(Feature Image: Kabini Dam. Source: WRD, Karnataka)

The SouthWest Monsoon has just set in and dam safety issues are coming up in large number of dams in Karnataka, Telangana, besides dam disasters in Himachal Pradesh. This shows how much more we need to do to assure structural and operational safety of India’s dams in changing climate.

DAMS

Telangana Concerns about safety of Komaram Bheem Dam The Residents living downstream of the Komaram Bheem irrigation project in Komaram Bheem Asifabad district, Telangana, have raised serious concerns about the poor safety measures around the reservoir. Cracks have reportedly developed on a portion of the bund, but no major repair work has been undertaken so far. About a month and a half ago, officials from the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Dam Safety Authority conducted a safety inspection. They recommended restricting the reservoir’s water storage to 6 TMC ft, significantly below its full capacity of 10.6 TMC ft, to prevent undue pressure on the bund and avoid potential disasters during heavy rains.

The reservoir releases water into the Peddavagu stream, flowing through several villages in the Sirpur (T) Assembly Constituency. Sudden floodwater discharge without warning could endanger lives. This fear is rooted in a tragic 2012 incident when four students drowned near Namanagar due to an unexpected water release from the project during heavy rains. At the time, no warning system was in place, underscoring the urgent need for improved safety protocols. Despite cracks developing on the spillway’s right side during the 2022 monsoon rains, officials have only covered these areas with tarpaulin sheets instead of conducting proper repairs. A detailed safety report from the inspection teams is expected next month, which may include additional remedial measures to enhance the project’s safety and operational capacity.

12 Jurala gates leak, Telangana officials says all well Leakages have been noticed at 12 (of total 62) gates of the Jurala project during the ongoing flood season. However, officials described the issue as “minor” and stressed that there was no threat to the structure. Allegations have surfaced that although a repair agency (Budget 11 Cr) was engaged three years ago by the authorities, it carried out work on only four of the gates. Sources said that the ropeway mechanism and rubber components of the gates were not functioning properly.

Manjira Dam needs urgent repair The Manjira dam, one of Hyderabad’s drinking water supply lifelines, supplying up to 100 MGD water, needs urgent repairs, and its long-term safety may be compromised if the dam does not receive the required immediate attention, an internal report of the Telangana irrigation department has said. The March 22 report by the State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO) described some of the maintenance aspects of the dam as ‘alarming’ with its earthen bund getting weakened by unchecked growth of acacia trees, its gates in a state of serious disrepair, and even portions of its spillway seriously damaged due to neglect of maintenance over the years.

The Manjira dam has suffered downstream spillway damages on account of shooting flows that have not only resulted in damages to the apron, but also uprooted portions of it. The damages are similar to the one that caused damages to the downstream aprons and stilling basins of the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS). Large-scale pitting of the concrete in the fixed apron was seen, while the flexible apron “is like a sitting duck” for damages, the report said. “If (the damages are) not attended, the scours would work backward to the dam and threaten (its) safety,” the report said, highlighting years of neglect of the dam’s maintenance.

In the report submitted to the irrigation department this March, a panel of experts and SDSO officials, after a detailed inspection of the dam, also found that shear cracks were discovered in the dam’s piers. These, the report said, indicated yielding of the piers to “distress that has occurred beyond their bearable limit.” The experts attributed this to the pressure on the dam to store water round the year to supply drinking water to Hyderabad. About the unchecked growth of acacia trees on the earthen bund the report said: “The dam is in a seriously ruined condition”, calling the tree growth a “scrub and heavy jungle,” and the conditions were such that 1.5 km of the dam’s bund could not be inspected as a result. “Why cannot the NDSA, which rushed to check on Medigadda after two piers developed cracks, act on these (Manjira and Jurala) disasters,” BRS leader T Harish Rao asked.

Kaleshwaram Project  Repair works: NDSA offers to work as design consultant Telangana Irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on June 25 said restoration works at the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme should proceed on a war-footing in accordance with the Central Water Commission guidelines and called that officials submit weekly progress reports to him on this matter. Uttam Kumar Reddy, at a meeting with senior irrigation officials, directed officials to implement the NDSA’s recommendations. Offiicials responded that the NDSA itself has offered to work as the design consultant for restoration works. 

The State Cabinet on June 23 has decided to submit all the information sought by the Kaleshwaram Commission by June 30. This is part of ongoing efforts to address concerns related to the project and ensure transparency.

Safety of Karnataka Dams  The Dam Safety Act, 2021, enacted by Parliament is constitutionally doubtful since water is a state subject. Secondly, the Act does not give voice to stakeholders,’’ adds Mohan V Katarki, Senior Supreme Court Lawyer and expert on transboundary rivers and dam safety. “A pre-monsoon and post-monsoon review of every dam in the state is being done under the guidance of the chief engineer of the Water Resources department. Based on reports of the review panel, a report is submitted to the Central Water Commission, which decides what works have to be taken up to repair damages in the dams,” says D Basavaraj, chief engineer, Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Limited (KBJNL).  Recently safety issues at 50 years old Kabini dam.

Harangi Dam Mismanagement of water release from the Harangi dam in 2018 was cited as a major contributing factor to devastating landslides in the Hattihole and Thanthipala regions.

Unauthorised stone mining has been reported within a one-kilometre aerial radius of the Harangi dam reservoir at Gondhibasavanahalli. Large tracts of land have been deforested to facilitate private stone extraction operations, raising alarm over potential structural risks to the reservoir. “No action has been taken against illegal mining. This not only threatens the ecological balance but also endangers the very safety of the reservoir,” said Chandramohan, convener of the Cauvery Swachata Andolana.

Minor cracks in Kabini reservoir The Kabini reservoir has developed minor cracks and cavities in the stone structure, pressing the need to protect the 50-year-old dam. Though experts ruled out an immediate threat to the structure, they said any neglect or delay in filling up the cavities and cracks would weaken the structure. Sources said there has been a minor crack in the dam for the last 12 years and it had not been given priority like the KRS dam.

The crack and cavities are 40 to 50 cms and will increase if not filled, the experts said. Based on the findings and a report from the authorities of Cauvery Niravari Nigam Ltd, the state cabinet at its special meeting at Male Mahadeshwara Hills on April 24 approved Rs 32.35 crore for the dam repair work. Despite the technical approval, officials could not take up the project because of increased inflows into the reservoir this monsoon, and high turbidity in the water that has reduced visibility.

Irrigation Department Superintendent Engineer Mahesh said turbidity in water should reduce for professional divers to go into the water and fill up cracks. “We are preparing a project report of Rs 85 crore and presenting it to the Union government to take up the dam strengthening work. We are confident that the Centre will approve it as the Kabini reservoir is placed under Category 2, which needs immediate attention,” he said. There is, however, no immediate threat to the dam’s safety, he added.

Kabini Reservoir is safe: CNNL Karnataka’s Cauvery Neerwari Nigam Ltd has on June 22 discarded news on some tv channels about water leakage from Kabini Reservoir, saying the leak is minor and the issue has been addressed.

HYDRO POWER PROJECTS

Himachal Pradesh Cloudburst damage to HEPs A massive flash flood following a ‘cloudburst’ has totally damaged the powerhouse and weir site of the Jiwa Small Hydroelectric Project (SHP) in Sainj Valley of Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh on June 25, 2025. The powerhouse of 1 Mw SHP is located in Siund village area near the confluence point of Jiwa nullah with Pin Parbati river. Its weir site is located about 2 km upstream on the Jiwa stream.

Indira Priyadarshini Hydel Project In a tragic incident several workers of under construction went missing after a ‘cloudburst’ induced flash flood struck the project site on June 25, 2025. So far dead bodies of 7 workers have been recovered by rescue team. The 4.8 Mw SHP is being developed by Indira Priyadarshini Hydro Power Pvt Ltd (IPHPPL) on Manuni khad near Sokani Da Kot village under Khaniyara post office of Dharamshala tehsil in Kangra district.

In addition to severely damaging the Jiwa and Priyadarshini small hydro power projects, the ‘cloudburst’ induced flash floods on June 25, 2025 has also significantly affected the Parbati II & III projects in Sainj Valley of Kullu district.

The episode again highlights that the hydro projects are multiplying the force of natural disasters and are also bearing the brunt of underestimating the increasing climatic disasters. But the real sufferers are the local people, rivers and environment and they are being made to pay a huge price for developmental decisions in which they have the least say or benefits.

Shongtong Karcham HEP affected by floods on June 24 The video shows how Sutlej River is in floods in Kinnaur district, affecting the work of Shongtong Karcham HEP on June 24. The downstream Coffer dam seems to have washed away, which possibly means the upstream coffer dam too may have washed away.

CM directs action against HEP developers for undue delay CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on June 21 directed the State’s Power Department to issue cancellation notice to non-serious hydro-power developers, whose projects have been at a standstill for years. CM asserted that undue delay in the project execution are causing significant losses to the State exchequer. Mr. Sukhu also reiterated that the State government will not move ahead on the upcoming projects like Kishau and Renuka Dam unless the neighbouring States provide to settle the long concrete assurances pending arrears of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).

CM seeks 12% free power from BBMB projects The CM has also written to PM Modi, requesting the provision of 12 per cent free power to Himachal Pradesh from all BBMB projects. In a separate letter to Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Sukhu requested that Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVNL) be directed to provide one per cent additional free power from the Nathpa Jhakri Power Project. This, he said, should be allocated to the Local Area Development Fund (LADF), following the model adopted for the Rampur power project, for the benefit of project-affected families. The CM also wrote a letter to his Haryana counterpart, Nayab Singh Saini, stating that Haryana should convey in writing its consent to provide BBMB energy arrears of its share with six percent interest before the next date of hearing in the court. Haryana, along with Punjab, shares energy arrears of 13,066 million units from Nov 1966 to Oct 2011, as of October 31, 2011, from BBMB, which can be given over a period of 15 years to Himachal Pradesh at the rate of 871 million units per year. 

Assam-Meghalaya 55 MW Kulsi HEP opposed Members of 19 organisations hit the streets in a southwestern Assam town on June 25, 2025 to oppose a 55 MW hydropower project planned jointly by the governments of Assam and Meghalaya on the Kulsi River, a natural habitat of the endangered Gangetic river dolphin. The protest rally culminated in these organisations submitting a memorandum each to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad K. Sangma. The two Chief Ministers announced the plan for the 55-MW hydropower and irrigation project after a meeting on June 2.

People from both states agreed that the dam plan was “unreasonable” and would kill the lifeline of the cultivators and fishermen in the area, apart from harming the environment irreparably. The organisations said the natural vegetation and crops are dependent on the Kulsi River, whose water level falls significantly during the dry season. “If the proposed Project is installed at Ukiam, it will affect the southern Kamrup district areas from Ukiam to Nagarbera,” they said, adding that release of excess water from the dam during the monsoon would also create havoc in these areas. The Kulsi River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, flows down from the West Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya.

The organisations stated that the dam-controlled ebb and flow of the river would impact at least 12 wetlands in the area, including Chandubi, which is known as the fifth-largest tectonic lake in the world. Chandubi, they pointed out, would be 3 km from the site of the proposed 62-metre-high dam. The organisations listed 16 villages in Assam’s Kamrup district and three in Meghalaya’s West Khasi Hills district, which would be affected by the proposed dam. Apart from Ukiam, a revenue village, all the others are forest villages inhabited by generations of Garo, Khasi, and Rabha tribal people. On June 29, Assam CM gave hint that if the local people do not want, this dam won’t be built.

INTERLINKING OF RIVERS

MoEF Agenda of EAC meeting agenda to be held on June 30 2025: 1. Damanganga (Ekdare) – Godavari intrastate link project (CCA: 12998 Ha) in 257.85 Ha at Village Ekdare, Gonde, Shinde, etc., Sub Dist Peth and Dindori, Dist Nashik, Mah – Amendment in Terms of Reference

INTERSTATE WATER DISPUTES

Godavari Water Disputes Telangana State Cabinet on June 23 has assured that not a single drop of River Godavari water would be lost due to the proposed Banakacherla project by Andhra Pradesh. The Cabinet has also committed to sharing full details of the issue, including the state government’s opposition efforts and future course of action, with elected public representatives during the first week of July. 

The Andhra Pradesh government has already submitted the pre-feasibility report on the project to the Central Water Commission (CWC). The CWC has now asked the State to now furnish a DPR. In addition, the Centre has offered to fund 50% of the total cost of the project, which is an estimated ₹80,000 crore, as part of the interlinking of rivers; the remaining will be financed through borrowing beyond the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) limits. This has upset Telangana as the Centre had reduced the State’s borrowing limits under the FRBM Act citing the State’s off-budget borrowings to complete the Kaleshwaram project on time.

The President of the Telangana Retired Engineers’ Association, M. Shyamprasad Reddy, suggested that the Centre carry out the appraisal of the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project only after protecting the rights of the people of Telangana by giving permissions/clearances/approvals to all the ongoing and contemplated projects in the Godavari basin. The former chief engineer also suggested that the Centre additionally allocate more than 200 tmc ft of water in the Krishna basin in lieu of the diversion of Godavari water to other basins.

Punjab-Rajasthan Lok Sabha Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Kuldeep Indora last evening joined a relay fast, demanding 2,500 cusecs of water in Gang Canal in Sriganganagar, 40 km from Abohar. The Arhtiya Association also announced to stage a dharna on June 22. Kisan Sabha spokesperson Ravinder Tarkhan said on June 23, the grain markets of the entire district in Sriganganagar would be closed and on June 24, the district administration activities would be hit. 

IRRIGATION

Jammu & Kashmir Several villages in Bandipora district are grappling with an acute water crisis as clogged irrigation canals and rampant encroachments threaten the ongoing sowing season of paddy saplings. Farmers in the Bandipora divisions Gamroo, Gundpora, Aragam, Garoora, Chitteybandy, Vijhara, Lowdara, and adjoining areas, said the irrigation network has remained in utter neglect over the years. They said the solid waste dumping and unauthorised constructions further aggravated the situation.

URBAN RIVERS

Mithi; Mumbai Desilting Scam A special court on June 21 rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Prashant Tayshete, one of the three Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officers booked in connection with the alleged irregularities in executing contracts for desilting the Mithi River.  Earlier this month, the court had granted bail to Joshi, saying there is no evidence to show that he was an alleged intermediary involved in compelling contractors to hire machines at inflated rates. The flight tickets and hotel expenses of BMC officers who visited Kerala and Delhi to inspect desilting machines were borne by Ketan Kadam, an alleged intermediary arrested in connection with the Mithi River desilting fraud, the sessions court noted  while rejecting the anticipatory bail plea of co-accused Prashant Tayshete, a deputy chief engineer at the civic body. Since 2005, cleaning the Mithi and preventing construction on its floodplains have been key aspects of the BMC’s efforts to prevent flooding. However, it transpires that a neat little scam was brewing for years about desilting and cleaning it.

Meanwhile the BMC has been able to complete 69.13 per cent of the overall pre-monsoon desilting works at Mithi river till June 21, shows data available with the civic body.  The desilting of Mithi river was supposed to be completed by May 31. Following the early onset of monsoon, the deadline was revised to June 7. The civic body failed to meet both the deadlines. Civic officials said the main cause behind the slow progress is due to the investigation of a Rs 1,100 crore scam related to the desilting of Milthi river.

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.

CPCB to Issue Pollution NOC Directly via Common Consent Portal To implement this, CPCB is launching a new initiative — a Common Consent Portal, expected to go live by early 2026. Officials say this move is part of the government’s broader Ease of Doing Business agenda and aims to eliminate delays and corruption in the approval process. It is also expected to increase CPCB’s annual revenue, as the board will charge a 5 per cent service fee on the total application cost. However, the bulk of the NOC fees will still go directly to the respective state or UT’s pollution control authority.

Meghalaya Appalled by the condition of their local river Chite Lui, plagued by dumping and erosion, this man went to great lengths to revive the stream and its banks, vowing to restore the rich flora & fauna that once adorned it.

GODAVARI Andhra Pradesh The state govt is set to commission a technical investigation to assess the structural stability of the 125-year-old Havelock bridge across river Godavari that connects Rajamahendravaram City with Kovvur town in the Godavari region. Recently, the Union Ministry of Tourism has sanctioned ₹94.44 crore for the Akhanda Godavari project proposed by the State Government for various tourism infrastructure facilities, primarily to convert the abandoned bridge into a tourist spot ahead of the Godavari Pushkarams-2027.

Rajasthan ASI traces Saraswati river bed The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has dug up an ancient palaeochannel buried 23 metres under Bahaj village in Deeg district, leading a section of historians and archaeologists to link it to the mythical Saraswati river mentioned in the Rig Veda. The findings of the excavation, carried out between April 2024 and May this year, constitute evidence of settlements that thrived between 3500 and 1000 BC. Bahaj village is about 50km from Mathura. ASI has submitted a report to ministry of culture, which will decide how to preserve the site.

YAMUNA Delhi DJB to pump highly treated water from 3 STPs upstream According to the rejuvenation plan, treated water from the Coronation Pillar and Yamuna Vihar STPs will be released near Wazirabad through a closed-duct system – a water transportation pipeline system – while the Okhla STP will discharge into the Yamuna via the Abul Fazal drain. Combined, these facilities are expected to add 1,244 MLD of treated water to the Yamuna’s depleted stream. Bhim Singh Rawat, an activist and member of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP), said while some marginal dilution will take place, the flow seems insufficient. “Quality of treated water will have to be ensured. The water being dumped in the river should be further purified to the inland water level. In the previous case of using it for potable water, strict monitoring would have been ensured as it impacts health of people but the agencies become lax when it comes to the river’s health. In long term, we need to focus on ensuring more fresh water in the river stream. Use highly treated water for secondary uses like washing and horticulture and equal amount of fresh water be allowed to flow in the river,” said Rawat.

Over 800 ‘illegal’ factories poisoning NCR’s groundwater Environmental experts say urgent, meaningful intervention is needed. Bhim Singh Rawat, SANDRP, said that hundreds of grossly polluting industrial units have sprung up in neighbouring districts without the necessary permissions. These units, he noted, draw groundwater illegally and discharge untreated toxic waste into drains feeding the Yamuna and Hindon rivers. “It’s a million-dollar question how these industries came into existence in the first place,” he said. Rawat was also critical of state and central pollution control boards, saying they had failed to stop the problem early. “Occasionally they pretend to act—some raids, some fines—and then forget the issue altogether,” he said. “Despite multiple complaints and judicial orders, the problem has only worsened, pointing to a systematic failure.”

Delhi’s latest Yamuna revival plan is ambitious, combining technology, funding, and public engagement. Yet, past failures remind us that plans alone don’t clean rivers—enforcement, political will, and sustained civic participation are key. If successful, the 2027 mission could set a national example. If not, the Yamuna may continue to foam with toxins, a stark symbol of urban neglect and environmental apathy in India’s capital. The Yamuna River, once clean and sacred, is now one of India’s most polluted rivers, especially in Delhi. Years of untreated sewage, industrial waste, and failed clean-up plans have turned it into a toxic waterway.

Lessons from Sahibi river Parisar, a Pune-based organisation, has undertaken a project to reimagine Delhi, one of the world’s most polluted cities with one of the most threatened rivers, as a space for sustainability, justice and community.

RIVERS BIODIVERSITY

Save Rivers if we really want to save Gharials The Central message after 50 years of Gharial Conservation effort since 1975 is that Gharial’s fate remains precarious. It seems like a species living on borrowed time, forever on the verge of extinction. It is living thanks to a few scientists, forest officials and some riverside communities. And if we really want to save Gharials, we must save rivers, the habitat of Gharials from sand mining, dams and pollution.

GANGA Tracking critically endangered turtles in the Ganges Critically endangered red-crowned roofed turtles or batagur kachuga, which were considered almost extinct, returned to the Ganga river after 30 years. 20 batagur kachuga turtles have been translocated from a turtle conservation centre and released in the Ganga river in the Meerut forest division of Uttar Pradesh. They have been tagged with sonic transmitters to monitor them. Future conservation and management strategies will be formulated based on these data, say experts.

Jammu & Kashmir Otters in Kashmir Jalal Jeelani, an environmental expert and film maker, said that since the devastating floods of 2014, Kashmir’s rivers, streams, and glacial feeders have been flowing with better consistency and volume. “This resurgence in water flow may have played a crucial role in restoring habitat conditions suitable for otters to thrive. Their presence reminds us of the importance of preserving natural habitats and maintaining ecological flow.”

He said, “There have been frequent sightings of Eurasian otters in Kashmir, both in northern and southern parts of the Valley. These sightings, after decades, indicate that our water bodies are turning to be good habitat for the species which was once found in good numbers in Kashmir but with the passage of time and human interference became extinct”.

SAND MINING

Uttar Pradesh A mob allegedly attacked a SDM in Banda district late on June 22 night after the official seized two sand-laden trucks suspected to have been used in illegal mining. The incident occurred near the Paigambarpur-Jarar turn under the Girwan police station area. It sparked a political controversy following allegations on social media that BJP MLA from Banda Sadar Prakash Dwivedi slapped the SDM for not letting go of the seized trucks. The legislator has denied the allegation though he admitted he scolded the officer.

Banda MLA reprimands SDM for taking on sand mafia In a strange, though not so surprising case, Banda district (UP) MLA has reprimanded SDM for taking on sand mafia. An FIR has been lodged against four unidentified people for allegedly assaulting the Naraini SDM after he confronted them for mining sand illegally and seized two loaded trucks on Sunday night. After social media claimed that BJP MLA from Banda Sadar, Prakash Dwivedi, too assaulted the SDM, Amit Shukla, for refusing to release the confiscated trucks, the legislator refuted the allegations but admitted having “reprimanded” the officer. The MLA has not been named in the FIR.

Uttarakhand Pictures by Down To Earth in April 2025 show mining in Kosi’s riverbed. A PIL filed by residents alleges that the mining, which takes place at night inside a reserved forest has gone beyond damaging the riverine ecosystem — it has also provoked violence, with forest officials reportedly attacked by the mining mafia. The unchecked extraction threatens nearby villages and farmland, especially during monsoon floods.

WETLANDS, LAKES, WATER BODIES

Karnataka Lakes of Shivamogga district are all set to offer adventure to tourists as the Tourism and the Minor Irrigation Departments are starting water sports in seven lakes across different taluks. The lakes have been identified based on their proximity to popular tourist destinations.

WATER OPTIONS

Tirrupur recycles 130 MLD? Tiruppur, as a cluster, currently recycles nearly 130 million litres of water every day, claims a report. The journey began in 2011 when Madras High Court ordered closure of all the bleaching and dyeing units of Tiruppur for pollution of Noyyal River.

“Tiruppur has formed CETPs (Central Effluent Treatment Plants) and implemented ZLD (Zero Liquid Discharge) in all CETPs as a result, there has been significant improvement in the water quality,” says Indumathi M. Nambi, Professor in Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras. She suggests that textile clusters in Erode, Kancheepuram, and Rasipuram, as well as other states like Punjab, Gujarat, Haryana, UP with textile hubs should also implement ZLD.

URBAN LAKES, WETLANDS

Chennai The unfolding crisis at Pallavaram Periya Eri Despite NGT rulings for its restoration, this once-thriving lake in Chennai is now gasping under sewage, encroachments and government indifference. 

Mumbai NGT has ordered the closure of two casting yards and ready-mix cement (RMC) plants operating within the eco-sensitive zone of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) at Thane’s Ghodbunder Road. NGO Vanashakti had filed the petition in NGT on the ground that this eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) was being destroyed due to the casting yards and RMC plants of J Kumar firm, which supplies reinforced concrete, girders and other heavy-duty infra works for projects, such as the tunnelling of Metros. 

JJM/ RURAL WATER SUPPLY

Jammu & Kashmir The House Committee is probing alleged irregularities in this scheme since its implementation in that year. The stated expenditure under the scheme till date in the UT is over Rs 7,000 crore. The committee has requested the department for data regarding the year-wise financial allocation received from the relevant ministry and its utilisation, as well as copies of all administrative and technical sanctions related to JJM works, detailed project reports, tender notices, bid documents, technical and evaluation reports, among other documents.

FLOOD 2025

Northeast was battered by devastating floods this year, displacing thousands and claiming dozens of lives. Experts say it’s time the govt 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 SANDRP, explains that flooding occurs when rainfall exceeds an area’s ability to absorb, store, or drain water. “The moment your capacity to harvest or recharge 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.

Assam Futile Attempt to show that Ranganadi and Subansiri Lower HEP not responsible for floods AN Mohammed in this article makes a rather futile attempt to show that neither Ranganadi nor SLHEP played any role in downstream floods starting on May 30 2025 in downstream Assam. In an article that seems to have a lot of information (all without any references), the mantra of the authors is that dams do not create water or silt. He does not even mention prudent dam operation, rule curve or how change upstream and downstream conditions post dam construction changes the situation.

LoP on Floods Shri Debabrata Saikia, Leader of Opposition in Assam state assembly, on floods in Assam this year already and role of dams, embankments and failure of Dam Safety Mechanisms.

DAM FLOODS Odisha Balasore floods due to water release from Jharkhand’s Chandil Dam At least one person drowned in Baliapal block due the sudden water release from upstream Jharkhand’s Chandil Dam in Suvarnarekha river. According to this report, “The flooding caught residents off guard as there were no local signs of heavy rainfall or impending disaster… The administration’s response has drawn heavy criticism. Despite warnings of water release from Jharkhand, authorities were unprepared. Of the 10 motorboats available at Jamkunda, only one was operational due to a lack of trained staff. Essential relief, including dry or cooked food, has yet to reach many affected villagers.” Authorities of Chandil Dam in Jharkhand released excess water without informing Odisha, Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi alleged terming it a “criminal misconduct”, as reported by the Print.

Karnataka After 84 years KRS Dam releases water in June Interestingly, since the construction of the KRS Dam — which began in 1911 and was completed in 1932 — water has been released in June only twice: In 1941 and now in 2025, after an 84-year gap. Typically, the Dam releases water during July, August or September, once the reservoir reaches its full capacity of 124.80 feet. This year, due to abundant rainfall in the Cauvery River basin, the Dam has seen significant inflows. Remarkably, in 2025, the water level reached the 100-ft mark on May 30, just after the peak summer, a rare occurrence. This is only the second time in the past 35 years (since 1990) that the Dam has reached this level in May. According to officials from the Cauvery Neeravari Nigama Limited (CNNL), the last such instance was on May 11, 2022. Ordinarily, the Dam reaches the 100-ft mark only between June and July. The substantial inflow can be attributed mainly to the above-average rainfall in the catchment areas of Kodagu district.

LANDSLIDES

Kerala  Heavy rains over the past 24 hours have raised fears of fresh flooding and landslides in Wayanad’s Mundakkai-Chooralmala region, just a year after deadly landslides claimed over 200 lives there. District officials reported on June 25 that the Chooralmala river is in strong spate, with muddy water flowing forcefully and breaching the banks near the Bailey bridge. The State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) in Wayanad said that while no fresh landslides have occurred in Punchirimattam, the debris owing downstream is attributed to loose soil and remnants from previous landslide events, dislodged by the heavy rains. Officials noted that this wash-off process is expected to continue for some time as eroded materials from earlier incidents are gradually being cleared by the river’s natural flow. Officials warn that further rainfall in the hill region could lead to increased flow of water. Residents, many of whom have experienced similar natural disasters, express apprehension, but authorities maintain there is no immediate cause for alarm.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Glacial Risks in NW Himalayas In an April 2025 paper published in the journal Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Anup Upadhyaya (Climate Scientist at IIT-Kharagpur) and Abhishek Kumar Rai analysed the state of more than 1,300 glacial lakes in the Northwest Himalayan region of India. They say that “the Northwest Himalayan region witnessed ~ 8.71% growth in the total area of these lakes (area ≥ 0.01 km 2) from 2018 to 2022, with elevations between 5000–6000 metres exhibiting the most noticeable increase.” They further state that more than 20 lakes are very high risk, while more than 130 lakes are high risk. The upper Indus basin possessed the majority of vulnerable lakes, which are at a greater risk of experiencing a probable GLOF event, followed by the Jhelum basin.

SOUTH ASIA

IWT India writes to Neutral Expert to pause proceedings India has written to the World Bank’s neutral expert, Michel Lino, requesting a pause in his proceedings – going on since 2022 – on the Ratle and Kishanganga hydropower disputes, following the Union government’s decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance. Lino is understood to have sought Pakistan’s views on India’s request, which Islamabad has opposed. As per the agreed 2025 work programme, which India now wants vacated, Pakistan was to submit its written response – or counter memorial – to India’s submission by August 7. The fourth meeting of the neutral expert with both sides was scheduled for November 17 to 22. This meeting would have been significant, involving the presentation of India’s written arguments (memorial) and Pakistan’s counter, questioning by the neutral expert, and preparations for a second site visit to India, likely in December.

India formally notified Pakistan of its decision to keep the treaty in abeyance by a letter dated April 24. Pakistan replied (before Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, signalling willingness to discuss Delhi’s concerns and suggesting a date in May for talks. India has not responded to that offer.

India plans to push ahead with Tulbul Navigation Project The government of India is moving ahead with plans to revive the long-stalled Tulbul Navigation Project, top official sources said. The DPR of the project is being prepared and may take a year to complete, after which a decision about this will be taken.

J&K has suffered economic losses of over Rs 60,000 crore due to the IWT since the bilateral pact came into force in 1960, according to an expert. Past state governments had twice attempted to quantify the losses J&K suffered due to IWT by hiring external consultants. However, the first attempt in 2013 did not see the light of day because the consultant backed out because of official cold-shouldering. The second one in 2018 was shelved for unknown reasons, he said.

Bhutan Joint Venture with Thailand Hydro Company Bhutan’s DGPC and B. Grimm, a Thailand power company, entered into a 51-49 Jt Venture to develop hydropower projects and Solar projects in Bhutan through special purpose vehicles. They will take up first a 50 MW and then a 100 MW project for development in Bhutan. This is Bhutan’s first such joint venture with a company outside India.

SANDRP