Can Solar pumps threaten groundwater sustainability? The answer is yes. Without integrated water and energy governance India’s solar irrigation drive may worsen environmental stress, say experts. Along with the energy benefits, there are invisible consequences of solar pumps – excess water extraction and energy going waste.
In recent years, solar irrigation pumps have continued to grow, driven by government initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme, launched in 2019 to install off-grid solar pumps and solarise agricultural feeders. Over one million solar pumps have been installed under this scheme. “India’s solar irrigation programme is going seriously astray,” states a study published in the Economic and Political Weekly in March. It notes that off-grid solar pumps waste two-thirds of the energy they generate. “With solar pumps, the marginal cost of running them is zero,” said Prof Chetan Singh Solanki of IIT-Bombay. “Once installed, and often subsidised, there is no real reason for farmers to switch them off. Water keeps flowing. And that’s a recipe for over-extraction.” Earlier, free or flat-rate electricity tariffs encouraged the overuse of pumps. He warns that the pattern is repeating with solar, “but on steroids.” “Water policy can’t lag behind energy policy. Otherwise, we’ll be trading one crisis for another. A dry future powered by the sun!” He added. (Feature Photo Source: PIB booklet, see: https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2022/apr/doc202242548601.pdf)
HYDRO POWER PROJECTS
25 Years of World Commission of Dam Report: 2025 marks the 25 years of the publication of the World Commission on Dams Report in Nov 2000, the report and its recommendation are as eminently relevant as they were ever earlier including in 2000.
Subanisiri Lower HEP facing damages since 2019 This is far from usual. This has not only led to cost and time overruns, but also created questions about the project among all concerned. It is good that NDSA has not given NHPC permission to commission the project. However, the reports based on which NDSA has taken this decision must be in public domain. It may be good idea for the government to institute an independent inquiry into what is going on this largest and costliest hydropower undertaken by India so far, leaving aside some projects taken up in recent years.
Jammu & Kashmir Govt making policy to fast track HEPThe govt is set to approve a hydropower policy. The government also intends to define timelines for project approvals, ensure transparent bidding processes, and provide long-term lease models to make investments bankable.
Karnataka Saundati PSP set to receive environment clearance from the expert committee of the MoEF&CC with about 65,000 trees of scrub forest set to be cleared for the project, thirteen times higher than the 5087 trees estimated earlier. The project, originally proposed in 2018, had gone through several iterations with the latest amendments increasing the capacity of the power project from 1,260 MW to 1,600 MW. Greenko, the company which got clearance in 2022, had requested the ministry to allow increasing the capacity.
The company has sought a total of 759.65 acres of land of which 395.36 acre is forest. Most of the forest land will be submerged under the waters of the upper reservoir. Till 2018, the company had proposed to build the powerhouse underground, a measure which would reduce noise. However, due to the increase in capacity from the initially proposed 1,200 MW to 1,260 MW, it was changed into a surface powerhouse. The increase of the capacity to 1,600 MW last year has led to bigger changes in the project.
NHPC’s Hydro propaganda NHPC CMD Raj Kumar Chaudhary said on June 18 said, “NHPC has 8,193 MW of green capacity in operation, 9,843 MW under construction, and 9,030 MW in survey, including PSPs across Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and more — marking a major push towards net zero.” On the impact of hydropower on the environment, he said, “Hydro projects are often seen as reducing forest cover, but they actually help increase it. We undertake large-scale afforestation, often doubling the area used, making hydro development a key driver of vegetation and forest growth.”
MoEF Relevant Agenda of FAC meeting to be held on June 24 2025:1. 1856 MW Sawalkot HEP in J&K: 847.17 ha forest land.
2. DIVERSION OF 111.0277 HA (REVISED FROM 173.3105 HA) OF FOREST LAND IN VARIOUS SURVEY NUMBERS OF, KANCHIGANAHALLI VILLAGES IN TUMAKURU DISTRICT AND AIDAHALLA KAVAL, KUMARIHALLI VILLAGES IN HASSAN DISTRICT FOR GRAVITY MAIN CANAL TO PROVIDE DRINKING WATER TO HASSAN & TUMAKURU DISTRICTS UNDER YETTINAHOLE DRINKING WATER PROJECT IN FAVOR OF VISVESVARAYA JALA NIGAM LIMITED (VJNL), BENGALURU.
3. IN FAVOUR OF UTTARAKHAND JAL VIDYUT NIGAM LTD. diversion of 47.547 HA. REVENUE FOREST FOR TIUNI PLASU HEP (72 MW) PROJECT IN UTTRAKASHI DIST
DAMS
Kaleshwaram Project PC Ghose commission seeks cabinet approval details Following depositions of former CM KCR and former ministers T Harish Rao and Etala Rajender, the one man commission reportedly wrote a letter to the irrigation department on June 13, requesting further details. Meanwhile, the CM A. Revanth Reddy has asserted that the KLIS taken up by the previous govt does not have the clearance of the then State Cabinet. The former CM has also planned to convene meeting to discuss ‘criminal negligence’ of govt in managing irrigation projects.
Odisha Save RushikulyaEnvironmental activist Medha Patkar on June 1 appealed to the people of Odisha for protection of Rushikulya river. The govt planned to construct a dam in the river Pipalapnaka under Sorada block in the district. While participating in the Save Rushikulya river movement in Ganjam district, she said, “Rivers may be small or big, but they are our mother. We have to protect the rivers from attacks.”
Karantaka More water from Hidkal dam for industries opposed Activists and farmers leaders have complained that the state govt had released more than twice the amount of water than stipulated for industries from the Hidkal dam in Belagavi district. A delegation of farmers led by former Minister Shashikant Naik has urged the State government not to draw water from Hidkal dam for Dharwad industrial area. Another team led by water expert B. Anand Kumar, advocate Nitin Tolbandi, Mr. Mulgund and others have suggested that treated sewage water from Belagavi and Dharwad could be utilised for industrial purposes, rather than drinking water from dams.
Haryana 6 officials to face action over project delays On June 16, during a review meeting of mega projects worth more than Rs 100 crore of the irrigation and water resources department, the CM was upset with the pace of work progress and certain anomalies in the bidding and awarding of tenders. He asked the administrative secretary and director general of the irrigation dept to put his “displeasure note” on the file, identify the officials responsible.
INTERLINKING OF RIVERS
Godavari-Penna Link Telangana CM A Revanth Reddy on June 21, said that he is ready for talks with his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu over the Godavari-Banakacherla project. He stated that the controversy erupted after Andhra Pradesh gave a Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) to Govt of India. He pointed out that Banakacherla is a linked project and the Union will have to take Telangana’s objections into consideration. He said the Telangana Cabinet will discuss the issue on June 23, and his govt would invite AP to talks.
INTERSTATE WATER DISPUTES
Jammu & Kashmir- Punjab Days after Union home minister Amit Shah declared that Indus waters will be taken to Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar through canals within three years, CM Omar Abdullah on June 20 opposed sharing such flows with other states. “I will never allow this” (divert water from J&K to other states). Shah had announced the canal plan in Madhya Pradesh’s Pachmarhi on June 14. “Punjab already has three rivers under the IWT. Did they give us water when we needed it? We required water from the Ujh and Shahpur Kandi projects… we had to fight for years to get water from Shahpur Kandi. Now, the water (from our rivers) is for us and we will think about others later,” Omar said. In his statement, Abdullah invoked the 45-year-old dispute between the Punjab and J&K governments over the construction of the Shahpur Kandi barrage in Pathankot. Signed in 1979, the agreement between the two regions saw fruition only in 2018 after the Centre’s mediation.
Punjab-Rajasthan Tussle over Gang Canal water escalates The long-standing issue of water-sharing through the Gang Canal has snowballed into a political and inter-state flashpoint.
RIVERS AS NATIONAL WATERWAYS
Govt to start Patna water metro services As part of the National Waterway 1, stretching 1,390 km from Varanasi to Haldia, Bihar will see the two terminals in Patna, along with a vessel repair and manufacturing centre along the Ganga, the Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on June 16. “Sixteen community jetties will be constructed across various districts, and Kalu Ghat will be developed into a state-of-the-art waterway centre. A dedicated task force will be formed to explore further possibilities for inland navigation and water-based commerce in 12 districts along the Ganga river in the state,” he said.
He also announced setting up of a Joint Task Force among Bihar Government, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and IWAI to explore sustainable development opportunities on river Ganga (NW-1) in Bihar. Patna based National Inland Navigation Institute (NINI) is being upgraded as Centre of Excellence (CoE) with fresh investment for upgradation of facilities.
GROUNDWATER
Punjab Plan Govt on June 20 approved a 14-point action plan under its Integrated State Water Plan to preserve and replenish groundwater. The plan aims to bring around 15,79,379 hectares under water-efficient techniques such as drip and sprinkler irrigation, moving away from conventional methods to reduce net water demand and increase efficiency. However, the CM statement did not mention the date for its rollout. The plan envisages the storing of flood waters of the seasonal Ghaggar River and use it for agricultural purposes, a statement said. The WRD has proposed the construction of check dams that helps percolation of water into the soil. The water stored in check dams will also be diverted to already existing ponds.
Himachal Pradesh Residents of Malot and Kandrori villages in Kangra district have staged protest against Varun Beverages Limited, the Pepsi bottling partner, alleging violation of groundwater regulations that threatens their water security and livelihoods. The Panchayats of both villages have passed resolutions demanding urgent action, as company’s operations are already reducing groundwater levels.
Tamil Nadu The SPCB has constituted a four-member technical expert committee to carry out detailed inspection and analyse water and soil samples to identify source of mercury contamination in ground water samples in Neyveli and Parangipettai in Cuddalore district. The NGT took suomoto cognisance of a report published by Poovulagin Nanbargal and Manthan Adhyayan Kendra that said high levels of mercury were found in soil and water samples in locations near Neyveli. The committee will submit its report within three months with detailed findings, observations and remarks along with specific recommendations.
Researchers at the IIIT, Guwahati have developed a low-cost water treatment system that removes fluoride and iron from groundwater and can treat 1,000 litres of water at a nominal cost of ₹20. An IITG statement said the system requires minimal supervision; has a projected lifespan of 15 years with electrode replacement scheduled every six months and can treat up to 20,000 litres of contaminated water in a day, offering a low-cost solution for areas with poor access to safe drinking water.
IRRIGATION
Jammu & Kashmir Irrigation crisis A worsening irrigation crisis has gripped South Kashmir’s Kulgam and Anantnag districts, where hundreds of acres of paddy fields are drying up due to an acute shortage of irrigation water—leaving farmers on the brink of despair as the sowing season enters its most crucial phase. Experts attribute the reason to the prolonged and intense heatwave sweeping across Jammu and Kashmir has triggered a drastic decline in the water level in rivers and streams resulting in a water crisis.
RIVERS
Dabhil Mauli: Stories and Struggles of a small River in the Western Ghats Parineeta Dandekar narrates the touching story of hardly 30 km long Dabhil River in Maharashtra’s western ghats, the river that the local people treat and celebrate as their mauli, a term of endearment reserved for mothers and deities. The fascinating story includes Tigers, Otters, Mahaseer fish, futile attempts to push a dam through that mining and community fish conservation areas.
Tilabe River in Kosi Basin in Saharsha (Bihar) encroached The 150 km long Tilabe river, a tributary of Kosi River in Saharsa dist in Bihar is facing existential threat due to encroachment. The 50 m width of the river is encroached so much that hardly 5 m width is left for the river. The ambitious scheme to rejuvenate the river is facing serious problems.
Book Review Submerged Worlds and Other Amazing Stories of India’s Mighty Rivers by Vaishali Shroff brings together well-researched stories of the ecology, mythology, politics, history and culture of India’s rivers. The book highlights the acute ecological crisis that rivers are enduring, while offering hope of rejuvenation through success stories. It points to stark contrasts between communities that traditionally and gently use the river, and unsustainable activities such as luxury liners, airports, dams and power plants.
TEESTA Study MoJS against dredging to increase river’s depth A report prepared by a committee constituted by the MoJS has said the GLOF on the South Lhonak lake triggered significant geomorphological changes along the Teesta. The experts have underlined that over a period of time, the river profile gets stabilised and regains its regime on its own eventually. The committee is not in favour of dredging unless absolutely necessary for certain specific purposes, following scientific studies. “Dredging throughout the river reach is not considered techno-economically viable,” read the report.
The team has recommended intervention selectively in the form of anti-erosion measures “such as bank revetment, sub-merged gabion studs, gabion walls, RCC retaining wall, RCC porcupines, bio-engineering works etc depending upon the specific need of the location, velocity profile, silt content etc” in areas close to important infrastructures.
JHELUM Alarm over water diversion in Tangmarg, Gulmarg J&K Civil Society Forum (JKCSF), led by Chairman Abdul Qayoom Wani, has raised serious concerns over what it describes as the “loot” of water from the Ferozpora Nalla and the ongoing environmental degradation in Tangmarg and Gulmarg. Wani said the Ferozpora Nalla—a vital water source for drinking, agriculture, and horticulture—is being diverted to other districts through large underground pipelines. “This sacred and life-sustaining stream has nourished the region for generations. Yet today, people living along its banks are left to suffer,” he said.
Lassipora’s industries polluting Rambiara river The Industrial Growth Centre (IGC) Lassipora, one of Kashmir’s largest industrial zones located in Pulwama district, continues to operate without a functional waste management facility, forcing industries to discharge untreated waste directly into the Rambiara stream. A group of concerned locals said the pollution has rendered the stream’s water unfit for agriculture and unsafe for human consumption. Despite repeated appeals and official assurances, the lack of tangible action has led to growing frustration among residents and business owners alike.
CAUVERY Tamil Nadu The NGT has criticised the SPCB for failing to publicise awareness campaigns on the guidelines for using eco-friendly idols. The bench said the Board was taking a “backseat” in enforcing environmental regulations and also urged it to clearly specify penalties for those who violate the rules by immersing Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols in waterbodies. It directed the TNPCB to submit an action-taken report by June 30, and to raise public awareness by publishing the do’s and don’ts in newspapers.
MAHANADI Odisha Rivers, people losing out to energy ambitions As the state earns money from mining, farmlands turn to dust, and communities struggle to reclaim their rights. “They dump waste into our river, kill our fish, and no one stops them,” Rashminandan Sahu (27) said while pointing at the Bheden River in Odisha’s Malda village of Jharsuguda district. Satyanarayan Rao, president of the Anchalika Parivesh Suraksha Sangh in Jharsuguda, alleged that there is a critical threat to the Mahanadi River and the Hirakud Dam, a Ramsar wetland site, from unchecked industrial waste dumping, often within the prohibited 500-m river buffer zone.
YAMUNA: Positive water, river stories from Yamuna basin
URBAN RIVERS
Beas; Kullu Govt hasproposed cycling and jogging trail along the Beas river — from Bhootnath Bridge in Sarwari to Nature Park in Mohal. The trail, being developed in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is expected to cost Rs 10 crore. A JICA team recently inspected the project.
Ghaggar-Panchkula With no support or action taken by the authorities concerned to ensure the good health of the Ghaggar River, a group of concerned residents under the ‘Save Ghaggar’ campaign hired five dedicated workers to clean a fixed patch of the riverbank next to Chatt Puja Ghat, removing tonnes of waste from the riverbank.
Yamuna River Front Plans The Delhi government wants to create a riverfront — like in Ahmedabad — across the 22km course of the Yamuna in the city. Experts, however, feel the government should first revive the river, take care of the floodplain, and then pursue the beautification project.
Hydrologists warn that blindly replicating the Sabarmati model could end up erasing the Yamuna’s natural identity, a free-flowing river with seasonal rhythms and complex groundwater connections. However, the question that experts are asking is: when the Yamuna is suffering due to pollution and showing no sign of improvement within a probable timeline, would creating a river front help?
“Replicating the Sabarmati model in Delhi wouldlead to complete destruction of Yamuna as river,” cautioned Himanshu Thakkar of SANDRP. “Sabarmati river does not exist on its own, water has been brought in from the Narmada. But a living river has certain characteristics, among them its natural bank, its. Own water flow pattern and connectivities.” For a Healthy river system, three connectivities are crucial – the longitudinal upstream-downstream link, the lateral connection with its floodplain and the vertical connectivity with groundwater.
“Connectivity with the floodplain would result in a flourishing floodplain biodiversity of aquatic and terrestrial flora and fauna. But what. They are planning is contrary to this,” pointed out Thakkar. “There are already concretised banks, like Vasudev Ghat, urban settlements, and even the Commonwealth Games Village. These have altered the river’s width and they want to create more of these. If the floodplain is hampered, its carrying capacity will be altered, rendering the river dangerous.” Thakkar and other experts want any activity along the river only after scientific assessment.
Reviving Yamuna: Science & Policy Drivers We must adopt a holistic and integrated approach, focusing on river diversity and complexity, connectivity, biodiversity, and ecosystem services for assessment and improvement of the health, as well as reviving the past glory of the Yamuna River. It is equally important to focus on the restoration of the Yamuna River channel as well as its floodplain. (Rajiv Sinha)
Two documentaries explore the Yamuna’s pollution, displacement, and uncertain future, highlighting the struggles of livelihoods and communities dependent on the river. The first, Jamna: The River Story by Ishani K. Dutta, offers an emotional portrayal of Shyam, a third-generation boatman living with his mother, Sarla Devi, on the riverbanks. The second film, Disappearing Diving Communities by Kritik V. of the People’s Resource Centre, focuses on the Gotakhors, a traditional diving community who have long lived by and worked in the Yamuna.
CM launches 45-point action plan to rejuvenate the Yamuna River. CM Gupta will personally inspect the progress on Yamuna cleaning every month. The 45-point action plan covers drain treatment, treated water inflow into the river, solid and sewage waste management, septage and dairy waste disposal, riverfront development, stormwater planning, enforcement mechanisms, and public engagement.
Work is also ongoing to upgrade 8 STPs, including those at Okhla, Keshopur, Yamuna Vihar, Nilothi, and Pappankalan. Additionally, the government plans to establish 40 new Decentralised STPs (DSTPs), 13 of which are under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme. The statement added that all unauthorised colonies must be connected with water and sewer lines by December 2027. Officials have been told to phase out old pipelines and prevent stormwater from mixing with sewage. CM sets 2027 deadline for water, sewer lines. Currently, 303 drainage projects worth an estimated ₹8,000 crore are underway.
PWD and Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh has also directed all departments concerned to begin immediate inspections across Delhi’s industrial and commercial establishments.
According to the statement, the drive will target all establishments legally mandated to install and operate STPs or Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs). Aiming to reduce dependence on groundwater extraction, the Delhi government is planning to bring in a proper policy of only using treated water for construction works.
Waste Dumping in Khadis Threaten Surat A report, “Invited Disaster: Khadi Floods in Surat City”, by Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti and the People’s Union for Civil Liberties, Surat, states that nearly half of Surat is affected by the dumping of debris and solid waste, along with the release of treated and untreated sewage into the khadis (rivulets), thereby increasing the risk of flood disaster. These rivulets were intended as natural stormwater drainage channels for the urban area. The flooding of khadis impacts the eastern Surat city, affecting over 50% of Surat’s population.
RIVER BIODIVERSITY
FISHERIES
Two month fish ban in HP The Department of Fisheries has imposed a two-month ban on fishing in the waters of Himachal Pradesh from June 16 to August 15. There are about 13 thousand fishermen whose livelihood depends on fishing in the reservoirs, rivers, streams and their tributaries in the state, out of which over 6,300 fishermen are engaged in fishing in the five reservoirs, namely Gobind Sagar, Pong, Chamera, Koldam and Ranjit Sagar, whose area is around 43,785 hectares. Violation could result in a maximum of 3 years imprisonment or a fine up to Rs, 5,000 or both. Hunting with nets during the prohibited period comes under the category of non-bailable offence.
West Bengal First hilsa catch double Fishermen from South 24-Parganas have returned with over 30 tonnes of hilsa, almost double the cumulative catch in the first phase of the fishing season in the past two years. Fishermen and officials of the state fisheries dept attributed the improved haul to the reduced salinity in coastal waters because of timely monsoon rain and stricter enforcement of the two-month fishing ban before the start of the June season.
SAND MINING
UKD HC unhappy that stone crushers not moved away from Ganga The Uttarakhand High Court is unhappy that some 121 stone crushers exist close to Ganga river in Haridwar (between Raiwala and Bhogpur) and in spite of NGT and HC orders, nothing has been done to shift them more than 5 km away from the river. On the contrary some 48 stone crushers that were stopped have been restarted without the court’s permission. Next hearing on June 18.
The high court also sought advice from the 27 Infantry Battalion , Garhwal Rifles, which specialises in afforestation, environmental and water conservation efforts asking it whether it can help relocate stone crushers five km away from the river. Captain Raghav from the legal cell of the Garhwal Rifles appeared before the court via video conferencing and stated that necessary information in this regard will be gathered and the court will be apprised.
Lack of governance at DMF The District Mineral Foundation (DMF) that started a decade back in 2015, have collected Rs 103000 Cr over the decade, including almost Rs 12000 Cr from Minor minerals. It was conceived as a transformative institution to ensure that those who bear the brunt of mining activities also share in its benefits. Established in March 2015 under the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, the DMF is designed to channel a part of its mining royalty into improving the lives and livelihoods of affected communities. However, a decade later, DMFs are struggling to fulfil their mandate. About 40% of the collected funds have been utilised, mostly on capital-intensive projects — roads, bridges, buildings, parking lots, and water pipelines — projects that should ideally be funded by state and Central government budgets. The projects that matter most to mining-affected communities — livelihoods, skills, education, health, support for small businesses and freedom from destitution and hunger — have received minimal support.
DMFs in all districts essentially function as extensions of the District Collectorate, with district collectors/magistrates chairing both the Governing Council (GC) and Managing Committee (MC), undermining the accountability of the institution. Additionally, the GC and MC are dominated by officials, MPs, and MLAs/MLCs, with minimal representation of mining-affected communities, despite legal provisions for their participation. Worse still, none of the districts has identified mining-affected people, making it easier for DMF projects to be dictated by district administrations rather than community needs.
Nagaland DC bans heavy machinery in Chathe River The order follows reports of rampant and unregulated mining along the riverbed, which the district administration said has caused significant ecological damage and poses an increasing threat to life and property in villages along the riverbanks.
Rajasthan Women lead sustained stir against illegal mining In a powerful display of grassroots resistance, women from 18 villages in Neem Ka Thana tehsil of Sikar district have been leading a sustained, rotational protest against illegal soapstone mining that endangers the Girjan river—a crucial rain-fed lifeline supported by traditional anicuts in each village. This movement, predominantly led and sustained by women, has become one of the longest-running public struggles in the region.
The Girjan river, winding through the Baneshwar hills before feeding into the Buchra Dam, is a critical source of drinking and irrigation water for these 18 villages. However, this lifeline stands on the precipice of collapse. Of the four rivers that once nurtured the region, three already dried up, victims of rampant illegal mining and gross neglect. Villagers raise an alarm as mining mafias are extracting trolley-loads of soapstone daily, decimating the green cover and plunging agricultural productivity to dangerous lows.
In Punjab 5 schoolchildren were among six killed in a head-on collision between an SUV and a sand-laden truck on Patiala-Samana road near Nassupur village in Patiala district on May 7 afternoon. 7 others were injured in the accident. Illegal sand miners allegedly attacked a team of government officials and forcibly took back two sand-laden tractors that had been seized, said an officer. The incident occurred in the Mau Ranipur area in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh during an operation against illegal sand mining on June 18. In an incident, three persons were killed while three others sustained injuries when a sand-laden dumper lost its balance and fell over an auto-rickshaw in Saidabad area near Sirsa turn on Varanasi-Prayagraj highway on June 14, police said.
InBihar A 14-year-old schoolgirl drowned on June 9 in the Punpun river in Patna after slipping into a deep pit caused by illegal sand mining. In Dobhi block of Gaya, illegal deep sand mining took the life of a laborer on June 3 evening. The incident took place at BK Enterprises sand ghat near Nigri village. The additional tehsildar of Kaptipada in Odisha suffered injuries after being allegedly attacked by the sand mafia near Suno river bed in Mayurbhanj district on June 2. In Chhattisgarh Journalists investigating illegal sand mining operations in the Gariaband district were violently assaulted by suspected members of sand mafia on June 9. The attackers fired gunshots in the air, physically assaulted the reporters, and confiscated their cameras and identification documents before escaping. The incident occurred near the Pitai Bandh sand ghat along the Pari River under the jurisdiction of Rajim police station.
In Telangana 2 women died and nearly 20 persons were injured seriously when a speeding sand truck hit a stationary tractor trolley at Tadwai in the district during the late night hours on May 18.
WETLANDS, LAKES, WATER BODIES
Kerala HC proposes Ashtamudi wetland authority High court on June 19 proposed the formation of the Ashtamudi Local Wetland Authority (ALWA) to implement the management plan for Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam. The court was considering a PIL which highlighted that the depletion and deterioration of the Ashtamudi wetlands are due to multiple factors, including pollution from drainage discharge and encroachments. Initially, the state govt opposed the suggestion. However, considering the current condition of Ashtamudi Lake, which is a notified Ramsar site, the court concurred with the petitioners’ suggestion. Next hearing on July 1.
Tamil Nadu SWA seeks report on Madambakkam lake encroachment The direction, issued by Srinivas R Reddy, principal chief conservator of forests & member secretary of State Wetlands Authority, comes in the wake of multiple petitions filed by local residents & environmental activists raising concerns over sewage pollution, encroachments & developmental threats to the waterbody in Chengalpattu district. Next hearing before NGT on July 3.
Assam Drive to evict over 600 families from wetlands begins The govt June 16 launched a massive drive to evict over 600 families from a 1,550-bigha wetland area in Goalpara district. The eviction drive has displaced hundreds of families, raising serious questions about procedural fairness, administrative accountability, and the human cost of State actions.
Gautam Budh Nagar administration has approved the renovation of 10 ponds across various villages in the district to promote groundwater recharge. The initiative is being undertaken in accordance with directives issued under the 2022 NGT.
URBAN LAKES, WETLANDS
Chennai There are at least 304 survey numbers, several of them with substantial buildings, within Pallikaranai Marsh Ramsar site, the SWA informed NGT. The case pertains to allegations that a private builder was laying a road by dumping soil and construction debris into Perumbakkam marshland using heavy machinery. During the recent hearing, NGT sought clarity on whether the disputed road lies within the Ramsar site’s zone of influence. Meanwhile, the bird watchers at Pallikaranai marshland have spotted an Indian jackal, marking the first-ever recorded sighting of the species in core areas of the wetland. The arrival of the jackal signals the marshland’s growing role as a sanctuary for urban wildlife and adds urgency to the call for its protection.
Hyderabad The Commissioner of Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Authority (Hydraa), A V Ranganath, on June 16 urged people planning to invest in apartments or independent houses to first verify whether the structure is built on encroached nala land.
Delhi Decline of the Okhla Bird Sanctuary The once thriving ecosystem is in peril. The drop in bird populations at OBS has disrupted key ecological processes, threatening biodiversity. At the core of all troubles is the pollution in river Yamuna. Besides water pollution, human activity poses another threat to OBS. Conservationist T K Roy criticises the sanctuary’s transformation into a “disturbed entertainment park” under the guise of eco-tourism.
WATER OPTIONS
Chhattisgarh Over 56,000 people trained in water conservation techniques The govt has launched an ambitious grassroots initiative titled ‘Mor Gaon Mor Pani’ (My Village, My Water) under which till now more than 56,000 villagers, panchayat representatives, and field workers across the state have been trained in water conservation techniques, officials said. The campaign was launched on Panchayati Raj Day aims to reverse the alarming decline in groundwater levels across districts like Bemetara, Bastar, Surguja, and Raigarh.
FLOODS
AI generated flood analysis may give misleading picture? This AI generated analysis, based on monitoring data (clearly from CWC, since that the only agency monitoring river flows, though the article does not say so) for 173 stations for the 40 year period 1970-2010 could be giving misleading results due to the quality, extent and consistency of the data and assumptions made (not listed in the article). The study has been done by researchers from IIT Delhi and IIT Roorkee. Some conclusions:
- Across most of India, the magnitude of monsoon floods is decreasing. They observed this downward trend at 74% of the monitoring stations they studied. In some areas, such as the central part of the Ganga basin, this decrease was quite significant, averaging approximately 17% less flood magnitude per decade. Floods in this central region have been decreasing in frequency and severity over time. On the Malabar coast in the southwest, they observed the opposite trend, with flood magnitudes increasing by about 8% per decade, especially during the pre-monsoon season. The decrease and increases are related to quantum of rainfall.
- In the lower part of the Yamuna basin, floods are happening earlier in the year. Meanwhile, in the upper part of the Ganga basin, floods are being delayed, happening later than they used to.
- Larger catchments are seeing a faster decrease in flood magnitude compared to smaller ones. More people and more dams reduce the magnitude of floods.
Many of these observations are counter intuitive. Interestingly, there is no observation about the pattern of floods are changing for degraded catchments or catchment’s overall capacity to hold, recharge and store water.
Deadly floods in NE IndiaThe Northeast was battered by devastating floods this year, displacing thousands and claiming dozens of lives. Experts say it’s time the government addresses a mounting crisis in the region—soil erosion, frequent landslides, and increasingly destructive extreme weather events. Adding to this is the way human interventions are reshaping the river’s ability to handle water. Himanshu Thakkar, an environment expert and the coordinator of South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP), explains that flooding occurs when rainfall exceeds an area’s ability to absorb, store, or drain water. “The moment your capacity to harvest, recharge and drain water is lower than the input, flooding is inevitable,” he says. Unfortunately, that capacity is steadily declining.
Deforestation, encroachments on wetlands, and poorly planned embankments are all shrinking this capacity. Thakkar points out that embankments—meant to expedite drainage—often do the opposite. In a river as silt-heavy as the Brahmaputra, embankments trap debris and boulders upstream. Over time, sediment settles along the riverbed, reducing the channel’s depth and its ability to carry water. “That weakens the flood-draining function it was designed for,” he notes. What was once a predictable, even beneficial natural rhythm has now become an annual threat—made worse by ecological degradation and fragmented planning, he said.
DAM FLOODS
Chandil Dam, Jharkhand, floods in Odisha Over 50,000 people were affected as a flash flood in the Subarnarekha River caused water to enter their villages in Odisha’s Balasore district on June 20 following heavy rain in neighbouring Jharkhand and release of water from Chandil Dam in upstream Jharkhand. 17 gram panchayats in three blocks (Bhograi, Baliapal, Basta) and a part of Jaleswar Notified Area Council were affected. The district administration said that the flash flood was experienced in some parts of Balasore district due to a sudden release of water from Chandil Dam in Jharkhand.
DISASTERS
Hridayesh Joshi explains what happened at Chorabari glacier upstream of Kedarnath on Junt 17 2013 On the 12th anniversary of Uttarakhand flood disaster of June 2013 where over 5000 people officially (unofficial death count goes several times higher), well known journalist-researcher Hridayesh Joshi explains what happened at the Chorabari glacier on the morning of June 17 2013. He travels to the glacier with Wadia Institute Glaciologist D P Dobhal to understand this first hand.
12 years after the devastating Kedarnath floods, the identity of many victims still remains shrouded in mystery. A particularly perplexing aspect is the fate of 702 individuals whose DNA samples are in the possession of police, but they are yet to match with samples of their family members. The wait for thousands of grieving relatives is agonising. This impedes closure to the affected relatives in one of India’s worst modern tragedies.
HM unveils three tech platforms for disaster ManagementUnion Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled three tech platforms on June 16 to improve the speed and precision of the country’s disaster management agencies. He launched the Integrated Control Room for Emergency Response (ICR-ER), National Database for Emergency Management Lite 2.0 (NDEM Lite 2.0) and Flood Hazard Zonation Atlas of Assam at the two-day annual conference of relief commissioners, secretaries of disaster management and State Disaster Response Forces.
“The ICR-ER will prompt real-time response to disaster(s) across the nation by streaming satellite data to rescue agencies, and the NDEM Lite 2.0 will provide our response forces spread across nooks and corners with the agility to confront any calamity as a single unit,” he said. The atlas of Assam will guide flood control authorities to realise the goal of flood mitigation by providing them with real-time data related to floods, their impact, and water levels in rivers, the minister said.
He said that following this conference, every Relief Commissioner should prepare a District Disaster Management Plan for their districts in their state within 90 days, because until a district has its disaster management plan in place, we cannot respond swiftly in the face of a disaster. He said that a lightning action plan also needs to be formulated soon.
The Home Minister noted that several states have yet to implement the Incident Response System. He said that the Government of India has allocated a good budget for the expansion and modernization of fire services as well. We have undertaken the task of training one lakh community volunteers, 20 percent of whom are women. Alongside this, we have launched the Yuva Aapda Mitra (Young Disaster Friends) scheme with an investment of ₹470 crore.
MONSOON 2025
Uttar Pradesh Monsoon has again defied the trends by entering the state from Jhansi, Lalitpur and Sonbhadra districts in the south for the second year in a row. Last year, it arrived in the state through Lalitpur, which borders Madhya Pradesh, on June 25, as the Arabian Sea branch of monsoon was more active, which was quite unusual. Normally, the monsoon enters UP through Ballia and Gorakhpur from Bihar and Jharkhand.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Tree Plantation on Himalayan slopes to contain climate change? The Centre will start restoring the vulnerable spots of the Himalayan range through plantation to contain landslides and soil erosion. Under the National Mission for a Green India whose document was released on June 17, tree plantations will be taken up in the mountain range that spans across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, Assam and West Bengal. Of the 687 major disasters that India witnessed from 1900 and 2022, over 240 occurred in the Himalayas. These include forest fire, glacial bursts, landslides, earthquakes and storms.
SOUTH ASIA
Nepal begins export of electricity to Bangladesh via India On June 15, 2025, The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) began exporting 40 MW of electricity to Bangladesh via India’s transmission network. In 2024, Nepal exported electricity to Bangladesh for the first time—12 hours on a single day, Nov 4—following a tripartite agreement between NEA, the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), and India’s NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd (NVVN). This year, exports will continue for five months, from mid-June to mid-Nov, exporting around 147 Million Units to earn Rs 1.29 B, around US cents 6.4 per unit. Under the agreement, Nepal committed to exporting 18.60 MW from the Trishuli Hydropower Station and 21.40 MW from the Chilime Hydropower Project, totaling 40 MW.
SANDRP 