hydropower giant National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Ltd, an official said on Saturday (July 22).
-The Subansiri Upper project was allotted to KSK Energy Venture Ltd on March 18, 2010, while, the Kamala project was offered to Jindal Power Ltd on August 28, 2009, by signing memorandum of agreements (MoAs).
-There was no physical progress in both the projects and the power developers could do little of pre-construction activities, the official said. The formal MoA signing ceremony would be held next month, where Union Power Minister R K Singh is likely to attend. https://www.eastmojo.com/arunachal-pradesh/2023/07/22/arunachal-pradesh-govt-approves-allotment-of-two-power-projects-to-nhpc/ (22 July 2023)
Lower Subansiri HEP While this documentary about the 2000 MW Lower Subansiri HEP that is still under construction provides mostly one sided story without highlighting its serious impacts and disastrous track record, it provides some useful information. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW4rwlG1XVc (July 2023)
Sikkim Controversies of 1200 MW Teesta III HEP -The complex financing of Teesta III, the unaccountability of corporations, the failure to generate 1200 MW of power, loss making, the withdrawal of private financiers, the guarantees for private sector and overburdening of local governments must be an eye opener in renewed hydropower push in NE region. Especially, as the Government of India is reinvigorating the hydropower as renewable sources of power and the declaration of mega hydropower projects as a renewable energy in early 2019 and expressed intentions to seek financing from international financial institutions and other development financial institutions. https://www.cenfa.org/controversies-of-1200-mw-teesta-iii-hep-in-sikkim/
Pancheshwar Project India agrees to pump more money India has agreed in principle to invest more for the development of the Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project during the fourth meeting of committee of experts (3rd meeting was in Feb 2019) held in New Delhi on July 21-22, 2023 according to a senior official at the Nepal Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation. This is because India expects to get more irrigation and flood control benefits from the project, but an agreement to share the costs and benefits is yet to be signed. Power benefits will be shared equally. WAPCOS has been asked to revised DPR on these lines.
– Nepali officials clarified that Indian compensation for more benefit is not related to existing higher use of water from the Mahakali river. Article 3 of the Mahakali Treaty clearly states that two countries have equal entitlement to the utilisation of the waters of the Mahakali river without prejudice to their respective existing uses of the waters of the Mahakali. At present, Nepal utilises 12 Cumecs (cubic metre per second) of water from Sarada Barrage through Eastern Mahakali canal in Nepal. India withdraws an annual average of 248 Cumecs of water through Western Sarada canal, according to a report of the Jalsrot Vikas Sanstha, a non-government organisation in Nepal.
– “There were more than 500 unresolved issues, which came down to 127 in the past negotiations,” said Bhetuwal, the joint-secretary. “These are mostly related to determining the benefits for each side and costs involved while there are some design and safety related differences too and we have tried to reach an understanding on resolving those differences this time.” https://kathmandupost.com/national/2023/07/23/india-agrees-to-pump-more-money-into-pancheshwar (23 July 2023)
4th meeting of Team of Experts (ToE) is being held in Delhi (21-22 July 2023) to resolve pending issues in finalization of DPR of Indo-Nepal Pancheshwar Project. Indian team is being headed by Sh Kushvinder Vohra, Chairman, CWC. https://twitter.com/CWCOfficial_GoI/status/1682324299724767239?s=20 (21 July 2023)
NHPC Ltd is set to invest ₹1.40-1.76 trillion to establish pumped hydropower storage capacities of 20,000-22,000 MW across India over the next few years. According to Rajendra Prasad Goyal, director, finance, it will require to have a capex of ₹7-8 crore for each megawatt.
– In June, the firm signed an initial agreement with an Odisha state utility to build 2,000 MW of pumped storage, and 1,000 MW renewable energy projects in the state. The MoU signed with Gridco Ltd envisages setting up self-identified pumped storage projects.
– It has already signed MoUs with Mah, MP and AP. https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/nhpc-to-invest-1-40-1-76-trillion-in-pumped-hydropower-storage-projects-targeting-20-000-22-000-mw-capacity-11690134910628.html (23 July 2023)
DAMS
Sardar Sarovar Project Lack of field channels forces farmers to ‘illegally’ suck out Narmada canal water Rajiv Shah reports: Since farmers do not get Narmada water from the canal via field channels, which have not been built so, they have no option left but to lift water like illegally using diesel pumps. Nothings has changed as far as offering Narmada water to Gujarat farmers is concerned.
– The farmer told me, “Earlier these pumps used to be confiscated. But now farmers are fined for this. So, we pay that money. The officials calculate the amount to be deposited by finding out the area for which the Narmada water is being used illegally. Thus, the whole operation continues without any problem. It is very useful during summer.” I could see the diesel pumps in operation attached with the pipelines sunk every 10 to 20 metres in the canal. “They are there for several kilometres”, he added. https://www.counterview.net/2023/07/lack-of-field-channels-forces-gujarat.html (23 July 2023)
RIVERS AS NATIONAL WATERWAYS
West Bengal Barges carrying fly ash trigger erosion in Sunderbans A senior official of the state irrigation department claimed that barges do play a role in erosion, albeit indirectly. “A major part of the route of these barges, from points close to Kolkata where they collect fly ash via Namkhana and Gosaba, now travel close to the inhabited island as the deep channels are located there. We do not know how much the waves created by the barges directly affect the banks; but they definitely play an important role indirectly in the process as they hamper siltation by disturbing the water course frequently.”
-“The damage is greater when these navigational channels are dredged,” added the official. “These barges and larger ships affect the banks and trigger erosion,” said Sugata Hazra, a Sunderbans expert from the oceanography department of Jadavpur University. He added that the tidal effects are generally highest at a depth of 0.5m, which opens up the possibility of the peak tidal waves and barge generated ones adding to each other.
-Fishermen in the area also complained that often the barges go close to the banks and, in the process, damage the fishing nets. “Most of the barges carrying fly ash to Bangladesh travel close to the banks and damage the nets set up by fishermen of the region. In 2022, and also this year, we filed complaints with the district magistrate and the Kolkata Port Trust; but the problem continues,” said Milan Das, secretary of a fishery association, Dakshin Banga Motsojibi Forum (DMF), to The Plurals on Tuesday (July 18). Earlier, in response to a petition filed by DMF, the NGT had called for an alternative route through the Bay of Bengal for the Bangladeshi barges.
-Local residents of the Sunderbans have blamed increased erosion on barges that are now travelling closer to the inhabited islands than about a decade back. “These barges are triggering erosion,” Amal Mandal, a resident of Pakhiralay island, told The Plurals on Sunday (July 16), pointing to a barge passing by close to a sprawling zilla parishad house that stands dangerously poised and all set to be engulfed by the river in near future as the adjoining river bank has eroded significantly in the last few years. https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/news/barges-carrying-fly-ash-to-bangladesh-trigger-erosion-in-sunderbans-minister-javed-khan/cid/1953152 (19 July 2023) ; https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/environment/barges-carrying-fly-ash-from-india-to-bangladesh-eroding-sundarbans-bengal-minister-90742 (20 July 2023)
Report 4 प्रसिद्ध नदियों में क्रूज चलाने की तैयारी केंद्र सरकार 10 राज्यों से गुजरने वाली देश की 4 प्रसिद्ध नदियों में क्रूज चलाने की तैयारी कर रही है। ये नदियां हैं- मप्र की लाइफलाइन नर्मदा, महानदी, कावेरी और गोदावरी। मिनिस्ट्री ऑफ पोर्ट्स, शिपिंग एंड वाटरवेज इसके लिए रिवर और सी क्रूज सेक्टर में काम करने वाले उद्योगपतियों से बातचीत कर ही है। यदि वे सहमत होते हैं तो इस साल के आखिर तक इन नदियों में क्रूज शुरू हो जाएगा।
-मंत्रालय सूत्रों का कहना है कि गंगा विलास क्रूज चलाने वाली कंपनी अंतरा लग्जरी रिवर क्रूज के अलावा कुछ दूसरी विदेशी क्रूज कंपनियां इस प्रोजेक्ट में दिलचस्पी दिखा सकती हैं। इसलिए संभावनाएं तलाश रहे हैं। मंत्रालय के एक अधिकारी ने बताया कि इन नदियों में गाद, पानी के बहाव, जलीय जीवों की उपस्थिति और पारिस्थतिकी का पूरा डेटा उपलब्ध है। ऐसे में यदि कोई रिवर क्रूज कंपनी प्लान पर आगे बढ़ती है तो तीन-चार महीने में रूट को संचालन के लिए तैयार कर लेंगे। फिलहाल कंपनियों से शुरुआती बातचीत कर रहे हैं। इस पर उनकी राय मांगी गई है। सरकारी योजना का खाका तैयार है। https://www.bhaskar.com/national/news/cruise-in-narmada-mahanadi-kaveri-and-godavari-rivers-131549717.html ( 17 July 2023)
URBAN RIVERS
Pune Citizens Rally To Halt River Beautification Projects Pune citizens protest against the River destruction projects in the name of beautification or river front development. https://www.punekarnews.in/punes-flood-woes-citizens-rally-to-halt-river-beautification-projects/ (23 July 2023)
Gomti; Lucknow 2020 order on floodplain zoning declaring Gomti ‘non-perennial river’ draws flak A three-year-old government order (GO) issued by the irrigation department of the Uttar Pradesh government declaring the Gomti as a “non-perennial river” has drawn flak from water experts and river rights activists. The GO has surfaced recently but was issued on September 3, 2020.
-“A river that provides the daily water supply to the state capital can’t be declared ‘non-perennial’,” Lucknow-based Venkatesh Dutta told DTE. “It is likely that many development projects are coming up in UP that are planned around the floodplain areas in the state. The authorities are thus seeking available orders to define the floodplains and this GO has resurfaced,” said Dutta.
-Nobody from voluntary groups concerned with rivers across Lucknow was notified about the GO, claimed Dutta. “Some sections of the order show that it is only being referred to now, after a long pause since the COVID-19 lockdown,” the expert said.
-“The perennial or seasonal state of a river depends on what happens in a catchment,” said Himanshu Thakkar, coordinator of South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers & People. As for floodplains, one needs not only thumb rules, but must also understand the science behind it, Thakkar added. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/urbanisation/dte-exclusive-2020-order-on-floodplain-zoning-declaring-gomti-non-perennial-river-draws-flak-90655 (17 July 2023)
RIVERS
Study When does a stream become a river? The distinction between a “stream” and “river” is imprecise and vague despite the popular usage of the terms across disciplines for describing flowing waterbodies. Based on an analysis of named flowing waterbodies in the continental United States, we suggest a bank-to-bank channel width of 15 m as a working threshold in defining smaller “streams” from larger “rivers.” https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/rra.4185 (13 July 2023)
NARMADA Madhya Pradesh नदी में बह रहा मल-मूत्र इस रिपोर्ट को लेकर नर्मदा बचाओ आंदोलन की नेत्री मेधा पाटकर कहती हैं कि जबलपुर से बड़वानी तक नदी में बड़े पैमाने पर गंदगी मिलती है। वे बताती हैं कि इसके लिए एक योजना बनाई गई थी कि सारा पानी साफ करके ही नदी में मिलाया जाए लेकिन यह कभी नहीं हुआ। मेधा पाटकर के मुताबिक यह काम एक इजराइली फर्म तहल को दिया गया था। जिसने इसकी एवज में 105 करोड़ रुपए लिए। 2018 से 2020 तक के 24 महीनों में यह काम पूरा होना था लेकिन अब तक पानी शुद्धिकरण के लिए प्लांट का निर्माण पूरा नहीं हो सका है। वे रेत के अवैध खनन को भी नर्मदा नदी के लिए सबसे बड़ा खतरा मानती हैं। और कहती हैं कि नर्मदा में जिस तरह से अवैध खनन जारी है शायद इस नदी की उम्र बहुत ज्यादा न हो। https://www.deshgaon.com/top-stories/sewage-and-urine-flowing-in-the-water-of-narmada-river-there-is-a-risk-of-cancer-and-liver-disease-if-consumed-directly/ (22 July 2023)
नर्मदा के तेज बहाव से हो रही जमीन खोखली जोशीमठ की तरह ही नर्मदापुरम में नदी के तेज बहाव के कारण खतरा बढ़ता जा रहा है। इसके दोनों छोर बढ़ रहे हैं, वहीं धीरे-धीरे जमीन भी खोखली हो रही है। इससे कभी भी बड़ा हादसा होने की आशंका वैज्ञानिकों ने व्यक्त की है। https://agnialok.com/due-to-the-fast-flow-of-narmada-the-land-is-becoming-hollow/ (21 July 2023)
GANGA Uttarakhand 16 electrocuted to death after STP’s transformer explodes At least 16 people have died of electrocution and six others faced severe burn injuries—two believed to be critical—after a high-tension wire allegedly fell on the premises of a Namami Gange project site in Chamoli district on Wednesday (July 19) morning.
-As per initial information, a police sub-inspector and three home guard personnel are among the victims. The remaining affected persons were workers at the site of the Namami Gange project.
-Meanwhile, a source at the state programme management group of Namami Gange in Uttarakhand said that the incident happened at “an old 50 KLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) whose work was completed in 2019 and it was handed over to Jal Sansthan in 2021”.
“As a routine process, labourers were doing maintenance work to remove excessive sludge due to monsoon and leakage of current at the site might have led to the incident,” the source added. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/15-electrocuted-in-uttarakhands-chamoli-after-transformer-explodes/articleshow/101927745.cms (19 July 2023)
चमोली के सीवरेज ट्रीटमेंट प्लांट में कंट्रोल पैनल से करंट फैला था, जो इसे छू रहे किसी व्यक्ति के जरिये टिन शेड और फिर रेलिंग तक पहुंच गया और रेलिंग पर जुटी लोगों की भीड़ इसकी चपेट में आ गई। हैरत की बात यह है कि प्लांट के भीतर करंट नहीं फैला, इसलिए सुपरवाइजर व पंचनामा कर रहे पुलिसकर्मी इसकी जद में आने से बच गए। लेकिन रेलिंग पर खड़े लोग एक के बाद एक करंट लगने से झुलस गए।
-तकनीकी जांच के दौरान यह तथ्य भी सामने आया है कि प्लांट का जेनरेटर खराब था। प्लांट संचालकों ने इसे बाईपास किया हुआ था। यानी सीधे बिजली लाइन से प्लांट जुड़ा हुआ था। अगर जेनरेटर बीच में होता तो इसमें लगा हुआ एएमएफ (ऑटोमैटिक मेन्स फेलियर) पैनल भीतर शॉर्ट सर्किट होते ही लाइन को ट्रिप कर देता, और ये दर्दनाक हादसा होने से बच जाता। https://www.amarujala.com/dehradun/chamoli-accident-investigation-revealed-real-reason-for-deaths-due-to-electric-current-2023-07-21?pageId=1 (22 July 2023)
-चमोली में बदरीनाथ हाईवे से लगे सीवरेज ट्रीटमेंट प्लांट में करंट से 16 व्यक्तियों की मौत के बाद जिले में संचालित अन्य एसटीपी में सुरक्षा मानकों को लेकर सवाल उठने लगे हैं। दैनिक जागरण ने अपनी पड़ताल में पाया कि चमोली जिले में 17 में से 13 एसटीपी का संचालन टिन शेड में हो रहा है। यहां टिन की दीवारों पर विद्युत उपकरण लगाने के साथ तारों को भी फिट किया गया है और धातु से होकर विद्युत का संचार अधिक तेजी से होता है। इसके चलते हादसे का खतरा और भी बढ़ जाता है। ऐसे में सबसे बड़ा सवाल यह है कि, यदि इन एसटीपी में हादसा होता है तो इसकी जिम्मेदारी कौन लेगा। https://www.jagran.com/uttarakhand/chamoli-chamoli-accident-uttarakhand-chamoli-namami-gange-project-accident-blast-in-another-plant-last-month-chamoli-13-stp-is-in-danger-23478807.html (22 July 2023)
IIT Roorkee has been asked to study the safety of the 12 km long elevated road which is part of the 210 km long Delhi Dehradun Highway constructed by NHAI in view of large quantity of muck that has been deposited there. The 550 pillar elevated road has cost Rs 1400 Cr and no Environment Impact Assessment, or disaster impact assessment or public consultation or environmental clearance with credible public consultation has been done for the road. (19 July 2023)
लोक गीतकार गिरीश तिवाड़ी ‘गिरदाका मशहूर गीत (2008):
सारा पानी चूस रहे हो, नदी समंदर लूट रहे हो
खेल तुम्हारा तुम्हीं खिलाड़ी, कंकड़-पत्थर कूट रहे हो
उफ! तुम्हारी ये खुदगर्जी, चलेगी कब तक ये मनमर्जी
जिस दिन डोलेगी ये धरती, सर से निकलेगी सब मस्ती
महल-चौबारे बह जाएंगे, खाली रौखड़ रह जाएंगे
बूंद-बूंद को तरसोगे जब, बोल व्यापारी तब क्या होगा?
नगद-उधारी तब क्या होगा?
आज भले ही मौज उड़ा लो, नदियों को प्यासा तड़पा लो / गंगा को कीचड़ कर डालो
लेकिन डोलेगी जब धरती- बोल व्यापारी तब क्या होगा?
विश्व बैंक के टोकनधारी- तब क्या होगा? योजनकारी- तब क्या होगा?
FISH, FISHERIES, FISHERFOLKS
SANDRP Blog Vaitarna’s Community-Conserved Fish Sanctuary needs protection Tilase Fish Sanctuary on Vaitarna River is a spectacular example of community conservation. Vaitarna river has lost several deep gorges and cultural sites to dams. Middle Vaitarna Dam completed in 2013 submerged 1566 acres of Western Ghats Forests and the planned Gargai Dam threatens to again submerge more than 1779 acres of forest mostly in Tansa Sanctuary and further restrict freshwater at Tilase Sanctuary.
In this scenario, there is an urgent need to study Tilase Fish Sanctuary and help the local community in protecting this sanctuary from further pressures. We do not have many places left in the country where native fish swim enchantingly in our rivers, spreading hope for our rivers and our future. https://sandrp.in/2023/07/20/tilase-fish-sanctuary-vaitarnas-community-conserved-sanctuary-needs-protection/ (20 July 2023)
Andhra Pradesh Gambusia: This solution could actually be an invasive problem Multiple countries, including India have listed Gambusia as invasive species. However, the fish continues to be a prominent part of the country’s malaria control programmes and the fish continue to be released into freshwater bodies across the country, like Andhra Pradesh, Chandigarh and Uttar Pradesh.
-Known to outcompete and prey upon native species, Gambusia also get aggressive in environments where they need to compete with other species for resources. They are known to eat the eggs of competing fishes and frog tadpoles. Studies have also observed them chasing other fishes and resorting to fin-nipping.
-In India, mosquitofish affected the ecosystem health of the lake after its introduction into the Nainital Lake in the 1990s to control malaria, found a study. This, however, is one of the very few studies in India that investigated the effects of this alien species, despite it being introduced in freshwater bodies across the country in large numbers every year. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/gambusia-this-solution-could-actually-be-an-invasive-problem-90665 (17 July 2023)
SAND MINING
Uttarakhand As CM lobbied, Centre went against rules, courts to allow river mining Before the onset of monsoon, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami personally lobbied with the Centre to keep mining four rivers. The Centre, ruled by his fellow partymen, fulfilled his demand in breach of critical environmental safeguards.
“During the monsoon, the flow of the river increases and runs on a specific course. But if mining is happening and the course is disturbed then the river can change its path and wreak havoc along the way,” Bhim Singh Rawat, Associate Coordinator SANDRP explained. “Gaula’s health, ecology, fish-life, whatever you want to call it, has been totally decimated. The labour rights of miners are violated. The river is mined excessively and it’s considered only a gold-mine for the state that has totally given up on the river’s protection,” Rawat of SANDRP opined. https://www.reporters-collective.in/trc/as-cm-lobbied-centre-went-against-rules-courts-to-allow-river-mining-in-uttarakhand (17 July 2023)
Double-Engine Govt Flouted Rules To Allow River Mining An investigation by The Reporters’ Collective has brought to light the Union environment ministry and Uttarakhand government’s brazen disregard for environmental safeguards as they work to further river mining in the state. https://thewire.in/environment/environment-ministry-and-uttarakhand-govt-flouted-rules-to-extend-river-mining (17 July 2023)
-जारी आदेश के अनुसार, नैनीताल जिले के तराई पूर्व वन प्रभाग के आरक्षित वन क्षेत्र में गौला नदी में 1473 हेक्टेयर में खनन की सशर्त अनुमति दी गई है जबकि रामनगर वन प्रभाग के आरक्षित वन क्षेत्र में दाबका नदी 112 हेक्टेयर उप खनिज चुगान की अनुमति दी गई है। इसके अलावा तराई पश्चिमी वन प्रभाग के आरक्षित वन क्षेत्र में कोसी नदी में 181 हेक्टेयर और चंपावत जिले के अंतर्गत हल्द्वानी वन प्रभाग के अंतर्गत आरक्षित वन क्षेत्र में स्थित शारदा नदी में 384.89 हेक्टेयर उप खनिज चुगान की अनुमति दी गई है। https://www.amarujala.com/dehradun/uttarakhand-clear-the-way-for-mining-in-four-rivers-for-five-years-read-more-updates-2023-03-05 (05 March 2023)
Govt takes disastrous decision, approved by Union Govt to allow sand mining in monsoon.
Himachal Pradesh Work on to divert river course to save Chakki bridge pillars The inter-state Chakki bridge at Kandwal in Nurpur district is strategically important as it not only links Pathankot with Leh and Ladakh forward areas but also connects Himachal Pradesh with Punjab. The bridge was recently closed for movement of all vehicles. Inquiries reveal that stone crusher units set up in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh jurisdiction near Chakki rivulet have played havoc with the water body as these units have been indulging in illegal mining for the past many years.
– Environmentalists and local villagers had submitted several memorandums and complaints to the state authorities demanding declaration of Chakki rivulet a ‘no-mining zone’ but all went unheeded. This inter-state Chakki NH bridge had been constructed at a cost of Rs 38 crore around 12 years ago by the state Public Works Department which claimed its life span to be 80 years but within such a short period of time this bridge has come under threat and crores of rupees spent by the NHAI during the past 10 months for the safety of two exposed pillars seem to have gone down the drain due to fierce flash floods and repeated change of course by the rivulet during monsoon.
– Owing to the indiscriminate mining in the riverbed, big and deep trenches have been created and the rivulet has changed its course towards pillars 1 and 2 of the bridge. The bridge has 17 pillars. The NHAI, through its construction company, has been struggling round the clock for diverting the river course towards pillars 5 and 6 by deploying land excavating machinery. Vikas Surjewala, project director, NHAI, Palampur, said that apart from diverting rivulet water towards pillars 5 and 6, protection work with mass concrete to save pillars 1 and 2 was in progress. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/work-on-to-divert-river-course-to-save-chakki-bridge-pillars-526634 (18 July 2023)
Haryana Stop mining unit on Yamuna riverbed: NGT The Green Tribunal in its order issued on July 21, also told SPCB to impose environmental compensation of around Rs 3.5 lakh on the unit and submit a report within four weeks. The tribunal gave the directions on an April 1-plea filed by Sonipat resident Munish, who alleged that a firm was extracting sand from the riverbed beyond permissible quantities and without consent to operate (CTO). HSPCB had admitted to NGT that the unit was operating without a valid CTO under the Water Act (1971) and Air Act (1981), violating its condition for environmental clearance. According to the board, CTO was refused two times to the unit — in November and December last year — after an inspection.
“It is undisputed that there is huge degradation of the environment on account of unregulated sand mining, which is otherwise a lucrative activity,” said the bench of NGT chairperson Sheo Kumar Singh, judicial magistrate Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member Dr A Senthil Vel. Sand mining, the bench said, poses a “threat to biodiversity, causes erosion, pollutes water, affects riparian ecology… affects fish breeding and migration, spells disaster for conservation of bird species and increases saline water in rivers. Increase in sand mining has placed immense pressure on the supply of sand resources and mining activities were going on illegally as well as legally without requisite restrictions”. The tribunal also directed HSPCB to take disciplinary action against the Sonipat regional officer. NGT will take up the case next on November 1. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/stop-mining-unit-on-yamuna-riverbed-ngt-orders-hspcb/articleshow/102065906.cms (24 July 2023)
Now, mining officers to patrol with armed cops Interesting report about Mining in Nuh where miners say they have been trained in combat to fight and flee.
Before this, the department teams used to be accompanied by one cop, who was armed only with a lathi. Mining officials also had to inform Gurgaon police in advance, so the force could appoint a cop with the department. Now, there will be cops armed with guns for security, and at least two cops can accompany a team. The decision comes almost exactly a year after a group of miners ran over Tauru DSP Surender Singh Bishnoi, who had intercepted them in the Aravalis of Pachgaon in Nuh. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/now-mining-officers-to-patrol-with-armed-cops/articleshow/101906615.cms (19 July 2023)
Interesting report about Mining in Nuh (Haryana) where miners say they have been trained in combat to fight and flee. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/a-year-after-dsps-murder-sohna-emerges-as-hotspot-for-soil-mining-526909 (19 July 2023)
Bundelkhand On Ken River Sand mining: -गंभीर सूखे का त्रास झेलने वाली बुंदेलखंड की बड़ी आबादी की प्यास बुझाने और सिंचाई का जिम्मा केन नदी पर है, जो आज अवैध खनन की वजह से बदहाल हो चुकी है. 427 किलोमीटर लंबी इस नदी की लोअर स्ट्रीम का लगभग 106 किलोमीटर हिस्सा, जो मध्य प्रदेश के पन्ना जिले में अजयगढ़ से लेकर उत्तर प्रदेश के बांदा जिले में चिल्ला घाट तक फैला है, बेतहाशा अवैध खनन के कारण अपनी मूल संरचना खो चुका है. https://thewirehindi.com/253483/bundelkhand-ken-river-illegal-mining-governments/ (15 July 2023)
Uttar Pradesh रामपुर-हरदोई में 9 बच्चों की मौत रामपुर जिले के थाना ढकिया की ग्राम पंचायत गदमर पट्टी के पास गांव गहनी में ईंट भट्टा है। ईंट बनाने के लिए भट्ठे के पास मिट्टी खोदने से गहरे गड्ढे हो गए हैं। बारिश से इन गड्ढों में ऊपर तक पानी जमा हो गया है। गांव गदमर के 5 बच्चे पट्टी बकरियां चरा रहे थे। इस दौरान पांचों बच्चे गढ्ढे में भरे पानी में नहाने लगे। बताया गया है कि इसी दौरान सभी बच्चे पानी में डूब गए और सभी की मौत हो गई।
-हरदोई जिले के पचदेवरा थाना क्षेत्र के गांव मैकपुर से चार बच्चे रामपुर वाली घटना की तरह बकरियां चराने के लिए निकले थे। बताया गया है कि गांव के पास खेतों से एक्सप्रेसवे के लिए मिट्टी खोदी गई थी। इस कारण खेत में करीब 50 फीट गहरा गड्डा हो गया है। गड्डे में बारिश का पानी भरा हुआ है। सामने आया है कि पहले एक बच्चा पानी में नहाने के लिए गया। वह डूबने लगा तो दूसरा बच्चा उसे बचाने के लिए पानी में उतर गया। इसी तरह से चारों बच्चे डूब गए। https://hindi.news24online.com/state/up-uk/up-news-nine-children-died-in-rampur-and-hardoi-rain-water-reason-for-accident/280149/ (20 July 2023)
WETLANDS, LAKES, WATER BODIES
Bengaluru HC reiterates directions to BBMP on scheme to remove encroachments LEO SALDHANA ON BANGALORE LAKES: Yesterday, I had the privilege of inviting the attention of the Division Bench of the Karnataka High Court headed by the Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice M G S Kamal to the meticulous documentation of lakes & kaluves undertaken by Environmental Management Policy Research Institute, an agency of Karnataka State Dept of Forest, Ecology & Environment. (In hearings that resumed after a long break in WP 38401/2014 – a PIL abt protecting lakes and kaluves initiated by Citizen Action Group established by late civic activist Naomi Chandy).
As Deccan Herald reports, relying on the EMPRI report and the absolute lack of an appropriate scheme to protect & rehabilitate all lakes & kaluves of Bangalore, “the court directed the BBMP Chief Commissioner and a representative of the Secretary Urban Development Department not below the rank of a deputy secretary, to appear in court and present their views on the report”.
This EMPRI report from 2013 was hidden to the public for years. In 2019, I drew the attention of the Court to this meticulously documented report not being relied upon by any of the agencies involved in lake protection & rehabilitation. Then Chief Justice Abhay Oka directed EMPRI to produce this report, and in a later direction (24 March 2020) made it one of 9 documentations (which included Justice Patil Cmt Report -2010, Lakshman Rau Cmt Report – 1985, Survey of India toposheets, old revenue maps, etc.) that statutory agencies must rely on to recover lakes & kaluves as water commons for the water, food, livelihoods and ecological security of present & future generations.
As the Court has observed in its order yesterday, the EMPRI report is a tome and an unprecedented effort by a government agency to document the state of just about every wetland in the Bengal region – ponds, lakes, kaluves, even open wells and marshlands, supported with with field notes, sketches, toposheets, notes, backed by satellite imagery based analysis. This report is the outcome of Environment Support Group’s PIL (WP 817/2008), on the basis of which the KarHC initiated the District Level Lake Protection Cmts & extended judicial oversight to all lakes, kaluves & such other wetlands across Karnataka. It also resulted in the enactment of Karnataka Tank Conservation and Development Authority Act, 2014.
When we started the PIL in 2008, the State had merely 35000 lakes on record. Now judiciary directed enumeration has resulted in over 40000 being identified, and that after only half the job done in over a decade. The EMPRI report, which also covers all other districts, was to be the basis for all to act on in protecting water commons.
The EMPRI effort must be seen as a crucial document that provides public at large a reliable and accessible document to protect and rehabilitate lakes, and other water commons, for posterity through collective community action – not solo heroic demonstrations of bulldozer rehabilitation, which some private corporates are most willing to support under CSR, and certain civic agencies employ to turn lakes into parks and entertainment zones.
All that agencies need to do is study the EMPRI and other reports the Court has held is crucial official documentation, and rely on advise of those who understand how wetlands need to be rehabilitated, and then evolve a scheme in accordance with Kar HC ruling in ESG PIL and the current PIL, and then do it ground up with community involvement and Ward Cmt (for cities) and Gram Sabha/Panchayat (villages) oversight and involvement.
Instead, gross negligence by BBMP, Revenue, KTCDA & other statutory agencies is encouraging active pollution and encroachment of lakes and kaluves by mega real estate developers, BDA, KIADB, BIAL, BMICAPA, etc., in the Bangalore region, and their neglect in rural areas, which is resulting in destruction of these critical wetland ecosystems that hold precious water for this water starved megalopolis and the State. Besides, prevailing “lake rehabilitation” efforts of Bengaluru, is causing a schizophrenic reaction across the State with even Panchayats turning lakes into walking paths & parks and disastrously concretising Kaluves, following the “Bangalore model”.
With this year’s Karnataka budget making a strong pitch to recover and rehabilitate lakes and kaluves (without protecting kaluves lakes are as good as dead), one now hopes there is a clearer understanding in the Govt & with district authorities, & civic agencies, of how to protect & rehabilitate Karnataka’s water jewels – lakes and kaluves that also are home to a range of aquatic life, and are crucial refuge for migratory water birds that come flying here from as far away as Siberia, Mongolia, and over the mighty Himalayas through Nov-Feb every year to escape the harsh winter there.
Fact: In 1995, Birdwatchers Field Club of Bangalore recorded 35000 migratory water birds in Bellandur lake. In recent years, less than 3000 have been sighted. Now that’s an ecological indicator of how mucked up our wetlands are – you don’t need expensive water analysis & super expensive foreign NGO & consultant led studies to tell you that!
Also, search lakes or wetlands in esgindia.org and you will find dozens of documents that make the case for ground up, low cost, ecology appropriate, community action that can ensure Karnataka can build water security by sensibly and ecologically wisely rehabilitating all of its wetlands. This alone will make absolutely unnecessary the destruction of Cauvery with Mekedatu or the dangerous diversion of rivers from Western Ghats, to feed districts in the plains. And in cities and in villages, it is not in the least difficult to ensure that every built structure is adapted to capture free and best quality of water for drinking – it’s called rainwater! https://www.deccanherald.com/city/top-bengaluru-stories/hc-reiterates-directions-to-bbmp-on-scheme-to-remove-encroachments-1239467.html (22 July 2023)
Bhopal NGT imposes Rs.1 cr compensation for Illegal construction NGT has imposed a Rs.1 crore compensation on theBhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) for undertaking illegal construction allegedly carried out for floating restaurants in a prohibited area of Bhoj Wetland, also known as Bhopal Lake.Directing BMC to refrain from proceeding with any further permanent construction on the site, the Tribunal has ordered the demolition of the already constructed RCC within one month. https://www.livelaw.in/environment/national-green-tribunal-orders-demolition-bhopal-lake-illegal-construction-232739 (14 July 2023)
Bihar Govt to pitch for inclusion of four wetlands as Ramsar site The Bihar government will pitch for declaration of four important wetlands — including Udaipur lake in West Champaran, Vikramshila Dolphin Sanctuary in Bhagalpur, Gogabeel lake in Katihar and Gokul reservoir in Buxar — as coveted Ramsar sites.A decision to this effect was taken in the third meeting of Bihar State Wetland Authority (BSWA) on Wednesday under the chairmanship of environment, forest and climate change department minister Tej Pratap Yadav. The BSWA also gave its nod for initiating steps for taking necessary action for notification of 24 wetlands, according to the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.
– Approval was also given for preparation of documents, health cards and ‘wetland friends’ (local volunteers) of 45 wetlands larger than 100 hectares in the state in the next phase. Besides, approval was given to the integrated management plan for Gokul reservoir wetland under the Bhojpur forest division. The total number of wetlands in the state is around 4,410, including around 3,000 natural and 1,410 man-made water bodies. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/bihar-to-pitch-for-inclusion-of-four-wetlands-as-ramsar-site/articleshow/101966010.cms (19 July 2023)
Odisha A village restores mangroves “When Cyclone Fani hit Odisha in April 2019, our village should have been destroyed. But the plantation saved us. The trees protected the roads,” said Abhiram Malik, head of Badakot village in Kendrapara district.
-The plantation Malik is referring to is a 10-hectare mangrove forest that has come up on the common grazing land of the village, located on the periphery of the Bhitarkanika National Park, as a result of a 12-year-long effort. The forest is home to 27 mangrove tree species, including those of Avicennia, Bruguiera, Rhizophora, Sonneratia and Kandelia genera. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/environment/cyclone-tamers-an-odisha-village-restores-mangroves-to-allay-impact-of-cyclones-90707 (19 July 2023)
Study Abstract: -The Kaas lake is one of the unique sedimentary basins in the Northern region of the Western Ghats escarpment of India and preserves paleoclimate signals of the Holocene in its cover sequence over the lateritic basement. The signatures preserved in the lacustrine deposits, such as pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs, diatoms, and geochemistry of the sediments, were decoded and used to reconstruct the Holocene environmental changes of the Kaas Plateau in the Western Ghats. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666033423000199 (11 July 2023) Kas Plateau near Satara, the flowering wonder in the Western Ghats, was a freshwater lake some 8,000 years ago. But climate change in the region and a weak southwest monsoon dried it up about 2,000 years ago. Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology and National Centre for Earth Sciences, Thiruvananthapuram, have studied the sediments to understand and decipher the past climate in Kas Plateau. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/study-of-sediments-shows-climate-change-impact-on-kas-plateau-around-8000-yrs-ago/articleshow/102027038.cms (22 July 2023)
WATER OPTIONS
Tamil Nadu Chitlapakkam lake revival a model for collective effort The residents of Chitlapakkam have shown great care and concern for the lake’s preservation over the years. These protests were one of many steps taken by them to save the lake. Almost all Chitlapakkam residents have contributed Rs 100 each to construct a bund around the lake. Without the bund, the lake could have been lost to encroachments a long time ago.
Despite such efforts, the lake has shrunk in size and has been affected by pollution and encroachments over the years. Ironically, the first encroachments were by the government itself. https://chennai.citizenmatters.in/chennai-rwa-chitlapakkam-ngo-tn-government-bund-preservation-79383 (20 July 2023)
Karnataka Tank-filling schemes boost farmers’ income but sustainability missing: Report ISEC, in a study of 33 tank filling schemes involving 553 tanks in 937 villages implemented by Cauvery Neervari Nigam Ltd across Mysuru, Mandya, Chamrajanagar, Ramanagar, Tumkuru and Hassan districts costing Rs 1120 Cr have found that the scheme has improved farmers’ income, but has lead to more water intensive crops, have increasing O&M costs and sustainability is a question mark. https://www.deccanherald.com/state/karnataka-districts/tank-filling-schemes-boost-farmers-income-but-sustainability-missing-report-1238784.html (20 July 2023)
GROUNDWATER
Punjab Survey around Zira distillery links ailments to toxic water Complaints of ailments from the vicinity of Zira’s distillery and ethanol project in Ferozepur district have prompted medical charity 5 Rivers Heart Association to study the residents’ health parameters based on a door-to-door survey and come out with a shocking report. This pollution report called ‘Black Revolution’ assesses the health profile of 4,885 individuals, 51.3% of them men and 48.7% of them women, all from rural areas where 38.8% of the adult population had self-reported chronic diseases, with an increased risk of 8.86% in overall burden of cardiovascular, neurological, dermatological, and respiratory diseases. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/survey-around-zira-distillery-links-ailments-to-toxic-water/articleshow/102001438.cms (21 July 2023)
Report Groundwater exploitation triggering subsidence in Indo-Gangetic plain Besides Delhi, researchers have recorded land subsidence in several other cities including Chandigarh, Ambala, Gandhinagar and Kolkata. The only study to understand the impact of groundwater extraction in rural areas has been in Punjab and Haryana. The study, carried out by a team of five Indian researchers, was published in Springer in October 2020.
-Land subsidence cannot be reversed by groundwater recharge, according to experts. So, the only solution is to arrest the overextraction of groundwater. This can be achieved through a series of interventions, starting with water budgeting for high-risk regions. In India, several villages have already adopted water budgets, where people compute the amount of water available and used. Cities should also implement similar budgets. Another step, suggests Pranjal, is reviving waterbodies that can aid groundwater recharge. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/urbanisation/writing-on-the-wall-groundwater-exploitation-is-triggering-subsidence-in-indo-gangetic-plain-90523 (19 July 2023)
Opinion The authors seem to offer technical, financial etc solution without addressing the governance issue. Not likely to succeed. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/water/india-s-farmers-need-financial-motivation-to-check-indiscriminate-use-of-groundwater-for-irrigation-90702 (18 July 2023)
URBAN WATER
Gurugram Nod to Bandhwari waste plant to be revoked: Wildlife dept After a warning, if MCG doesn’t pay up Rs 70 lakh by the end of this month, the wildlife department will cancel the no-objection certificate (NOC) that was granted to the corporation to treat waste at the landfill site in the Aravalis of Bandhwari.
In 2019, MCG was given the NOC on the condition that the civic corporation and waste management concessionaire EcoGreen deposit Rs 2 crore with the wildlife department as environmental compensation. The Aravalis in the region, where the mountain of waste now stands, are protected under sections 4 and 5 of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA). MCG needed environmental clearance that allowed it to dump most of Gurgaon’s civic waste there. Till now, MCG and EcoGreen have deposited Rs 1.3 crore, according to an RTI response from the wildlife department to activist Vaishali Rana in April this year.
-The landfill site has been penalised earlier for environmental violations. In May this year, the state pollution board had told MCG to pay environmental compensation of Rs 80 lakh for flouting waste disposal norms from August 2022 to April 2023 at the Bandhwari site. Before that, in September 2022, the NGT had imposed environmental compensation of Rs 100 crore on the Haryana government for damage to the Aravalis near the landfill. A survey by the wildlife department had also found in 2021 that EcoGreen was “intentionally” spilling thousands of litres of leachate from the landfill onto mining pits in the eco-sensitive Aravalis. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/nod-to-bandhwari-waste-plant-to-be-revoked-if-mcg-fails-to-pay-green-damages-wildlife-dept/articleshow/101971697.cms (20 July 2023)
Shimla 150 साल पहले ब्रिटिश शासनकाल में शिमला शहर को पानी देने के लिए तैयार की गई सियोग पेयजल परियोजना अब फिर से पुनर्जीवित होगी। शिमला के ऐतिहासिक एडवांस स्टडीज भवन में रहने वाले अंग्रेजी शासकों को शुद्ध पानी पिलाने के लिए तैयार की गई यह परियोजना अब बरसात के दिनों में 35 हजार से ज्यादा लोगों की प्यास बुझाएगी। लगभग ठप हो चुकी सिरोग परियोजना को पुनर्जीवित किया जाएगा। शिमला का पानी देने वाली कंपनी ने इसका प्लान भी तैयार कर लिया गया है।
सरकार ने भी इसे फिर से शुरू करने की मंजूरी दे दी है। खास बात यह है कि अंग्रेजों की तर्ज पर ही इस परियोजना को फिर शुरू किया जाएगा। इस पर दस करोड़ रुपये से भी कम खर्च आएगा। अभी इस परियोजना से शहर को एक एमएलडी से भी कम पानी मिलता है। गर्मियों के दिनों में यह परियोजना सूख जाती है। हालांकि बरसात में यहां कई नए प्राकृतिक चश्मे फूटते हैं। https://www.amarujala.com/shimla/shimla-news-150-year-old-british-era-water-supply-scheme-will-be-rejuvenated-in-shimla-2023-07-23 (23 July 2023)
WATER POLLUTION
Report Manual scavenging continues to kill Cases of accidents and fatal incidents involving men and women cleaning drains, sewers and septic tanks in and around Mumbai have been reported at regular intervals. The law is applicable to private premises as well as municipal sewers, activists said, and in both cases, it is contractors and labour contractors who are held responsible.
-Bezwada Wilson, national convenor of the Safai Karamchari Aandolan, who won the Ramon Magsaysay award in 2016 for his campaign to end manual scavenging across India, said the real lapses occur in the way law enforcement agencies respond to these incidents, and in the fact that municipal agencies that are never held accountable.
-One problem with the newer robotic machines, said one private contractor, is that it is heavy and transporting it requires additional manpower, incurring additional transportation costs. Older suction machines require generator sets and diesel, adding to the cost for contractors. Faiyaz said it was clearly much more inexpensive to use manual labour, particularly owing to the easy availability of migrant labourers working on day wages. https://mumbai.citizenmatters.in/mumbai-manual-scavenging-deaths-52717 (20 July 2023)
MONSOON 2023
IMD High Rainfall districts on July 23, 2023: 50-100 mm: North and Middle Andaman (UT), Kolasib (Mizoram), Amritsar, Faridkot, Tarn Taran (Punjab), Banswara (E Raj), Burhanpur, Jhabura, Khargone, Ratlam (W MP), Bharuch, Valsad, Bhavnagar, Botad, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Gir Somnath (Guj), Dadar & N Haveli, Daman, Diu (UTs), N Goa, S Goa (Goa), Raigarh, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Thane (Konkan), Akola (Mah), Sukma (CG), Mahe (Puducherry), Chikmagalur, Shimoga (Karnataka), Kozhikod (Kerala) [31]
100-150 mm: Junagarh (Guj), Dakshin Kannada, Uttar Kannada, Kodagu (Karnataka), Kannur, Kasargod (Kerala) [5]
150-200 mm: Navsari (Guj), Udupi (Karnataka) [2]
High Rainfall districts on July 22, 2023: 50-100 mm: North and Middle Andaman (UT), Chamoli, Dehradun, Pithoragarh, Uttarkashi (UKD), Panchkula (Haryana), SAS Nagar (Punjab), Solan (HP), Burhanpur, Harda, Ujjain (W MP), Devbhoomi Dwarka (Guj), S Goa (Goa), Raigarh, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg (Konkan), Kolhapur, Akola, Wardha (Mah), Adilabad, Jagtial, Kumaram Bheem (Tel), Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Chikmagalur, Shimoga (Karnataka) [26]
100-150 mm: Sirmaur (HP), Daman (UT), N Goa (Goa), Mumbai City, Palghar, Thane (Konkan), Yavatmal (Mah), [7]
150-200 mm: Valsad (Guj), Dadar and Nagar Haveli (UT) [2]
200-250 mm: Suburban Mumbai (Konkan) [1]
High Rainfall districts on July 21, 2023: 50-100 mm: Chirang (Arunachal Pradesh), Peren (Nagaland), Khandwa (W MP), Jamnagar, Junagarh, Porbandar (Guj), N Goa, S Goa (Goa), Palghar, Raigarh, Ratnagiri, Thane (Konkan), Kolhapur, Nanded, Gadchiroli (Mah), Bijapur (CG), Hyderabad, J Bhopalpally, Jagtial, Kamareddy, Karimnagar, M Malkajgiri, Mahbubabad, Mahabubnagar, Medak, Mulugu, Narayanpet, Nirmal, Pedapalle, Rajanna Sircilla, Rangareddy, Sangareddy, Vikarabad, Warangal (Tel), Uttar Kannada, Shimoga (Karnataka) [36]
100-150 mm: Devbhoomi Dwarka (Guj) [1]
150-200 mm: Sindhudurg (Konkan) [1]
High Rainfall districts on July 20, 2023: 50-100 mm: Tuensang (Nagaland), Riasi (J&K), Dadar & N Haveli (UT), Anand, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Porbandar (Guj), N Goa, S Goa (Goa), Mumbai City, Sindhudurg, Suburban Mumbai (Konkan), Kolhapur (Mah), Bijapur, Dantewara, Sukma (CG), Jangaon, Kamareddy, Kumaram Bheem, Mahabubabad, Medak, Sangareddy, Siddipet, Warangal (Tel), Uttar Kannada (Karnataka) [25]
100-150 mm: Valsad, Junagarh (Guj), Palghar (Konkan) [3]
150-200 mm: Daman (UT), Ratnagiri, Thane (Konkan) [3]
200-250 mm: Raigarh (Konkan) [1]
High Rainfall Districts on July 19, 2023 50-100 mm: Jammu, Samba (J&K), Junagarh, Rajkot (Guj), S Goa (Goa), Mumbai City, Suburban Mumbai, Thane (Konkan), Kolhapur, Nanded, Akola, Chandrapur, Washim, Yavatmal (Mah), Bijapur, Sukma (CG), Adilabad, B Kothagudem, Kamareddy, Mulugu, Nizamabad (Tel), Udupi, Uttar Kannada (Karnataka) [23]
100-150 mm: Malkangiri (Odisha), Udhampur (J&K), N Goa (Goa), Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg (Konkan), Dantewara (CG) [6]
150-200 mm: Riasi (J&K), Raigarh (Konkan) [2]
200-250 mm: Daman (UT) [1]
250-300 mm: Gir Somnath (Guj) [1]
High Rainfall districts on July 18, 2023: 50-100 mm: N and Middle Andaman (UT), Balangir, Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri (Odisha), Bijnor (W UP), Dehradun, Haridwar (UKD), Sirmaur (HP), Riasi (J&K), Narmadapuram, Raisen (W MP), Thane (Konkan), Gadchiroli (Mah), Bijapur (CG), Hanuma Konda, Karimnagar, Mulugua, Rajjana Sircilla (Tel) [19]
100-150 mm: Bageshwar (UKD), Mumbai City, Raigarh, Suburban Mumbai (Konkan) [4]
High Rainfall districts on July 17, 2023: 50-100 mm: N and Middle Andaman (UT), E Siang (Arunachal Pradesh), Bargarh, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Subarnapur (Odisha), Baloda Bazar, Raipur (CG) [7] Source: IMD’s daily district wise rainfall page.
Punjab Longer monsoon, lesser rain The scientists from department of climate change and agricultural meteorology at the Ludhiana-based university, who studied the monsoon data and patterns over past five decades (1971-2020), found that monsoon is now staying for more days in Punjab but the amount of rainfall being received is decreasing and is unevenly distributed.
The study — “A case study on the changing pattern of monsoon rainfall duration in different agroclimatic zones of Punjab” — by senior agro meteorologists Sarabjot Kaur Sandhu and Prabhjyot Kaur notes that changes in Punjab’s monsoon pattern have aggravated in past two decades (2001 onwards). https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/longer-monsoon-lesser-rain-climate-change-trouble-punjab-8854896/ (23 July 2023)
FLOOD 2023
DAM FLOODS Punjab Pong gates opened, 59 rescued after Nurpur villages flooded– Due to water release from Pong dam, people stuck in two villages in Kangra district in HP. The local administration with the assistance of NDRF teams evacuated 31 residents of Miyani village and 28 of Ghandran village in the Mand area of Indora subdivision in Kangra district this (July 18) morning. As per information, the villagers were marooned after the BBMB released water from the Pong Dam last evening (July 17). The dam water flooded the Beas and the two villages located along the river. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/pong-gates-opened-59-rescued-after-nurpur-villages-flooded-526942 (19 July 2023)
उझ डैम से पानी छोड़ा, ब्यास का धुस्सी बांध टूटा -जम्मू-कश्मीर के उज्ज डैम से रावी में छोड़ा गया 2.50 लाख क्यूसेक पानी आज माझा में तबाही लेकर आ सकता है। पठानकोट, गुरदासपुर और अमृतसर के अलावा पाकिस्तान के पंजाब में इसका असर होगा, जिसके बाद माझा के 3 जिलों में जिला प्रशासन ने अलर्ट जारी कर दिया है। निचले इलाकों से लोगों को सुरक्षित जगह पर जाने के लिए भी कह दिया गया है।
-वहीं, गुरदासपुर के डेरा बाबा नानक में बने करतारपुर कॉरिडोर के आसपास रावी का जल स्तर बढ़ने से सरहद पर फैंसिंग पानी में डूब गई है। पाकिस्तान में बने एक धुस्सी बांध के टूटने से यह हालात बन रहे हैं। सरहद पर बॉडर सिक्योरिटी फोर्स (BSF) हालात पर नजर रखे हुए हैं। देर रात तक अमृतसर जिला प्रशासन रावी के आसपास जुटा रहा। वहीं रावी नदी में जलस्तर बढ़ने से गुरदासपुर के मकौड़ा पत्तन गांव के आसपास के 7 गांव देश से कट गए हैं। पानी का जलस्तर बढ़ने से इन इलाकों में नाव चलाने की मनाही हो गई है। DC गुरदासपुर ने इन इलाकों में स्कूलों में भी छुटि्टयां कर दी हैं।
-वहीं तरनतारन में ब्यास पर बना धुस्सी बांध एक बार फिर टूट गया, जिससे आसपास हजारों एकड़ में खड़ी फसल पानी में समा गई। मानसा में सरदूलगढ़ से पहले भल्लणवाड़ा इलाके में टूटी घग्गर। बुधवार (July 19) रात को घग्घर में एक नई दरार आने से मालवा के कुछ और गांव भी बाढ़ की चपेट में आ गए हैं। मिली जानकारी के अनुसार, रात करीब 11 बजे मालवा के सरदूलगढ़ से पहले भल्लणवाड़ा के इलाके में घग्घर में दरार पड़ गई। यह दरार भल्लणवाड़ा के सरकारी स्कूल के करीब आई, जिसके बाद तेजी से पानी आसपास के गांवों में भरने लगा। वहीं, मानसा के साधूवाला गांव का शहर के साथ संपर्क टूट गया है। लोगों को ऊंची जगह पर रहने के लिए कहा गया है। आर्मी के लोग यहां पहुंचने का प्रयास कर रहे हैं। https://www.bhaskar.com/local/punjab/amritsar/news/punjab-flood-updates-ujj-dam-ravi-beas-ghaggar-water-level-amritsar-gurdaspur-tarntaran-mansa-jalandhar-131566244.html (20 July 2023)
‘Rampant mining, poplar plantations in floodplains obstruct Satluj flow”-Rampant mining, poplar plantations and wild overgrowth in floodplains are some reasons for flooding along the Satluj in Punjab every year, feels an activist from Sarb Bharat Naujawan Sabha, a group which claims to be working for social causes in Punjab.
-Three members from the group — Sukhjinder Maheshri, Gurmukh Singh and Gurtej Safar — claim to have walked along the path of the Satluj from Hussainiwala border with Pakistan in Ferozepur on March 28, 2022, to the Bhakra reservoir, which is on the state’s border with Himachal Pradesh, on April 19 same year.
-Apart from studying how sewage, sullage and industrial waste was thrown into the river, they observed human interventions which obstructed the free flow of water, they said. He said people grew crops close to the banks of the river and had even built structures next to them. “By doing so, they are playing with the lives of many people,” he added. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/rampant-mining-poplar-plantations-in-floodplains-obstruct-satluj-flow/articleshow/101793520.cms (16 July 2023)
Time to take Ghaggar seriously, say experts The way a swollen Ghaggar and its tributaries breached one embankment after the other to drown vast areas of Punjab last week, experts have stopped dismissing it as seasonal flows and advised enhancing the river’s carrying capacity to take runoff from the hills, a point ignored during the 1988 and 1993 floods.
Since July 9 when this spell of rain began, 155 breaches in Patiala district, 55 in Sangrur, and multiple others in Ropar and Mansa have inundated several villages and urban colonies. Hydraulics specialist Dwarika Nath Ratha of Patiala’s Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, who analysed this destruction, blamed “rapid urbanisation and encroachment on the river”, and advised Punjab to study two things for a long-term strategy — the impact of the runoff from Himachal Pradesh and the quality of the Ghaggar basin’s soil. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/time-to-take-ghaggar-seriously-say-experts/articleshow/102049346.cms (23 July 2023)
Admin loses count of breaches in Sangrur Ghaggar Floods worsened by multiple breaches in embankments:–Several residents who have witnessed floods since their childhood say it is for the first time that the raging Ghaggar has caused such a mayhem. They say the authorities have literally given up on plugging breaches in embankments. To make matters worse, the officials concerned are unaware of the exact number of breaches between Khanauri and Kadail villages in Sangrur district. There are around 10 breaches from Khanauri to Makraud Sahib villages. We have no count of breaches between Makraud Sahib and Kadail villages. These can be plugged only after the water recedes: Gursharan Virk, executive engineer.
-Sukhdev Singh (65) of Kadail village, said, “I have seen flooding in the area several times, but it’s a different scenario. As the authorities have stopped plugging the breaches, nobody knows what will happen to us.” Locals allege that from Khanauri to Makraud Sahib, the Ghaggar has a width of 588 ft but from Makraud Sahib to Kadail villages, the width reduces drastically to 190 ft. This has led to several breaches.
-Gurdarshan Singh (70) of Moonak said, “It’s one of the worst floods I have seen in my life. Only the government changes, the rest remains the same. Officials first pocket the money in name of cleaning the Ghaggar and then from rescue and relief operations. Why were the embankments of the river not repaired before the release of water?”
-On Tuesday (July 18) night, three more breaches were reported at Makraud Sahib, Mandavi and Phullad villages. The one at Mandavi was plugged within hours, but the breaches at Makraud Sahib and near Banarasi are yet to be plugged. Gurminder Singh, a farmer, said, “Earlier, officials tackled the situation until the last moment. However, the officials concerned have surrendered within hours this time.” https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/admn-loses-count-of-breaches-in-sangrur-526864 (19 July 2023)
-A new breach was reported in the Ghaggar at Sardulgarh in Mansa district, following which water can enter Sardulgarh town, creating panic among locals. There are five breaches in the Ghaggar in Mansa district and it is flowing above danger mark at Chandpura Bundh. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/punjab-floods-new-breach-in-ghaggar-at-mansas-sardulgarh-residents-fear-water-may-enter-town-1-422-villages-in-18-districts-flooded-526762 (18 July 2023)
Fifth breach in Ghaggar river keeps Sardulgarh town on toes -The Ghaggar’s fury continued to keepMansa district on tenterhooks with the river causing a fifth breach at Phus Mandi in Sardulgarh sub-division on Tuesday (July 18). Mansa deputy commissioner Rishi Pal Singh said: The district administration had managed to plug a small breach (sixth one) at Kalipur Dum village late on Monday (July 17).
-On Saturday (July 15), the Ghaggar river’s embankments at Rorki village and near Chandpura bundh in Budhlada sub-division gave way on the Punjab side. On Monday (July 17), two breaches occurred at Jhande Khurd village and Rorki village in Sardulgarh.
-The authorities are yet to plug the 100-ft Chandpura Bundh breach even after 72 hours. An army unit is deployed to plug the breaches but it is waiting for the water level to recede and the flow to ease. The Ghaggar is flowing at 24.6 feet, 3.6 feet over the danger mark. So far, floodwaters have entered 17 villages of Budhladha, Jhunir and Sardulgarh blocks in Mansa district and six villages have been inundated. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/ghaggar-river-s-fury-continues-as-fifth-breach-causes-panic-in-punjab-s-mansa-district-101689669819582.html (18 July 2023)
Ghaggar Floods:-AAP MLA from Sardulgarh Gurpreet Singh Banawali, while taking on the Haryana authorities, said the people from Punjab were strengthening the bundh to save its villages but Haryana authorities, by imposing prohibitory orders, stopped them from going close to bundh and it ultimately breached in the wee hours of Saturday (July 15). We had been asking Haryana to strengthen it or give us the command to take care of it but nothing was done, he said.
-The gushing water of the Ghaggar river created an over 80 feet wide breach in the embankment at Chandpura in Fatehabad district on the Haryana-Punjab border in the wee hours of Saturday (July 15), worsening the flood situation in the two neighbouring states. With the flood threat looming large in various villages in Mansa district due to the breach, the authorities in Punjab are now accusing their Haryana counterparts of not showing sensitivity in saving the embankment.
-Sensing an imminent threat after the breaches in the Moonak area, the farmers and activists from a number of villages in Punjab were camping near the embankment for the last couple of days to strengthen it. The people from Haryana were also staying near the embankment and a clash had occurred between the two groups on Thursday night following which the Fatehabad district administration on Friday imposed prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC in Chandpura, Sighani and Sadhanwas villages. Punjab took exception to the imposition of the prohibitory orders.
-An official from Fatehabad, however, said prohibitory orders were imposed apprehending law and order situation along the border on the issue of lifting of sand from the canal as the tension was building between the people over the flow of floodwater. The people of Punjab were lifting sand from the canal to build an embankment to prevent water entering the Punjab areas from the Haryana side, the official added. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/breach-in-ghaggar-causes-bad-blood-between-punjab-haryana-villages/articleshow/101793513.cms (16 July 2023)
There was commotion among the residents after the news of a breach in the embankment of the Ghaggar river near Mallewala village in Haryana’s Sirsa district spread like a wildfire. The villagers got into action and poured soil on the road leading to the village to prevent water from entering their homes. Another breach was reported in the Rangoi drain, which threatened to inundate Bajekan village and parts of the Sirsa city. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/rain-increases-anxiety-among-people-living-near-ghaggar/articleshow/102049341.cms (23 July 2023)
सिरसा में घग्गर नदी का बांध शुक्रवार (July 14) रात 10 बजे मुसाहिबवाला और नेजाडेला खुर्द के पास से टूट गया। बांध को बांधने के लिए ग्रामीण रात को जुटे रहे। बांध टूटने से मुसाहिबवाला में 250 और पनिहारी में 450 एकड़ में जलभराव हो गया। ग्रामीणों ने सुरक्षित जगहों पर अपना सामान पहुंचाना शुरू कर दिया है। https://www.bhaskar.com/local/haryana/hisar/news/haryana-water-flood-ghaggar-erosion-musahibwala-nejadela-khurd-ottu-head-131539957.html (14 July 2023)
-In spite of very little monsoon rain having been witnessed in Punjab, only three of the total 27 breaches across the state have been plugged so far.
-Most of the breaches are on the embankments of the Ghaggar in Sangrur and Patiala districts. The lack of skilled manpower has made the operations difficult, claimed an Irrigation Department officer. “While the work on repairing the breaches is mostly carried out during daytime, it usually gets undone at night by strong water currents,” he said.
-Over 35 villages of Samana and Shutrana of Patiala district continue to be affected by the overflowing Ghaggar. Farmers are facing losses as water has flooded their fields and houses. Officials of the Drainage Department said the Tangri and Mankanda rivers were in spate. These are tributaries of the Ghaggar. Villages around Devigarh are the most affected due to flooding. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/where-is-the-government-leaders-only-coming-to-click-photos-for-social-media-anger-grows-as-flood-situation-worsens-in-punjab-525895 (16 July 2023)
-Thirty-eight persons lost their lives while two others are missing and 15 were injured due to floods in Punjab. Currently, 19 districts are affected by floods, including Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Faridkot, Hoshiarpur, Rupnagar, Kapurthala, Patiala, Moga, Ludhiana, SAS Nagar, Jalandhar, Sangrur, SBS Nagar, Fazilka, Gurdaspur, Mansa, Bathinda and Pathankot.
-As part of relief operation, 26,280 persons have been evacuated to safety. A spokesperson informed that as many as 1,432 villages have been affected by the flood till 18 July. A total of 155 relief camps are running in the state where 3,828 people are staying. https://www.thestatesman.com/india/death-toll-in-punjab-floods-rises-to-38-relief-op-in-full-swing-1503201833.html (18 July 2023)
Satluj spares none, havoc on either side of Indo-Pak border -Water discharged from the Harike headworks first reaches Hussainiwala to enter Pakistan and further criss-crosses both the countries before merging into the Satluj creek in Fazilka that leads to Sulemanki headworks in Okara. With the discharge of excess water from Hussainiwala – up to 2 lakh cusecs in the last few days – the first impact was felt in Ganda Singh Wala village situated just across the border in Pakistan.
-It has been learnt that the gates of the Sulemanki headworks were opened due to which, the excess water did not flow back into Fazilka villages and passed further to Pakistan, aggravating the situation in certain areas there. Fazilka deputy commissioner Senu Duggal said, “The water in Satluj river passed through to Pakistan, sparing a few villages on this side from submerging.” https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/satluj-spares-none-havoc-on-either-side-of-indo-pak-border/articleshow/101772227.cms (15 July 2023)
Excess water from Satluj flowing into Pak -Bilateral relations with Pakistan might be at a very low point, but it is comforting that the excessive water flowing from India to that side in surged Satluj is not reversing back to border villages. In normal course, this water returns in the form of Satluj creek. The ground situation shows that if water is not returning towards Indian villages through the Satluj or its creek flowing in a zigzag manner in both countries, then the water might be allowed to go further through Sulemanki head works situated near the international border falling in Pakistan.
-However, for being a cross-border issue, it could not be confirmed from any quarters. Though no authority confirmed it, the villagers residing near the border claim that as the water had not returned even after two days of flowing out of the Hussainiwala headworks, the Pakistani authorities might have allowed the water to go further and the villages on this side are, so far, safe from getting deluged. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/excess-water-from-satluj-flowing-into-pak/articleshow/101713800.cms (13 July 2023)
Farm groups ask why no water released in Rajasthan feeder -Various farmer organisations and social activists have questioned why Punjab, which is facing floods, is not releasing water into the Rajasthan Feeder, with a carrying capacity of 18,000 cusecs, as over two lakh cusecs of was released into the Satluj from Harike headworks. According to the farm groups, even if by releasing water into the Rajasthan feeder the flood-like situation may not be controlled yet it could have been eased to some extent.
-The farmer organisations said when Punjab farmers need more water then water is released into the canal to take it to Rajasthan not listening to them but now when Punjab is facing the problem of excess water the canal carrying water to Rajasthan is dry.
-As per sources the water resources department officials say that is closure time for Rajasthan Feeder and releasing water can carry silt, mud along with it. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/pb-farm-groups-ask-why-no-water-released-in-rajasthan-feeder/articleshow/101683749.cms (12 July 2023)
For having more irrigation water while reducing the local agriculture’s dependence on tube-wells, the Punjab government has prepared a proposal to build a canal parallel to the Rajasthan Feeder but only till the inter-state border. Its proposed vacant corridor belongs to Rajasthan, so Punjab will seek its consent to then work out the finer details. The proposed canal capacity is 6,000 cusecs and the estimated cost is Rs 1,000 crore. CM Bhagwant Mann made the plan public during his visit to Nangal on Saturday (July 22). https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/pb-suggests-parallel-canal-for-irrigation/articleshow/102066722.cms (24 July 2023)
Need of long-term action plan for flood control Punjab Floods:-The widespread floods in 14 districts of the state has underlined the need for a long-term action plan instead of the usual piecemeal efforts. With an unexpected amount of water gushing down from neighbouring Himachal Pradesh after the heavy downpour last week, Satluj, Beas, Ravi and Ghaggar were soon in spate, leading to breaches in embankments and flooding of villages. Similarly, absence of storm water systems even in the newly-built colonies led to enormous pressure on the municipal drains and sewerages.
-“Rapid urbanisation in the last two decades has tampered with the free flow of water. This has been exposed in flooding of even posh colonies like the Urban Estate in Patiala. Heavy rains came in July as the dams had some capacity left. Had it been after August 15, the dams would have been full and the situation worse,” said former secretary (irrigation), Punjab, Kahan Singh Pannu. He added, “There is a need for a project to desilt Ghaggar, Satluj, Beas and Ravi so that they can hold water coming down from upper reaches. For instance, there is always a breach in the Satluj near Gidderpindi in Jalandhar as railway bridge has shrunk the area for the passage of water.”
-Floods can be prevented if there is sufficient space for the rivers to carry water. Patiala witnessed devastating floods in 1993, when areas like Matura Colony and Rajpura Colony were submerged, but the authorities have not learnt their lessons.” In Ropar too, which was one of the worst affected by floods, the locals blamed haphazard growth of residential colonies in recent years disrupting natural drainage in most areas.
-Amarjit Sandhu, a retired government officer in Patiala, observed: “Passing through Patiala, the Badi Nadi, which meets with Ghaggar, has narrowed down and the authorities have even launched beautification and sewerage treatment plants along its banks. New colonies have been allowed to come up in the low-lying areas and no one bothers to check if they have a functional storm water drainage system.
-Shortage of funds for pre-empting floods is also a perennial issue. An official said every year, the state sets aside around Rs 100 crore for carrying out desilting of water bodies but the actual demand from the district administrations is usually to the tune of Rs 500 crore. “A part of the disaster management funds should be allowed to be used for mitigation of floods,” he said. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/punjab-needs-long-term-action-plan-for-flood-control/articleshow/101743085.cms (14 July 2023)
Among other things, the report submitted in 2020 by the Department of Mines and Geology, regarding the 2019 floods, states,: Removing this sediment can increase the river’s capacity by 15,000 to 50,000 cusec, which is a significant improvement. The excavation would also prevent the river from meandering and causing damage to the embankments.””
-The figures on total volume of riverbed minerals must be based of independent replenishment study instead of mining department report which has squarely failed to ensure norms compliance and address adverse impacts of excessive riverbed mining which resulted in infrastructure damages, embankment weakening and groundwater table decline at number of places in the state. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/punjab-govt-report-behind-floods-rivers-choked-with-gravel-and-sand-15-times-8845152/ (18 July 2023)
CM Bhagwant Mann said that the state has suffered a loss of over Rs 1000 crore due to floods. The chief minister said the survey of crops, houses, roads, drainage system and infrastructure was still going on and the exact loss would be ascertained only after its completion. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/punjab-suffered-loss-of-over-rs-1-000-crore-due-to-floods-cm-mann-528346 (24 July 2023)
The Kasur drain developed a breach at two places in the Kasur drain near Plasaur village here on Sunday (July 23), inundating 30 acres of paddy crops of village farmers. The flood situation in the Beas and Sutlej rivers remained the same with the crops on over 60,000 acres in 60 villages still inundated.
The villagers held the administration and officials of the Drainage Department responsible for this lapse. They said the drain was flowing at its full capacity for the last few days, but the officials took no notice of the weak banks of the drain. They alleged the water hyacinth had not been removed from the drain, which was the major reason of the breaches. They alleged the banks of the drain had not been repaired over the years. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/breach-in-tarn-taran-village-drain-leaves-paddy-field-inundated-528519 (23 July 2023)
Rainwater entered agricultural fields in Rakh Jhitae and Jhitae Dayal Singh Wala near Attari after the bundh of Hansli nullah was breached following heavy showers in the region on Saturday. The water also entered an under-construction colony in the area. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/bundh-on-drain-in-attari-area-breached-528518 (24 July 2023)
Punjab may require to retransplant paddy crop in 2.50 lakh acres Punjab Floods:-Due to the devastating floods, Punjab may need to retransplant paddy and basmati rice varieties in approximately 1.05 lakh hectares (around 2.50 lakh acres) of land across over half a dozen districts, according to agriculture officials. By the first week of July, before the incessant rain hit the state, rice cultivation had already covered 86 per cent (27.29 lakh hectares) of the expected area of 31.67 lakh hectares. Sowing on the remaining area was then underway.
-According to the initial estimates from the Punjab Agriculture Department, which is yet to conduct a special ‘girdawari’ (crop inspection) to gauge the actual damage in collaboration with the Punjab Revenue Department, floodwaters have submerged around 2.37 lakh hectares (5.85 lakh acres) of paddy fields.
-In Punjab, the floods may also increase the Basmati cultivation area, which is crucial considering the shorter duration of Basmati. Punjab had set a target of growing Basmati on 6 lakh hectares this year https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/punjab-flood-devastation-paddy-crop-retransplant-8843729/ (17 July 2023)
After inundation of swathes of farmland in many districts of Punjab due to floods, instances of landowners refunding the lease amount to tenant farmers, who are staring at near-certain crop losses, have started to trickle in from across the state. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/post-floods-some-punjab-landowners-return-lease-money-to-tenant-farmers/articleshow/101908809.cms (19 July 2023)
Uttarakhand श्रीनगर डैम से पानी छोड़ने के बाद भीमगोड़ा बैराज का गेट टूटा रविवार (July 16) को गंगा में श्रीनगर डैम से अतिरिक्त पानी छोड़ने की सूचना प्रसारित की गई थी। दिन में पानी छोड़ना शुरू कर दिया गया। जिससे सामान्य दिनों में जहां गंगा में 80 हजार क्यूसेक पानी चल रहा था। श्रीनगर डैम से पानी आने से गंगा में 2 लाख 255 क्यूसेक तक पानी छोड़ा गया। रविवार शाम को अचानक से भीमगोड़ा बैराज का गेट नंबर दस टूट गया। इससे गंगा का जलस्तर शाम सात बजे 293.15 मीटर पर पहुंच गया, जो चेतावनी रेखा के 293 मीटर से ऊपर है। उधर, गेट टूटने से जिला प्रशासन की ओर से गंगा के किनारों पर बसे इलाकों में अलर्ट घोषित कर दिया गया। https://www.amarujala.com/dehradun/uttarakhand-weather-haridwar-bhimgoda-barrage-gate-broken-after-heavy-rainfall-in-hilly-areas-alert-issued-2023-07-16 (16 July 2023)
A gate of the Bhimgoda Barrage in Haridwar got accidentally damaged during opening as water was released from Srinagar on Sunday (July 16). The district administration has issued an alert in several villages of Khanpur and Laksar regions, which are already faced with flooding.
-SDO, irrigation department of Uttar Pradesh, Shivkumar Kaushik told TOI, “A wire of gate number 10 got partially damaged and we are trying to repair it. It will take at least a day to do so. However, there is no problem in releasing water from the dam as other gates are fully functional. Over two lakh cusec water has been released from Srinagar, due to which the water level of Ganga river has risen. Currently, the water level of Ganga is at 293.17 metre, which is above the warning level and can touch danger level.” https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/gate-of-bhimgoda-barrage-damaged-alert-issued-in-several-villages-as-water-released/articleshow/101811015.cms (17 July 2023)
Himachal Pradesh Himalayas under threat Some more info on how the dams’ operations and other man-made reasons aggravate flood destruction in Himachal Pradesh: –Many houses in Pandoh were swept away due to the release of huge amounts of water from Larji and Pandoh dams. At the time of dam construction, their role in controlling floods was widely propagated, but the opposite is happening today.
-The tourism industry is luring people to construct hotels and dhabas near the riverbeds, sometimes overlooking the safety factor. The unprecedented rains brought a huge amount of water mixed with debris to the river and washed away these constructions.
-In 1992, a committee formed by the Planning Commission under the chairmanship of Dr SZ Qasim had suggested an environment-friendly development model for this region, but nothing happened. Even the present Niti Aayog has formed a regional council for Himalayan states to ensure sustainable development. However, the council does not seem to have brought much results on the ground.
– In the recent floods in Beas, the areas around Manali, Kullu and Mandi have been the worst hit. In Chamba, Bharmour has been cut off by the Ravi, washing away a part of the main road. Several deaths have been reported. Roads, pipelines, bridges, houses, hotels and other infrastructure stand damaged, causing a loss of more than Rs 3,000 crore. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/features/himalayas-under-threat-525991 (16 July 2023)
This report shows the extent of damage along Beas river, around Manali in Kullu district of HP during current floods. It talks about river changing course due to encroachments, indiscriminate mining. Large stretches of Highways have been washed away. Will any lessons be learnt? https://www.pressreader.com/india/hindustan-times-jalandhar/20230717/281689734287187 (17 July 2023)
Trail Of Destruction More info on why Himachal floods devastation is more because of already warned about anthropogenic activities:-The DPR-based development, which tends to shift the paradigm of evolution of mountains, glaciers and rivers, has taken a hit—a lesson to be learnt here.
-This is quite evident from the fact that the maximum destruction occurred in the areas where mega infrastructure projects, road widening, and the four-lane activity were undertaken in recent years. Experts attribute the devastation to soil vulnerabilities, failed drainage systems, dumping of huge debris in the rivers, and unchecked illegal mining at the river beds. They describe it as a ‘man-made’ devastation of the Himalayas, a planned disaster indeed.
Tikender Singh Panwar, a former Deputy Mayor, and expert on climate change, says “The underlying issue here is why there was such a colossal loss to the state, which is not new to disasters and calamities like rains and flash floods. “The answer is simple. It’s a human induced catastrophe, not a natural disaster. Our development model is terribly wrong, ill-conceived and completely misplaced. The mountains stood as a guard to our rivals and natural resources. We have sliced down the stable mountains at 90 degree angle (not step/terrace cutting) to widen roads and built NHs and four-lanes to cater to the state’s needs for tourism and economic mobility. Lakhs of trees were felled for Parwanoo-Shimla four-lane project and Chandigarh-Manali project,” he points out.
-Further, the entire debris generated was dumped on hill slopes and rivers. The course of rivers was diverted to build dams for hydro-power projects. This was like playing with nature. The course of the rivers has narrowed down and the surface usually filled-up with silt, raising the water level. Thus, the rivers flowed over its man-defined boundaries and breached the habitations washing away whatever came in its way on July 8 and 9.
But, the Kullu-Manali road, which also connects Leh, has been swept away due to the flood fury in the Beas. It might take months to re-create the new alignment and cut down the mountains again. Chandigarh-Shimla National Highway too has proven to be a disaster. Heavy landslides and rocks breaking down from the critically wounded mountains reduced the road to 10-12 feet passage, severely restricting vehicular mobility in the state.
-“There are also several anthropogenic factors such as deforestation, unsustainable construction resulting in maximum damage in the rain-related events. We should not always see climate change as a factor to natural calamities,” says Anand Sharma, a former Director, MeT centre, Dehradun.
-Officials in the state Disaster Management authority admit that the experts had warned the authorities repeatedly against mega development projects including four-lane projects that involved massive cutting and destabilization of mountain strata. The governments of the day ignored the warnings justifying the need to build road infrastructure to promote tourism, transport horticulture produce and build dams for power generation.
-State’s Principal Secretary (Disaster Management) Onkar Sharma says that haphazard development is certainly a reason behind the state facing the worst natural calamity with the continuous cycle of cloudbursts, rains, landslides and deaths. “We have seen even worse kinds of rains lasting for six to seven days. The rain water used to flow down as flash floods. Now just note how the rivers take a toll and hills crumble down after rains. It’s only because we have interfered with natural resources. Why do the rivers get muddy when rain water is so clean? It’s debris changing colour of the river water,” he says.
-Environmentalist Mansi Asher, says,, Over the last two decades, in its struggle to generate revenue and employment pushed extractive growth-up. For sale are its rivers and scenic greenery. Ironically, this business in itself is eating up the proverbial Golden Goose. Apart from the domestic policy mess up are the vulnerabilities induced by global climate change. https://www.outlookindia.com/national/himalayan-fury-himachal-pradesh-s-record-breaking-floods-leave-trail-of-destruction-news-304214 (20 July 2023)
This explains the reasons behind deadly flash floods dumping wood logs and mudslide in Thunag market area in Mandi district on July 10:- Locals said that most of the logs that came down were dumped in a local stream when a road was constructed to connect the villages during tenure of former chief minister Jairam Thakur (2017-2022). Thakur’s village, Thandi, is just four kilometer uphill from Thunag town, the administrative centre of Thakur’s Seraj assembly segment, which saw unprecedented development works during his tenure. “Hundreds of illegally felled trees and muck was dumped in a seasonal stream running parallel. We are bearing the brunt of so-called development,” said a local resident, who was not willing to be named. Thakur inspected Thunag on Wednesday.
-Lalit Kumar, another shop-owner, blamed the local authorities saying no warning was given of the cloud-burst or heavy rains. He was angry because a lesser intensity cloud burst has hit Thunag in 2022 and authorities have assured of putting a mechanism to alert them. “We were left to fend for ourselves. No help came,” Kumar said. Another resident Chaman Lal said they have “suffered unprecedented losses” which would be difficult to recover in a long time.
Extreme Events:- The cloud burst in Thunag is a story of increasing cloud bursts and intensity. The Mandi district, which is worst affected, has witnessed at least three major cloudbursts since July 1, one each in Tunag, Pundoh and Seraj, clearly showing that what climate scientists have been telling for long — intensity of cloudbursts is increasing because of climate change and local anthropogenic reasons. Several places such as Sainj in Kullu district that neighbours Mandi, Kasauli and Parwanoo in Solan district, and Rohru in Shimla district have witnessed flash-floods this monsoon due to localised cloudbursts. IMD Director Shimla Centre, Surender Paul said at least 29 flash flood incidents have been reported in the state since the onset of monsoon on June 24. More than 50% of these occurred during July 8-10. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/devastating-cloudburst-and-flash-floods-in-himachal-pradesh-unplanned-development-and-climate-change-to-blame-101689190799169.html (13 July 2023)
Himalaya Niti Abhiyan on HP floods In the aftermath of the recent devastating disasters that have wreaked havoc upon Himachal Pradesh, Himalaya Niti Abhiyan (People for Himalayan Development) took center stage, sounding an urgent alarm. An online meet, “A Review of the Disasters in the Himalayan Region, particularly the Beas River Basin and downstream,” convened on July 19, 2023, drawing more than 45 dedicated individuals with extensive experience in the Himalayan region. https://english.junputh.com/voices/hna-demands-inquiry-commission-by-retired-sc-judge-on-himalayan-disaster/ (21 July 2023)
Ravaging Floods– A result of Faulty Model of Development Demanding ‘Commission of Inquiry’ Former deputy mayor, of Shimla Municipal Corporation Tikender Singh Panwar, said that it is a faulty unsustainable model of Development of the state which is responsible for the ravaging floods that have caused havoc and loss of life and property in the state. https://www.himachalheadlines.com/news/ravaging-floods-causing-havoc-in-himachal-a-result-of-faulty-model-of-development-tikender-singh-panwar/ (21 July 2023)
Man made reasons aggravated flood destruction in Himachal Pradesh: Experts said that the high impact of the rains was due to several factors such as proliferation of hydel projects, infrastructure development, unregulated construction including building of hotels, and rampant river-bed mining. The damage a hydel project can cause during extreme weather event was evident in Pandoh town in Mandi district on July 3 after a cloudburst, the second in less than a month. “The water was dammed for the project uphill. When the cloudburst happened, tonnes of water were released without any warning causing huge loss to us,” said Amit Sharma, a local shopkeeper whose vehicle got swept in the water released from the project.
-Experts said massive devastation happened in the areas that witnessed the development of infrastructure, such as hydel projects, or wide (and poorly planned) hill roads. Asher, who runs a non-government organisation, Himdhara, said: “Various studies show that the state is now gripped in continuous cycle of cloudbursts, landslides and deaths, because of haphazard development, sometimes totally unregulated.”
-Himachal, in recent years, has witnessed unprecedented infrastructure development with the government converting several two-lane highways into four-lane ones for faster connectivity, including linking Shimla and Manali, the state’s two most popular tourist destinations, to Chandigarh. Both highways were the epicentre of landslides in July with close to 100 reported between Mandi and Manali since July 1; and a part of the highway near Mandi town being washed away by an overflowing Beas.
-Over 60 landslides were reported on the Shimla-Chandigarh highway in the same period. Both highways were closed for a couple of days. “There has not been single monsoon when Shimla-Chandigarh highway was not blocked since the unscientific widening of the road started five years ago,” said Jasmeet Singh, a frequent traveller between Shimla and Chandigarh.
-Government official Onkar Sharma admitted that the hills have been destabilised due to cutting and blasting for infrastructure projects and construction. “We witness record-breaking downpour and see its impact in the form of flash floods, flooding and hills coming crumbling down, which have been destabilised due to cutting and blasting for construction work.”
-Sukhu, who described the rains as the “heaviest” in 50 years, promised a review of the infrastructure development with an eye on ecological imperatives. “We will also come up with a plan to deal with impacts of extreme weather events,” said Himachal government spokesperson Naresh Chauhan. That’s been said before. And will probably be said again. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/natures-fury-unleashed-devastating-cloudbursts-and-flooding-in-himachal-pradesh-leave-a-trail-of-destruction-101689187974150.html (13 July 2023)
Landslide threat looms, no traffic on Manali National Highway The district administration has stopped traffic movement on the Chandigarh-Manali highway between Mandi and Pandoh in Mandi district in view of public safety till Wednesday (July 19). The road at 6 Mile between Mandi and Pandoh has been rendered unsafe as the threat of landslide looms in the area. The highway was blocked to traffic at 6 Mile last evening due to a massive landslide. Yesterday (July 17) a JCB driver and a few other labourers had a narrow escape when big boulders rolled down from the hillside on a JCB machine. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/landslide-threat-looms-no-traffic-on-manali-national-highway-526931 (19 July 2023)
Delhi क्या हम इस बाढ़ से कोई सबक सीखेंगे? पानी के सवाल पर बरसों से विश्वसनीय शोध कर रहे हिमांशु ठक्कर और उनकी संस्था साउथ एशियन नेटवर्क ऑन डैम रिवर एंड पीपल (SANDRP) ने दिल्ली में पिछले हफ्ते आई बाढ़ का प्रारंभिक विश्लेषण किया है, जो इस सच की पुष्टि करता है। इस विश्लेषण से स्पष्ट है कि इस बार यमुना की बाढ़ का प्रमुख कारण अकस्मात हुई भारी बारिश नहीं। सबसे अधिक बारिश उत्तर प्रदेश के उन जिलों में हुई, जिनका पानी यमुना में नहीं पहुंचता है। न ही हथिनीकुंड बैराज से छोड़ा पानी इसके लिए जिम्मेदार है। इस बार 11 जुलाई को बैराज से 3.6 लाख क्यूसेक पानी छोड़ा गया था, जबकि 2010, 2013, 2018 और 2019 में एक दिन में इससे कहीं ज्यादा पानी छोड़ा गया था। यूं भी दिल्ली पहुंचने से पहले वाले पांच मॉनिटरिंग सेंटरों में कहीं भी यमुना (उच्चतम बाढ़ स्तर) से ऊपर नहीं पहुंची थी।
-यह रिपोर्ट इस बाढ़ के लिए मुख्यत: मानवीय दखल को जिम्मेदार मानती है। इसमें सबसे प्रमुख कारण है यमुना के आसपास के उस खुले इलाके पर कब्जा, जिसे दिल्ली में यमुना खादर क्षेत्र कहा जाता है और तकनीकी भाषा में फ्लडप्लेस कहते हैं। दिल्ली में यमुना के 9700 हैक्टेयर के खादर क्षेत्र में से 1000 हैक्टेयर से ज्यादा भूमि पर पर्यावरण के नियमों का उल्लंघन कर पक्की इमारतें बना दी गई हैं। इनमें कॉमनवैल्थ खेलग्राम (64 हैक्टेयर), अक्षरधाम मंदिर (100 हैक्टेयर) और मैट्रो डिपो (110 हैक्टेयर) शामिल हैं। इसके अलावा दिल्ली में यमुना पर 26 ब्रिज और 3 बैराज बनाए गए हैं। इन सब के चलते दिल्ली में पहुंचते ही यमुना के पानी के पास फैलने की जगह नहीं बचती और बरसाती पानी का सामान्य उफान एक मानवीय दुर्घटना में बदल जाता है। https://samtamarg.in/2023/07/19/will-we-learn-any-lesson-from-this-flood/ (19 July 2023)
River inundated city with less water than previous flood years This report extensively quotes SANDRP. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/natural-disasters/yamuna-claims-back-delhi-river-inundated-city-with-less-water-than-previous-flood-years-here-is-why-90644 (16 July 2023)
Behind floods is a history of encroachment and diminishing wetlands To make matters worse, floodgates in the heart of the city in ITO were reportedly jammed, exacerbating the flooding. According to Himanshu Thakkar, coordinator of the SANDRP, the water released from the Hathnikund barrage does not explain the extent of flooding the city saw last week, which he attributes to gradual obstructions in the river, concretisation of the floodplains, and destruction of water bodies within the city.
-“In 2010, water released from the Hathnikund barrage exceeded 7 lakh cusecs, but water levels never breached 207.49 meters, a record level set in 1978. Three years later, over 8 lakh cusecs were discharged into the river, and still we did not see this level of flooding. Now, with only 3 lakhs of discharge, flood records have been broken. This can only mean that factors within Delhi are the reason,” he said. https://india.mongabay.com/2023/07/behind-delhis-floods-is-a-history-of-encroachment-and-diminishing-wetlands/ (21 July 2023)
In his report titled ‘Why Unprecedented Yamuna Water Levels even at moderate releases?’, Bhim Singh Rawat, SANDRP lists two main solutions:
1. Delhi must keep Yamuna floodplains intact with the river.
2. There is an urgent need to increase the flood cushion in river’s city stretch.
-“Flooding is a natural cycle and an essential feature of a river. The Yamuna flood spell has once again reinforced the significance of floodplains for a city and river. At the same time, encroached and abused floodplains and river Yamuna have the potential to jeopardise the normalcy of the national capital and bring large part of city underwater,” he concluded. https://www.thequint.com/amp/story/news/delhi-rains-yamuna-floods-hathnikund-barrage-haryana-water-politics-news#read-more (19 July 2023)
Yamuna floods in Delhi have damaged and undone the river front and beautification activities costing lakhs of rupees against which citizens, experts have repeatedly cautioned the DDA. Hope the agency learns its lessons this time and starts freeing Yamuna floodplain encroached by big players and stop wasting public money in fancy projects.
इन प्रोजेक्ट का शुरू से ही एक्सपर्ट विरोध कर रहे हैं। उनके अनुसार इनके नाम पर यमुना की जैव विविधता को बदलने की कोशिश हो रही है। SANDRP के भीम सिंह रावत के अनुसार उन्होंने डीडीए के चेयरमैन व एलजी वीके सक्सेना को अपनी आपत्तियां दर्ज करवाई थीं। https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/photomazza/others-photogalleries/delhi-asita-east-wetlands-on-vikas-marg-flooded-check-then-and-now-photos/photoshow/101927484.cms (19 July 2023)
At least 90% of the 90,000 saplings and 29 lakh riverine grasses planted this year on the Yamuna floodplain have been damaged in the recent flood. Officials said all 10 projects, taken up by Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in thousands of hectares of the Yamuna floodplain as part of its restoration plan over the past few years, had been affected and their revamp would take a few years, provided this kind of flooding didn’t happen again. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/floodplain-projects-set-back-by-years/articleshow/101970674.cms (20 July 2023)
Some information on ITO barrage gates controversy: – India Today has accessed a letter written by the Haryana government in 2014 to the Delhi Development Authority raising the issue of an “unauthorised” nursery on the Yamuna river’s passage.
-The letter also included pictorial evidence of the nursery. When India Today’s team visited the site, the nursery was found to be located right in front of the ITO gates, blocking at least four of them directly. There is little or no flow in this section even though the gates are open.
-The ITO Barrage was constructed in 1966 with a capacity of 3 lakh cusec. The barrage was constructed to provide water to the Rajghat Thermal Plant and the Indraprastha Power Generation Company. In return, they paid for the maintenance of the barrage to the Haryana government. However, in 2019, due to both the power-plants shutting down, the Delhi government stopped paying the maintenance money to Haryana.
-As per documents reviewed by India Today, the last cheque for maintenance paid by the Delhi government to Haryana was in 2020. However, the Haryana government continued the maintenance work and wrote three letters after 2020 seeking funds from the Delhi government. In response, the Delhi government sent letters demanding ownership of the ITO barrage.
-On being asked why the ownership of ITO barrage is not being transferred to Delhi, a top Haryana government official said, “If the Delhi government really wants ownership, they should take it up through proper channels. What we have seen is an interstate debacle.”
-Saurabh Bhardwaj on Sunday (July 16) said the Delhi government raised the issue of poor maintenance of the ITO barrage and non-functional gates to Haryana in a letter dated July 6, 2022. However, as per two letters accessed by India Today, the electricity to the barrage was disconnected after an intimation by the Delhi government on March 18, 2019.
-After this, a letter dated July 6, 2022 said the gates of the barrage are non-functional due to lack of electricity. In a reply to this, the Haryana government in a letter dated July 12, 2022, said the electricity connection was obtained on July 9, 2022 and the gates at the ITO barrage are operational and working as per discharge.
-A senior official in the Haryana Irrigation department said, “The Delhi government discontinued the electricity connection provided to ITO barrage in the name of IPGCL on March 26, 2022. We got electricity connection registered in our name and made all gates operational by July 17, 2022. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/illegal-nursery-blocking-yamuna-flow-ito-barrage-haryana-notified-delhi-in-2014-2408373-2023-07-18 (18 July 2023)
ITO barrage controversy still unresolved: Haryana CM:-“We checked our records. For its (ITO barrage) maintenance, money never went from Haryana. That was given by the Indraprastha power plant till 2018 which is shut now,” Khattar had said. “The AAP government never said this problem could come. They are talking about it now when the problem has arisen,” he said in Rohtak.
Delhi Govt:-A statement from the Delhi government stated that thermal power plants had an agreement of using water from the ITO barrage and giving some money to the Haryana government. “These thermal plants got decommissioned in 2009 and they had no reason to pay any money. The Haryana government knows these facts and they were informed about this in 2019,” it said.
-The statement added that letters were written to the Haryana government in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2022 to hand over the ITO barrage to the Delhi government, but in vain. https://theprint.in/india/ito-barrage-row-delhi-govt-says-haryana-govt-apprised-of-issue-in-past/1674091/ (18 July 2023)
Out of 32 gates of ITO barrage in Delhi, five could not be opened during peak flood. By now two of those five have been opened, rest three are still stuck. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/delhi-flood-two-of-five-jammed-gates-of-ito-barrage-opened-so-far/articleshow/101854728.cms (July 2023)
Delineation of Zone O will only compound flooding: Experts -While DDA officials argue that delineation is crucial to ensure no further illegal development happens on the floodplains, experts claim the exercise would lead to extension in unauthorised construction. The problem of flooding, they warn, could intensify in the colonies every time there’s heavy rain.
-In September 2019, NGT had asked DDA to complete the process of demadrcating the Yamuna floodplains and install fencing and CCTV cameras to protect it from encroachment. Maps prepared by IIT-Delhi, based on the maximum water levels observed in 2011 at various locations, have been used for demarcation.
-Experts, however, raised concerns. “After IIT’s study in 2014, NGT directed DDA to vacate areas where flooding happened and ensure no new development took place. But nothing much happened on the ground. Narrowing the river boundaries, regulating unauthorised colonies and making embankments will have their own implications,” said A K Gosain, emeritus professor, IIT-D https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/delineation-of-zone-o-will-only-compound-flooding-experts/articleshow/101844777.cms (18 July 2023)
According to Professor Shashank Shekhar, a geologist at DU who has conducted multiple studies on the Yamuna, Delhi can no longer compromise its floodplains. “Once the situation improves, the administration has its task cut out. First, it must assess how Delhi was flooded while a large part of the area between Hathnikund and Wazirabad barrage stayed safe. There are massive unauthorised encroachments in Zone O. The administration must also look at why Delhi’s drains were not managed properly,” said Shekhar. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/is-this-delhis-barrage-of-woes-a-reality-check/articleshow/101970167.cms (20 July 2023)
-Started as a pilot project in 2019 for floodwater harvesting by Delhi Jal Board, the Palla reservoir near Sagarpur floodplain is successfully utilising floodwater to recharge the city’s aquifers for future use. The properly desilted pond, which is spread over 26 acres, can recharge at least 50 million gallons of groundwater daily and soak in a very high volume of water, officials said.
-In 2022, the reservoir recharged 22.9 lakh cubic metres of groundwater, of which 22.7 lakh cubic metres was recharged due to the Yamuna runoff. While the Delhi government’s ambitious project has entered its fifth year, buoyed by its success, officials are now aiming to expand the project. This will not only help us store more floodwater but will also help recharge Delhi’s groundwater, said a DJB official.
-Because of the recent flood and more areas covered by the Yamuna, officials believe that the groundwater is likely to go up this year. Officials are now planning to replicate the experiment in an area of 1000 acres, which may recharge enough water to resolve the water crisis of entire north-west Delhi. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/capture-store-recharge-silver-lining-at-palla/articleshow/101903747.cms (19 July 2023)
Agra Rising Yamuna reaches walls of Taj Mahal for 1st time in 45 years Yamuna River rose to 495.8 feet in Agra, breaching the ‘low flood level’ mark and reaching the walls of the iconic Taj Mahal on Monday (July 17), a sight unseen for 45 years. The last time the Yamuna approached the world heritage site was during the floods of 1978. The water level had surpassed the ‘low-flood level’ at 495 feet, reaching 497.9 feet.
-According to the official, the rise in the Yamuna level was caused by the release of water from two barrages in the last 24 hours – 1,06,473 cusec water from the Okhla Barrage and 1,24,302 cusec water from the Gokul Barrage in Mathura, where all seven gates have been opened.
Details of CWC’s 12 flood monitoring sites (8 in Uttar Pradesh, 2 in Assam and 1 each in Gujarat and Maharashtra) that have crossed Highest Flood Level in July 2023. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/yamuna-floods-agra-rising-yamuna-reaches-walls-of-taj-mahal-for-1st-time-in-45-years-101689672505505.html
Yamuna water level near Tajmahal in Agra is reaching close to the 1978 peak of 154.76 m. https://apnews.com/article/india-taj-mahal-flood-monsoon-06a5f5988888a1c45b965e56294219f7 ; https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/yamuna-threatens-taj-526919 (19 July 2023)
Ghaziabad Flood water leaves behind trail of submerged, unsafe houses in Ghaziabad’s Loni Ghaziabad Impact of embankment breach:-The breach in the Alipur embankment inundated several villages, including Nauraspur, Alipur, Mirpur Hindu, Lutfullapur Nawada, Badarpur, Khanpur Japti, Harampur, Ilaichipur, Pychara, and the Tronica City industrial area, as well as nearby residential areas such as Puja Colony, Ram Park, and Ram Park Extension. Approximately 10,000 to 12,000 people have been affected by the floods, according to official estimates.
-Efforts are underway to assess the number of unsafe houses in the coming days. Currently, the focus is on draining water and providing food and water to those affected. Initial assessments indicate that around 20% of houses in Ram Park Colony have been infiltrated by water. Similar conditions prevail in other areas, according to KK Mishra, the executive officer of Loni Nagar Palika. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/noida-news/devastating-floods-destroy-homes-and-livelihoods-leaving-families-struggling-for-survival-and-government-assistance-101689705711679.html (19 July 2023)
Hindon floodplain encroachments lead to flooding of farm lands in villages and forests in Ghaziabad city. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ghaziabad/hindon-river-swells-in-ghaziabad-floods-city-forest-swamps-villages/articleshow/101998572.cms (21 July 2023)
Maharashtra “Callous work of genco officials led to ash bund breach” The fly-ash pond disaster, that flooded agricultural the fields in Waregaon, could have been avoided had state power generation company Mahagenco been cautious of mitigation measures and complying to the legally binding requirement of 100% ash utilization, states a complaint made to the central and state pollution control board. Filed by Pune-based NGO Manthan Adhyayan Kendra and Nagpur-based Centre for Sustainable Development (CFSD), the complaint highlighted “the callous attitude of Mahagenco officials”.
-As reported by TOI, the incident took place after the Waregaon ash bund of Khaparkheda Thermal Power Station breached on the morning of July 19, following which toxic fly-ash slurry flooded around 15 farmlands. In the complaint, environmentalists Shripad Dharmadhikary and Leena Buddhe stated that even before this catastrophic event, ash had been leaking from the power plant and its associated infrastructure, contaminating water bodies.
-“The matter was so serious that some time back, Nagpur Municipal Corporation and Orange City Waterworks were forced to stop lifting water for drinking purpose from one side of the Kanhan river due to fly ash contamination. While the immediate impacts of ash pollution are serious, we are equally worried about the long-term impacts as this ash has many elements like heavy metals that can lead to contamination of water and soil for years to come,” the compliant stated. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/callous-work-of-genco-officials-led-to-ash-bund-breach-plaint/articleshow/102028835.cms (22 July 2023)
-In another major breach of a fly-ash pond, the Waregaon ash bund of Khaparkheda Thermal Power Station overflowed on Wednesday (July 19), flooding at least 15 farmlands with toxic ash slurry. According to locals, the breach took place around 8 am but the ash water started gushing into the fields later in the day. “The ash pond was full to its brim and following heavy rains, the wall of the bund collapsed. After few hours, ash slurry started overflowing and flooded around 15 agricultural fields, damaging all crops,” said Kamlakar Bangre, sarpanch of Waregaon village. -Villagers alleged that their complaints made to officials of Mahagenco, the state-run power company, fell on deaf ears. This is not the first time that the region’s farmers have faced losses due to a breach in ash pond. During July last year, the Khasala fly ash bund of Koradi Thermal Power Station had breached, flooding three villages with toxic fly-ash slurry. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/breach-in-khaparkhedas-fly-ash-bund-at-waregaon-floods-farms-with-toxic-slurry/articleshow/101972058.cms (20 July 2023)
The waterfalls and overflows of the dams have claimed three lives of tourists in the last two days in the Palghar district. https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/maharashtra-rains-3-tourists-drown-in-2-days-due-to-overflowing-dams-rise-in-water-levels (17 July 2023)
Encroachments along Waldhuni river cause floods https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thane/encroachments-along-waldhuni-river-cause-floods/articleshow/102001864.cms (21 July 2023)
Gujarat After downpour, Junagadh city faces its worst flood in decades Thousands of people shuddered with a constant sinking feeling as Junagadh was swamped by its worst flood in the past several decades following a savage onslaught of rain that left the historic town benumbed on Saturday (July 22).
-Residents watched in horror as cars, two-wheelers, animals, roadside kiosks, and handcarts were swept away in the flash floods caused by the Kalva River that flows through the town. What worsened the situation was incessant downpours on Mount Girnar that sent bursts of water gushing into the town that is located at the foothills.
-In Ahmedabad, 109mm rainfall was recorded in three hours from 6 pm to 9 pm. It was the highest single-day rainfall received by the city this monsoon, indicated Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) officials.
-As several western city areas recorded more than 100mm rainfall, heavy waterlogging brought the traffic to a halt. People’s woes were compounded by vehicles which conked off due to water, forcing many to abandon their vehicles on the roads and walk to their destinations. All eight gates of the Vasna barrage were opened due to excess water inflow. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/after-downpour-junagadh-city-faces-its-worst-flood-in-decades/articleshow/102047438.cms (23 July 2023)
-बारिश की वजह से बांधों और नदियों में जलस्तर खतरनाक स्तर तक बढ़ने से गांव अलग-थलग पड़ गए हैं. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JroLhETHkF4 (23 July 2023)
-Willingdon Dam in Junagadh overflowed after heavy rains and water entered houses due to dam overflow. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKV88RjcMgs (30 June 2023)
PIB Climate change impact assessment There is no established study for India providing a quantified attribution of climate change leading to increased outbreak of floods. While many studies monitor disasters such as floods, drought and heat, the science of attribution of these changes particularly to climate change is far more complex and currently an evolving subject. Most studies so far have relied on mathematical modelling of climate change impacts but these are not empirically verified. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1941049 (20 July 2023)
Study 14 states have better resilience to floods Approximately 66% of individuals in India are exposed to extreme flood events. However, only 33% of the exposed individuals are covered by flood early warning systems (EWS), according to a new report released by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) recently. Meanwhile, 25% of individuals in India are exposed to cyclones and their impacts, but cyclone warnings are available to 100% of the exposed population. The report, ‘Strengthening India’s Disaster Preparedness with Technology: A Case for Effective Early Warning Systems’, highlights that early warning systems are a critical component of building climate resilience as the country sees increasing extreme weather events such as floods and cyclones in recent times. These early warnings are also a part of disaster risk reduction, a key focus area under India’s G20 Presidency. https://www.indiawaterportal.org/articles/fourteen-indian-states-have-better-resilience-floods (14 July 2023)
HFL BREACH
Uttar Pradesh River Kali at Ratanpuri site in Muzaffar Nagar district continues to be in extreme flood situation for past four days. The river had breached the HFL 218.05 meter about 07:00 hour on 15.07.2023. The river has probably set a new HFL for the site which Present flood level is 218.93 meter at 14:00 hour on 19.07.2023 with decline trend. 219.08 meter at 04:00 hour on 19.07.2023 and about 1.03 meter higher than the old HFL.
River Krishni at Barnawa site in Baghpat district continues to be in extreme flood situation for past three days. The river had breached HFL 215.43 m dated 29.09.2022 at 17:00 hour on 16.07.2023. The present flood level is 216.67 meter at 14:00 hour on 19.07.2023 which is about 1.24 meter above the previous HFL.
River Khoh at Nagina site in Bijnor district has breached the HFL twice in past 10 days. The river has first breached old HFL 236.75 meter dated 06.08.2019 and set new HFL 236.82 meter on 10.07.2023 which is now breached again at 09:00 hour on 18.07.2023 and the river has set 237.25 meter as new HFL for the site at 15:00 hour on 18.07.2023. Present water level is 237.03 meter at 14:00 hour on 19.07.2023 with declining trend.
River Hindon at Baleni site in Baghpat district has breached HFL 210.79 m dated 31.10.2019 at 12:00 hour on 18.07.2023. Present flood level is 211.18 at 14:00 hour on 19.07.2023.
Surprisingly, River Yamuna at Gokul barrage in Mathura district has breached old HFL 166.17 dated 26.09.2010 with narrow margin and with gain of 0.05 meter set 266.22 meter as new HFL for the site at 23:00 hour on 17.07.2023. However, the river water level stayed about 2.38 meter level below the HFL 166.73 meter dated 08.09.1978 at Prayag ghat an upstream site in Mathura. The river was in extreme flood situation at the Gokul barrage site for 15 hours. Present flood level is 165.32 meter at 15:00 hour on 19.07.2023 with declining trend.
River Yamuna at Bateshwar site in Agra continues to be in extreme flood situation for past three days. River has breached the old HFL 131.92 m dated 02.10.2022 at 06:00 hour on 16.07.2023. Present flood level is 133.71 meter at 15:00 hour on 19.07.2023 with rising trend.
River Ganga at Anupshahar site in Buland Shahar district has breached old HFL 180.85 meter dated 17.08.2020 at 03:00 hour on 19.07.2023 by 0.01 meter and has set 180.86 meter as new HFL at 05:00 hour on 19.07.2023. Present flood level is 180.83 meter at 21:00 hour on 19.07.2023 with decline trend.
River Ganga at Kachhla Bridge site in Budaun district continuously flowing in extreme flood situation for past four days. The river had breached the old HFL 162.79 meter dated 24.09.2010 at 02:00 hour on 15.07.2023. Present flood level is 162.89 at 21:00 hour 19.07.2023 with rising trend and forecasted to attain 162.9 meter at 08:00 hour on 20.07.2023.
Assam: – River Puthimari at DRF site has been flowing in extreme flood condition for past seven days. The river has breached the old HFL 144.51 meter dated 19.06.2022 at 10:00 hour on 13.07.2023 and attained new HDL 144.70 meter at 20:00 hour on 17.07.2023. Present flood level is 144.67 meter at 21:00 hour on 19.07.2023 with stable trend.
River Dikhow at Sivasagar site has breached old HFL 94.24 meter dated 22.06.2020 by 0.03 meter and set a new HFL 94.27 meter at 08:00 hour on 17.07.2023. The river remained in extreme flood condition for about 08 hours.
Himachal Pradesh River Bata at Ganguwala site in Sirmaur district has breached old HFL 372.9 meter dated 10.07.2023 by 0.62 meter and has set 373.52 meter as new HFL at 11:00 hour on 22.07.2023. Present water level is 370.97 meter at 11:00 hour on 23.07.2023 with falling trend.
Gujarat: – River Hiran at Savni site in Gir Somnath has breached old HFL 20.9 meter ( date not mentioned by CWC) by 2.35 meter and has 23.35 meter as new HFL at 05:00 hour on 19.07.2023. Present flood level is 16.13 meter at 21:00 hour on 19.07.2023 with falling trend.
Maharashtra: – River Nalganaga at Talaswada site in Buldana district has breached old HFL 226.1 meter at 14:00 hour on 19.07.2023 by 1.2 meter and set new HFL 227.3 meter at 16:00 hour on 19.07.2023. Present flood level is 226.95 meter at 21:00 hour on 19.07.2023.
URBAN FLOODS
Ahmedabad Sardar Vallabhai Patel Airport was reportedly flooded with knee-high water on Saturday (July 22) night after incessant rainfall across the state in the last two days. In Junagadh, dozens of parked cars and cattle were swept away in gushing waters after it received 219 mm of rain in 8 hours till 4pm on Saturday (July 22). People were seen wading through waist-deep water to shift to safer places, while some of them were rescued by volunteers as they were carried away in strong currents. Navsari and Junagadh were among the worst affected districts due to the torrential downpours that led to a deluge in several residential pockets and marketplaces. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ahmedabad-airport-flooded-gujarat-rain-updates-junagadh-adani-passengers-water-videos-101690094443815-amp.html (23 July 2023)
Hours after overnight 6 inch rains, 3000 people of this Vejalpur society remain stranded. https://rajivspeak.blogspot.com/2023/07/hours-after-overnight-6-inch-rains-3000.html (23 July 2023)
Mumbai A flood-resilient Mumbai? documentary tries to assess the causes of flooding in the city and its effects on communities living in flood-risk zones. https://mumbai.citizenmatters.in/mumbai-flooding-documentary-53469 (24 July 2023)
अगस्त्यमुनि के नाकोट, बंसत विहार क्षेत्र लंबे समय से जल भराव की गंभीर समस्या से जूझ रहा है। खेतों में तेजी से आवासीय भवन बन जाने से स्थिति और भी गंभीर हो गई। सार्वजनिक रास्तों पर अतिक्रमण कर दिया गया, कुछ ने दीवारे खड़ी कर पानी की निकसी ही बंद कर दी तो कई भवन स्वामियों ने रास्ते ही गायब कर दिए आलम ये हुआ कि बरसाती पानी हर बरसात में खुद रास्ता बनाते हुए घरों में घुसने लगा है। कुछ साल पूर्व इसी बरसाती पानी ने बंसत विहार समेत खण्ड विकास कार्यालय में भी भयंकर तबाही मचाई थी। हालाँकि नगर पंचायत द्वारा ड्रेनेज के लिए नालियाँ बनाई जा रही है, लेकिन आपसी सहमति न होने से ये योजना धरातल पर साकार नहीं हो पा रही है। आज नगर क्षेत्र को इस इलाके में सुरक्षित ड्रेनेज सिस्टम की जरूरत है, जिससे पर शीघ्र काम न किया गया तो भविष्य में नगर क्षेत्र की जनता को गंभीर नुकसान भी उठाना पड़ सकता है। इसके लिए स्थानीय निकायों के साथ आम आदमी को भी सहयोग करना होगा। http://dastakpahadki.co.in/32167/ (24 July 2023)
DTE We must reimagine how our cities are planned The recent floods in North India serve as a stark reminder to policymakers to prioritise sustainable urban planning and drainage infrastructure. Cities must have effective urban policy, governance and use of technology in order to become growth engines. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/urbanisation/urbanisation-in-india-we-must-reimagine-how-our-cities-are-planned-90718 (19 July 2023)
LANDSLIDES
Maharashtra landslide at Irshalwadi in Khalipur Dave Petley on Ishalwadi (Khalipur tehsil, Raigad district) landslide of July 19 2023 that lead to killing of at least 21 with about 100 people missing. This is the largest event to date resulting from the savage rainfall that in some areas has accompanied the 2023 SW monsoon in India. News reports indicate that the area received 499 mm of rainfall over a three day period prior to the landslide. The rescue and recovery operations are being heavily impacted by continued heavy rainfall. https://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/2023/07/21/irshalwadi-1/ (21 July 2023)
An update on the 19 July 2023 Irshalwadi landslide and a catastrophic debris flow in Bhutan by Dave Petley. https://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/2023/07/24/an-update-on-the-19-july-2023-irshalwadi-landslide-and-a-catastrophic-debris-flow-in-bhutan/ (24 July 2023)
Uttarakhand 333 landslide-prone danger areas The public works department (PWD) has identified around 333 landslide-prone “danger zones” in the hills which can turn active during the monsoon season. In its study, departmental teams found that the danger zones can get activated in heavy rains, and also due to the swelling of seasonal rivulets and nullahs. The highest number of 96 such danger zones is in Tehri district, followed by 95 in Almora, 33 in Rudraprayag, 27 in Chamoli, 22 in Pauri, 15 in Nainital, 14 in Bageshwar and Dehradun each, seven in Uttarkashi, four in Pithoragarh and three in Champawat and Haridwar, respectively. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/333-landslide-prone-danger-areas-found-in-uttarakhand/articleshow/101973748.cms (20 July 2023)
The Karnaprayag-Gairsain national highway was washed away near Kalimati village in Chamoli district following a rain-triggered landslide on Friday (July 21) morning, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded on both sides of the highway. A 15-metre stretch of the highway caved-in due to rainfall which eroded the foundation of the road. The Rishikesh-Badrinath national highway was also intermittently blocked following a recurring landslide at Chinkka in Chamoli district. The Joshimath-Malari border road has also been washed away near Jumma. Over 200 roads, including a few national highways and state highways, remain blocked due to rainfall. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/karnaprayag-gairsain-nh-washes-away-in-chamoli/articleshow/102027192.cms (22 July 2023)
बीती रात (July 23) हुई भारी बारिश के बाद बदरीनाथ राष्ट्रीय राजमार्ग कई जगहों पर बाधित हो गया है। गोचर के कमेड़ा में हाईवे करीब 20 मीटर तक ध्वस्त हो गया है। यहां भारी मात्रा में हाईवे पर मलबा आ गया है। इसके अलावा छिनका में भी पहाड़ी से मलबा और पत्थर आने से हाईवे बाधित है। हाईवे बंद होने पर जगह-जगह 1000 से अधिक तीर्थयात्री फंसे हुए हैं। स्थानीय लोगों को भी आवाजाही में भारी दिक्कतों का सामना करना पड़ रहा है।
दूसरी तरफ यमुनोत्री हाईवे पर ओजरी डाबरकोट पर लगातार बोल्डर और मलबा आने के कारण पिछले तीन दिनों से बंद है। यमुनोत्री धाम सहित गीठ पट्टी के कई गांव का सम्पर्क कट गया है। हाईवे बंद होने के कारण करीब 300 यात्री स्यानाचट्टी से लेकर जानकीचट्टी के बीच में फंसे हैं।
रविवार (July 23) रात हुई भारी बारिश से चमोली जिले में जनजीवन अस्त-व्यस्त हो गया है। ऋषिकेश-बदरीनाथ हाईवे कमेड़ा के पास करीब 200 मीटर से अधिक भूस्खलन से क्षतिग्रस्त हो गया है। वहां पर 2011 में बनाई गई लाहे की पुलिया भी बह गई है। वहीं, कर्णप्रयाग-ग्वालदम हाईवे सिमलसैंण, बैनोलीबैंड, हरमनी, मल्यापौड़ में मलबा आने से बंद है। ऋषिकेश-बदरीनाथ हाईवे मलबा आने से उमट्टा के पास बंद हो गया है। उमट्टा में सड़क बंद होने से कर्णप्रयाग, गौचर व सिमली क्षेत्र से आने वाले स्कूली बच्चे एसजीआरआर जयकंडी नहीं जा सके। https://www.amarujala.com/photo-gallery/dehradun/uttarakhand-weather-news-badrinath-highway-collapsed-20-meters-in-kameda-debris-falling-on-yamunotri-highway-2023-07-24 (24 July 2023)
मूसलाधार बारिश से जहां बदरीनाथ हाईवे दर्जनों जगह हर दिन बाधित हो रहा है, वहीं दर्जनों ग्रामीण सड़कें भी इससे अवरूद्ध हुई हैं। बदरीनाथ हाईवे बारिश से हर दिन कर्णप्रयाग, छिनका, पीपलकोटी, पागलनाला, हेलंग, अणीमठ, कंचनगंगा और अन्य जगहों पर बाधित हो रहा है। जिन्हें हर दिन खोल दिया जा रहा है। लेकिन ग्रामीण सड़कें सप्ताह भर तक बंद पड़े हैं जिन्हें खोलने के कोई प्रयास न होने से लोगों को मूलभूत सुविधाओं के लिए जद्दोजहद करनी पड़ रही है। https://pahadraftar.com/gauchar-opening-of-badrinath-highway-in-kameda-became-a-challenge-for-the-administration-and-nh/ (24 July 2023)
चमोली जिले में नौ से अधिक यातायात मोटर पुल खतरे की जद में हैं, लेकिन खास बात यह है कि इन पुलों में वाहन सरपट दौड़ रहे हैं। लोनिवि ने इन पुलों की मरम्मत के लिए कार्य योजना बनाई है, परंतु धनाभाव नागरिकों की सुरक्षा पर भारी पड़ रहा है। चमोली जिले के थराली विकासखंड में पिंडर नदी पर बने पुल खतरे को देखते हुए दो माह पूर्व ही भारी वाहनोंं की आवाजाही रोकी गई है। https://www.jagran.com/uttarakhand/chamoli-chamoli-news-more-than-nine-traffic-motor-bridges-of-chamoli-district-are-in-danger-23474148.html (17 July 2023)
फाटा के पास मलबे की चपेट में आकर रेस्टोरेंट तबाह -ऑलवेदर रोड परियोजना के तहत ऋषिकेश-बदरीनाथ हाईवे पर मुख्य बाजार केदारनाथ तिराहे के समीप जयमंडी गदेरा में निर्मित 12 मीटर स्पान वाले पुल के एक पिलर की नींव पानी के तेज बहाव से खोखली हो रही है। सुरक्षा को देखते हुए पुल के एक हिस्से से वाहनों की आवाजाही बंद कर दी गई है। साथ ही राष्ट्रीय राजमार्ग निर्माण खंड कार्यदायी संस्था के साथ पिलर के खोखले हुए हिस्से को सही करने में जुटा है। https://www.amarujala.com/dehradun/uttarakhand-weather-news-restaurant-destroyed-on-kedarnath-highway-near-phata-after-hit-by-debris-2023-07-18 (18 July 2023)
CLOUD BURSTS
Himachal Pradesh कुल्लू में बारिश ने मचाई तबाही, चार जगहों पर फटे बादल, घर छोड़कर भागे ग्रामीण, दहशत का माहौल कुल्लू जिले में वीरवार (July 20) रात को भारी बारिश होने से चार जगहों पर बादल फटने की घटनाएं हुईं हैं। मनाली के जगतसुख और हरिपुर के करजां के अलावा मणिकर्ण तथा सैंज के पाशी के पास बादल फटने की घटनाएं सामने आईं। पाशी गांव में ग्रामीणों को घर छोड़कर भागना पड़ा। पाशी गांव में बदल फटने से लोगों में दहशत का माहौल है। बादल फटने से कुल्लू-मनाली वामतट मार्ग बंद हो गया है। मणिकर्ण में दुकानों में मलबा घुस गया। सैंज बाजार भी प्रशासन ने सुबह चार बजे खाली करवाया दिया है। मनाली के जगतसुख गांव में रात पौने 12 बजे बादल फट गया। इसके बाद नाले से सड़क पर मलबा आ गया, जो सड़क तक पहुंच गया। https://www.amarujala.com/shimla/cloud-burst-in-manali-s-jagatsukh-village-debris-came-on-road-2023-07-21 (21 July 2023)
कुल्लू के राउली नाले में भी फटा था बादल, सात परिवार हो गए बेघर कुल्लू जिले की पंचायत पारली के राउली गांव के साथ बहते नाले में रविवार (July 10) रात बादल फटा था। मौसम साफ होने और पंचायत में नेटवर्क आने के बाद यह सूचना मिली है। रविवार (July 10) रात नाले में फटे बादल के कारण राउली गांव में सात घरों को नुकसान पहुंचा है। इन घरों में रह रहे परिवारों को मजबूरन परिजनों और मवेशियों समेत दूसरे गांव में पनाह लेनी पड़ रही है। कुछ परिवार किराये के कमरे में रहने को विवश हैं। राउली गांव में सात घरों समेत बगीचों और खेतों को भी बादल फटने के कारण आई बाढ़ ने तबाह कर दिया है। https://www.amarujala.com/shimla/cloud-burst-in-rauli-drain-of-kullu-seven-families-became-homeless-2023-07-14 (14 July 2023)
रोहड़ू में फटा बादल, कार बही, सराज में घर पर मलबा गिरने से युवक की मौत, ब्यास में एक और शव मिला रोहड़ू के भलाड़ा पंचायत के तहत मलखून नाले में गत रात (July 13) करीब 3:00 बजे बादल फट गया। इससे कई घरों को नुकसान पहुंचा है। वहीं सड़क किनारे खड़ी एक कार भी पानी के तेज बहाव में बह गई। रोहड़ू में बादल फटने के बाद शिकड़ी खड्ड का जलस्तर बढ़ने से रोहडू बाजार के साथ समाला में खड्ड किनारे बनीं झुग्गियों में पानी और मलबा घुसने से करीब दो दर्जन परिवार प्रभावित हुए हैं। सावड़ा कुडडू परियोजना की डैम साइट के साथ चामशू के लिए बनाई सड़क का एक किलोमीटर हिस्सा डैम में समा गया। इससे नकदी फसलों को मंडियों तक पहुंचाना बागवानों के लिए चुनौती बन गया है। उधर, जलस्तर बढ़ने से कांगड़ा जिले में पौंग बाध के गेट खोलने पड़े। https://www.amarujala.com/shimla/himachal-weather-update-heavy-rain-in-mandi-shimla-amid-orange-alert-landslide-on-house-one-killed-2023-07-16 (16 July 2023)
Cloudburst in Himachal’s Kullu claims one life, three injured At least one person died and three sustained injuries following a cloudburst at Kyas village in Kullu district in the early hours of Monday (July 17). The cloudburst occurred at about 3.55 a.m., with heavy rain lashing the region during the night. In the incident, one person died on the spot, and three others were injured due to a washed away vehicle, according to the State’s Emergency Operation Centre. A rescue team was on its way at the time of writing this report.
-Since June 24, following the onset of the monsoon in Himachal Pradesh, 117 people have lost their lives and 12 people have been missing in rain-related incidents till July 16. The State has seen as many as 53 landslides and 41 flash floods. Close to 800 roads across the State were blocked following landslides triggered by heavy rainfall. The total monetary loss so far is pegged at ₹4,414.95 crore, according to government data. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/cloud-burst-in-himachals-kullu-claims-one-life-3-injured/article67089413.ece (17 July 2023)
Heavy rain, cloudbursts and landslides have claimed 37 lives and caused widespread damage across the state since July 8 with Kullu and Mandi districts bearing the brunt. Twelve people are still missing. Since the onset of monsoon on June 24, a total of 122 people have lost their lives while 140 suffered injuries and 12 are still missing.
Nearly 400 sheep died due to extreme cold in the high-altitude Pin Valley, while 1,200 sheep were rescued in Lahaul and Spiti district that received snow. Nearly 1,100 sheep and goats were stranded between rivulets near Bhava Pass, 17 km from Mud. The rescue team changed the flow of the drain and rescued the sheep and goats. After four hours, all shepherds were able to reach the village. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/flash-flood-tragedy-one-dead-three-injured-in-himachal-pradesh-heavy-rain-and-landslides-continue-101689585140686.html (18 July 2023)
अब हिमाचल के सलूणी में बादल फटा, 3 गाड़ियां बहीं, रसोईघर गिरा कुल्लू के बाद अब चंबा के सलूणी में बादल फटा है. यहां पर बजोतरा करवाल इलाके में भारी बारिश से काफी तबाही हुई है. सेरी पंचायत में नाले में बाढ़ आने से दो गाड़ियां बही हैं. वहीं, सलूणी कॉलेज के पास भी एक बाइक और कार बही है. वहीं, सलूणी के डिभरु गांव में बारिश का कहर से एक रसोईघर गिर गया है. इसी तरह सलूणी के नरोही नाला में बारिश से घराट तबाह हो गाय और गाडियां मलबे में दब गई. सलूणी में प्रेमनगर के पास भूस्खलन से प्रेमनगर और एहणी गांव पर खतरा मंडराया हुआ है. चंबा-तीसा रोड कलहेल और चांजू नाला के पास स्लाइडिंग होने के कारण सभी प्रकार की गाड़ियों के लिए बंद है. बजोतरा करवाल में सेरी पंचायत में बारिश औऱ फ्लैश फ्लड से नुकसान हुआ है. https://hindi.news18.com/news/himachal-pradesh/shimla-breaking-news-himachal-flood-cloud-burst-in-chamba-salooni-areas-3-cars-washed-way-6938541.html (19 July 2023)
चंबा के बाद अब किन्नौर में फटा बादल, 25 गाड़ियां बहीं, सड़कों पर आ गया मलबा और पानी बुधवार (July 19) को जहां चंबा के सलूणी में बादल फटने से गाड़ियां बह गई थी। इसी तरह किन्नौर में वीरवार (July 20) को बादल फटने से 20 से 25 गाड़ियां बह गई। सांगला से 5 किमी दूर कामरू गांव में फ्लैश फ्लड आया है। सुबह साढ़े छह बजे की यह घटना है। छितकूल से पहले सांगला के कामरू गांव में भारी बारिश हुई और फ्लैश फ्लड आ गया। पानी और मलबा सड़कों पर आ गया। बादल फटने से सेब के बागीचों को भी नुकसान पहुंचा है। इसके साथ ही मटर और अन्य फसल भी तबाह हो गई है। https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/photomazza/state-photogallery/himachal-weather-cloud-burst-in-kinnaur-after-chamba-25-vehicles-washed-away/photoshow/msid-101973871,picid-101973884.cms (20 July 2023)
Uttarakhand पिथौरागढ़ में बादल फटा, बैली ब्रिज मलबे में दबा, सड़क भी ध्वस्त भारी बारिश के अलर्ट के बीच पिथौरागढ़ में देर रात बादल फट गया। इस दौरान गुंजी- कालापानी को जोड़ने वाला बैली ब्रिज मलबे में दब गया है, जबकि सड़क कई स्थान पर ध्वस्त हो गई। बृजेश होतियाल ने बताया कि मंगलवार (July 18) की रात बादल फटने के कारण नाग पर्वत से निकलने वाले नचेती नाले का पानी एकाएक बढ़ गया। जिसके चलते पानी के साथ भारी मात्रा में मलबा भी आ गया। सड़क ध्वस्त होने से कालापानी से लिपुलेख तक वाहनों का आवाजाही बंद हो गई है। जिस स्थान पर पुल मलबे में दबा है वह कालापानी मंदिर से नीचे एक किलोमीटर दूर गुंजी की ओर है। https://www.amarujala.com/dehradun/uttarakhand-weather-news-cloudburst-in-pithoragarh-bailey-bridge-connecting-gunji-kalapani-buried-under-debris-2023-07-19 (19 July 2023)
थलीसैण के रोली गांव में बादल फटा, भारी नुकसान जनपद पौड़ी कें थलीसैण ब्लॉक कें रोली गांव कें पास देर रात बादल फटने सें ग्रामीणों कों भारी नुकसान हुआ हैँ. रौली गांव के ग्रामीण मनोज नें फ़ोन पर जानकारी देतें हुए बताया कि देर रात करीब 1.30 बजे गांव कें पास भारी बारिश कें बाद बादल फटा, जिसमें कई घरों और गौशालाओं कों नुकसान पहुंचा हैँ और गांव कों जोड़ने वाली एक मात्र सड़क का भी एक हिस्सा बहने कें साथ ही कुछ मवेशी भी इसका शिकार हुए हैँ. https://thehillnews.in/archives/20090 (21 July 2023)
Ladakh Massive damage caused to roads in Kargil, Leh In Leh, the flash floods hit upper Leh area due to which the water inundated the main market of the Leh town and nearby areas around midnight. Several roads got damaged and many places including the main market place were waterlogged. In Kargil district, flash floods occurred in several areas of Drass, Chikthan, and Sankoo causing damage to roads, houses, and agricultural fields. https://www.greaterkashmir.com/todays-paper/front-page/massive-damage-caused-to-roads-in-kargil-leh (23 July 2023)
Over a dozen houses and shops suffered partial damage after cloudburst triggered flashfloods in Leh town late on July 22, 2023 night. The floodwater even inundated some markets in Leh town and also washed away parked vehicles. However, no loss of life was reported from Leh or its adjacent localities. Locals said that flash flood brought muck and boulders to the markets and residential areas. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/cloudburst-in-leh-town-triggers-flash-floods-causes-damage-to-houses-and-shops-no-loss-of-life-reported-101690049273530.html (23 July 2023)
Jammu & Kashmir Cloudbursts and Damaged River Embankments Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat:-In the last decade, instances of cloudbursts have increased in the Kashmir valley and parts of Jammu especially in Chenab and Pir Panjal regions. Frequent cloudburst during summer rains is very dangerous and is causing flash floods. One of the many reasons for the increased risks of such cloudbursts and flash floods is river bed mining which has weakened embankments of these streams which has in turn increased chances of flooding and waterlogging in surrounding apple farms. Only a few days back, there was a massive flash flood in Romshi and Shali Ganga streams. Many local residents got trapped along with animals.
-We cannot stop cloudbursts and flash floods from taking place as they are natural disasters but the Govt can definitely make sure these floods don’t cause destruction of life and properties. By allowing JCB and L&T cranes to excavate riverbed material from our streams and constant movement of huge trucks,tractor trolley, dumpers and tippers,the embankments of streams like Romshi, Rambiara, Doodh Ganga, Shali Ganga, Vaishav have been considerably weakened.
-Under flood mitigation programme Jhelum and Tawi Flood Recovery Project, the Government took up construction of Tawi Barrage artificial lake project around 2016 in Jammu. However, this project was marred by corruption and mismanagement. A special audit ordered by Govt in the past had not only found glaring irregularities in the execution of the Tawi Barrage project but fiscal violations and financial impropriety of grave order which needed immediate attention of authorities concerned. The Govt of India released Rs 140 Crores for Jhelum flood augmentation a few years back but it is still not known whether any tenders have been issued. https://kashmirobserver.net/2023/07/17/cloudbursts-and-damaged-river-embankments/ (17 July 2023)
Arunachal Pradesh Floods damage houses, properties in Dirang Heavy floods have caused significant damage to houses and properties in Dirang circle of West Kameng district. Three iron hanging bridges in Dhirme (Nyukmadung village) and one each in Zangdorong and Saskarong, near the hydel of the hydropower department, have been washed away. Moreover, numerous kutcha houses were swept away, and several other houses in Rajapa Colony, near Yeshi garage in Dirang, suffered partial damage.
Cloudbursts over West Kameng and Tawang districts on Friday (July 21) night damaged machines and vehicles belonging to the Patel Engineering firm. An unprecedented cloudburst over Sela triggered massive landslides, leaving properties worth lakhs of rupees of the firm deployed in the Sela tunnel project damaged. According to a report, three ‘miller trucks’, two excavators, and at least four labourers’ camps of the Patel Engineering deployed in the Sela tunnel project have been damaged and washed away. It is learnt that at least 6 kms of the approach road from Senge Point to T Tunnel has been severely damaged. https://arunachaltimes.in/index.php/2023/07/24/floods-damage-houses-properties-in-dirang/ (24 July 2023)
ENERGY OPTIONS
Report Why Solar Canal concept is not finding acceptability? “The capital costs are really high, and maintenance is an issue,” said Jaydip Parmar an engineer in Gujarat who oversees several small solar canal projects. Clunky design is another reason the technology hasn’t been widely adopted in India. The panels in Gujarat’s pilot project sit directly over the canal, limiting access for maintenance and emergency crews. https://apnews.com/article/solar-panels-irrigation-canals-climate-solution-c57cac43b71a0edf76e62c4adc0f3ff7 (20 July 2023)
SOUTH ASIA
SANDRP Blog July 2023 Bhutan Hydro Project Disaster: 23 Dead and missing At least seven people were killed and 16 others missing in Bhutan after flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains washed away a section of a hydroelectric plant on July 20 2023.
They were washed away by the sudden burst at the residential area next to the worksite at Ungar village, according to a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office. Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering, who is in Lhuentse, said the devastating flashflood presented one of the biggest loss of lives and properties in recent memory, and shook the core of the nation. https://sandrp.in/2023/07/23/july-2023-bhutan-hydro-project-disaster-23-dead-and-missing/ (23 July 2023)
Bhutan Seven killed in Bhutan as floods wash away part of hydropower plant At least seven people were killed and 16 others missing in Bhutan after flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains washed away a section of a small hydroelectric plant on Thursday (July 20 2023. Rescue and search teams have rushed to the area, authorities said. Prime Minister Lotay Tshering has arrived at the site and is taking stock of the situation and guiding rescue and search operation.
– A section of the 32 MW Yungichhu Hydro Power Project in a remote area in the east of the country was washed away, but the main part was not hit. Five of the seven killed have been identified. “It is a major disaster,” Bhutanese quoted an unnamed official from Druk Green Power, which is in charge of the plant’s construction, as saying. The missing included project staff. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/about-20-missing-bhutan-floods-wash-away-part-hydropower-plant-2023-07-21/ (21 July 2023)
India-Nepal Narrow Indian lens Even as the southern neighbour pledged to import over 10,000MW from Nepal over the next decade during Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s recent India visit, it has been putting up additional hurdles to making that happen. For instance, India now seeks financial closure details of all prospective hydropower projects in Nepal from which it is considering importing electricity. (Earlier it sought details only on investors of particular projects.) India may now seek such details even in the case of the 10 projects in Nepal from which it is already importing electricity.
– Take the case of the 456MW Upper Tamakoshi hydropower project, which was developed by the NEA entirely through domestic resources. But then a Chinese contractor was involved in some of its civil engineering works. This apparently makes it ineligible for power-import in the Indian eyes. The problem is that Nepal’s public procurement laws bars a public entity like the NEA from discriminating against contractors from any country. With India’s refusal to even consider Nepal’s difficulties, the chances of Nepal exporting a large volume of electricity to India—or to a third country like Bangladesh via India—are low despite the euphoria created by the announcement of buying 10,000MW. As Nepal continues to await India’s approval for export from 18 new power projects with a total capacity of over 1,000MW, some of its generated power is going to waste. https://kathmandupost.com/editorial/2023/07/17/narrow-indian-lens (17 July 2023)
THE REST OF THE WORLD
USA Native peoples and biologists lobbied to have dams removed on the Klamath river in northern California in order to restore wild salmon habitat. First Dam has been decommissioned. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGIcgNxTCnQ (July 2023)
This report provides details of some 30 worst floods of USA. https://www.baltimoresun.com/weather/sns-ws-worst-floods-in-american-history-20230720-2viu3bjl3jfpzixyai75mmbz24-photogallery.html (20 July 2023)
Compiled by SANDRP (ht.sandrp@gmail.com)
Also see: DRP News Bulletin 17 July 2023 & DRP News Bulletin 10 July 2023
Follow us on: www.facebook.com/sandrp.in; https://twitter.com/Indian_Rivers
SANDRP 