Ltr to Expert Appraisal Committee on Env Clearance for 120 MW Sirkari Bhyol Rupsiabagar HEP in Uttarakhand

April 12, 2021April 12, 2021 SANDRP3 Comments

Date: 12.4.2021 To:The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for River Valley Projects,Ministry of Environment and Forest Officials, Government of India 1. Dr. K. Gopakumar (Chairman), Professor, Department of Electronic SystemsEngineering (Formerly CEDT), Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-12. e-mail Id:kgopa@iisc.ac.in 2. Dr. N. Lakshman, Professor, Dept. of Applied Mechanics, National Institute ofTechnology Karnataka, Surathkal Srinivasnagar, Mangalore, Karnataka,… Continue reading Ltr to Expert Appraisal Committee on Env Clearance for 120 MW Sirkari Bhyol Rupsiabagar HEP in Uttarakhand

Dam Safety

Uttarakhand: Aging Bhimtal Dam Raising Serious Safety Concerns

April 1, 2021April 1, 2021 SANDRP6 Comments

There is no doubt the dams have finite life and Bhimtal dam is one of the oldest we have. It is clear from all the media reports including about discussion in the Legislative assembly that there is no authentic report in public domain about the safety assessment of Bhimtal dam and steps that need to be taken to resolve the concerns in a time bound manner. That is the underlying theme of the dam management across India. With Central Water Commission at the helm and not changing its governance structure, there is little hope for change in this situation in immediate future.

Dam Disaster · Uttarakhand

The factors that worsen the Uttarakhand Disasters

March 18, 2021 SANDRP3 Comments

Abstract: While Uttarakhand is vulnerable to disasters, climate change is increasing these vulnerabilities. Major human interventions like hydropower projects and highways implemented without an informed or democratic decision-making process act as force multipliers during such disasters. The violations of legal and other prudent norms in their implementation further increase the damages. The absence of necessary… Continue reading The factors that worsen the Uttarakhand Disasters

Dam Disaster · Uttarakhand

Force Multipliers in Uttarakhand disaster

February 26, 2021February 26, 2021 SANDRP4 Comments

Given below if the text of the presentation made by SANDRP coordinator on Day 1 at the FICCI-NIDM (NIDM: National Institute of Disaster Management; FICCI: Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) 3-day training program on Feb 18-20, 2021 on “Resilient Infrastructure in Hilly Areas: Avalanche, GLOF & Debris Flow” in the context of… Continue reading Force Multipliers in Uttarakhand disaster

Dams, Rivers & People

DRP NB 15 Feb. 2021: Why Mangshri Devi of Tapovan Should Head Uttarakhand’s Disaster Management Department?

February 15, 2021February 18, 2021 SANDRP1 Comment

The disaster management department seems completely absent from the scene either in terms of pre disaster monitoring or in taking steps to save lives during the disaster. In fact, there should have been an early warning system in place that could have saved many more lives. But it does not exist. Either Rishiganga/ Dhauliganga basin or anywhere else in Uttarakhand.

Dams, Rivers & People

DRP NB 8 Feb. 2021: Will NITI Aayog study the costs of overturning the Radhakrishnan Judgement on Uttarakhand?

February 8, 2021February 8, 2021 SANDRP1 Comment

In fact if the Justice Radhakrishnan verdict were to have been sincerely and honestly implemented to its logical conclusion, the proportions of the current Chamoli disaster and others would have been majorly reduced. So the costs are no doubt huge and mounting. Will NITI Aayog institute such an independent inquiry urgently?

Dams · Sand Mining

Uttarakhand: Finally, Yamuna illegal bridge gone. But will govt learn?

August 2, 2020August 2, 2020 SANDRP2 Comments

Finally, Uttrakhand government on July 25, 2020 has removed illegal mining bridge on Yamuna river in Haripur, tehsil, Dehradun. The bridge across the Yamuna River was built by the illegal sand miners on culvert pipes in the last week of May 2020 hindering the river flows. It is not clear if the state government took… Continue reading Uttarakhand: Finally, Yamuna illegal bridge gone. But will govt learn?

Dams · Yamuna River

Uttarakhand govt must remove illegal bridge on Yamuna to prevent flood disaster

July 11, 2020July 23, 2020 SANDRP1 Comment

Locals of Vikas Nagar tehsil in Dehradun have shared revealing and disturbing images and videos of riverbed mining activities done in Yamuna river over past couple of months. Though in wake of ongoing monsoon the mechanized extraction of riverbed minerals (RBMs) has seen a halt since July 01, 2020, the miners have left an illegally… Continue reading Uttarakhand govt must remove illegal bridge on Yamuna to prevent flood disaster

Dams · Landslide

JAJRED perennial landslide in Yamuna basin, Uttarakhand

July 8, 2020July 9, 2020 SANDRPLeave a comment

Banner image Jajred landslide zone which just reactivated with commencement of monsoon rains. (Nishant Panwar, July 07, 2020) Come monsoon and the Jajred mountain in Kalsi tehsil, Dehradun district in Uttarakhand starts falling apart. Located about 11 km away from Kalsi town, the landslide site near Amraha village blocks the vehicular movement on Kalsi-Chakrata state… Continue reading JAJRED perennial landslide in Yamuna basin, Uttarakhand

Dams · DRP News Bulletin

DRP NB 22 June 2020: Seven years after Uttarakhand Disaster: Any lessons learnt?

June 22, 2020June 22, 2020 SANDRPLeave a comment

This past week we just completed seven years since the worst ever flood disaster in Himalayas, the Uttarakhand-Himachal Flood disaster that got launched with the massive unseasonal rainfall during June 15-17, 2013, along with the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood from Chorabari glacier upstream from Kedarnath. It was a massive wake up call. To briefly recall,… Continue reading DRP NB 22 June 2020: Seven years after Uttarakhand Disaster: Any lessons learnt?