Dams

FAO’s First Ever Global Conference on Inland Fisheries in Rome: Opening Day

January 27, 2015January 30, 2015 SANDRP2 Comments

On this Republic Day of India, when the American President Barack Obama joined Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to witness the ever-inspiring Republic Day Parade, 6000 kms away in Rome I heard a Native American woman say, “With colonization, we were alienated from all that we held dear, not only our natural resources but also our legitimate place in decision-making. We are Salmon people. Revitalization and protection of our fish is our sacred duty and we will do it despite the dams.” A fisherman near Farakka Barrage who was hardly making a living due to the barrage had said something similar to me once.

As the concerns about the environment insensitivity of the current government increase, this coincidence was striking. Continue reading “FAO’s First Ever Global Conference on Inland Fisheries in Rome: Opening Day” →

Dams

Headwater Extinctions by Emmanuel Theophilus: SOME CONCERNS

January 25, 2015January 26, 2015 SANDRP2 Comments

By Prof Prakash Nautiyal, (lotic.biodiversity@gmail.com) HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar, Uttarakhand

I have gone through the report Headwater extinctions: Hydropower projects in the Himalayan reaches of the Ganga and the Beas: A closer look at impacts on fish and river ecosystems by Emmanuel Theophilus[1], published by SANDRP, thanks for sending the report to me in hard and soft copy. It is indeed excellent, many more pages can be written on the beautiful portrayal. I am flagging some concerns, in context of the whole issue. Continue reading “Headwater Extinctions by Emmanuel Theophilus: SOME CONCERNS” →

Dams

State must ensure water accessibility to all: Bombay HC

January 19, 2015March 9, 2015 SANDRP5 Comments

Blog by Debadityo Sinha (debadityo@gmail.com) (with inputs from Himanshu Thakkar (SANDRP))

In a landmark judgment dated Dec 15, 2014, Mumbai High Court bench of Justices Abhay S Oka & A S Gadkari have ruled: “Right to get water is an integral part of right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India…” Continue reading “State must ensure water accessibility to all: Bombay HC” →

India Rivers Week

LET OUR RIVERS LIVE – DELHI DECLARATION

January 17, 2015January 17, 2015 SANDRP3 Comments

India Rivers Week, 24-27 November 2014, New Delhi Continue reading “LET OUR RIVERS LIVE – DELHI DECLARATION” →

Dams, Rivers & People

DAMS, RIVERS & PEOPLE Magazine: Nov – Dec 2014 issue

January 14, 2015January 16, 2015 SANDRPLeave a comment

The Nov Dec 2014 issue of magazine “Dams, Rivers & People” is available at:

https://sandrp.in/DRP_Nov_Dec2014.pdf. The front page image of the issue is given below. Continue reading “DAMS, RIVERS & PEOPLE Magazine: Nov – Dec 2014 issue” →

Maharashtra · Mumbai

Water Smart Mumbai is possible without river links and big dams! Open Letter to CM Devendra Fadnavis

January 13, 2015January 16, 2015 SANDRP3 Comments

Above: Forested Valley, now lost forever for the Middle Vaitarna Dam Photo: Parineeta Dandekar

Respected Chief Minister,

At the outset we congratulate you for leading some progressive changes in the Water Resources Department of the State. These include decisions about continuing only with those dam projects which are more than 75% complete[1], appointment of independent people with a clean image like Shri. H.T. Mendhegiri as CADA Chief Secretary, changing norms of Economic Survey Report[2], stating that only hoarding water will not be counted towards increase in irrigation potential, etc. Continue reading “Water Smart Mumbai is possible without river links and big dams! Open Letter to CM Devendra Fadnavis” →

Godavari · Interlinking of RIvers · Krishna River · Telangana

Pranahita-Chevella Project: Gargantuan Project with Gargantuan Violations

January 10, 2015January 16, 2015 SANDRP8 Comments

Can you imagine a project-not any project, perhaps India’s largest irrigation project till date- going on for years without most statutory clearances? Can you imagine a project on which Rs 7000 Crores[1] have been spent already but its Dam height (FRL – Full Reservoir Level) is yet undecided? Can you imagine a project whose canal works are ongoing in full swing, without having any idea of the submergence? Can you imagine a Public Hearing where the Project Engineer says that the meeting is only about compensation not about environmental impacts or fundamental questions? Can you imagine a state which is set to lose thousands of hectares of rich forests, protected areas, villages for a project of a different state, but is happy to oblige? Can you imagine a Ministry which turns a stony Nelson’s Eye to a project continuing right under its nose without Environmental Clearance, Wildlife Clearance or Forest Clearance?

Continue reading “Pranahita-Chevella Project: Gargantuan Project with Gargantuan Violations” →

Interlinking of RIvers

Interlinking ‘Conflicts’: Maharashtra se Gujarat tak

January 8, 2015January 16, 2015 SANDRPLeave a comment

Above: A girl from the Par Basin. With drinking water problems plaguing her village and the impending diversion project either from Gujarat or Maharashtra, her hardships will only increase. Photo: Parineeta Dandekar

Even as the second meeting of the Special Committee for Interlinking of Rivers was held on the 6^th January 2015[i], the Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Sushri Uma Bharti sought “co-operation of various States in this project” and said that “States can discuss their apprehensions if any, in the next meeting of the committee.” She informed the meeting that on 07 January 2015, she will meet Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri. Devendra Fadnavis to discuss Damanganga-Pinjal and Par-Tapi-Narmada link projects.

Continue reading “Interlinking ‘Conflicts’: Maharashtra se Gujarat tak” →

Ministry of Environment and Forests

The High Level Committee Report on Environmental Laws: A Recipe for Climate Disaster and Silencing People’s Voice

January 8, 2015January 18, 2015 SANDRP1 Comment

Above: 440 MW Vishnuprayag HEP post 2013 disaster in Uttarakhand. The project, its operation and location added significantly to disaster in the downstream. Photo: Matu JanSangathan

Post by- Ritwick Dutta, Lawyers Initiative For Forest and Environment, Debi Goenka, Conservation Action Trust, Manoj Mishra, Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan & Himanshu Thakkar , South Asian Network for Dams, Rivers & People

Continue reading “The High Level Committee Report on Environmental Laws: A Recipe for Climate Disaster and Silencing People’s Voice” →

Ganga

Is there any hope for Ganga from IIT Consorium Plan?

January 7, 2015January 16, 2015 SANDRP1 Comment

Guest Blog by: Chicu Lokgariwar (chicu.l@gmail.com)

Prime Minister Modi on Ganga Banks at Varanasi (NDTV photo)

We have a Prime Minister who, his colleagues claim, is the new Bhagirath. And possibly for the first time, Prime Minister himself called a meeting of ministers and officials on Ganga on January 6, 2015[1]. That possibly seems to indicate that Ganga is government priority. However, their dependence on IIT Consortium to deliver a plan for this does seem to hold much hope for the River.

Continue reading “Is there any hope for Ganga from IIT Consorium Plan?” →