CHENNAI FLOODS: Cities today, countryside tomorrow?

December 5, 2015December 6, 2015 SANDRP3 Comments

Above: Chennai International Airport & the Adyar river

GUEST BLOG by: Manoj Misra (yamunajiye@gmail.com)

Chennai is going through the same hell today that Mumbai did in July 2005, Surat in August 2006, Ambala and Moradabad in 2010 and Srinagar and Guwahati in September 2014. High rainfall event and the waters’ inability to leave the city harmlessly, flooding houses (many built by the state housing boards), offices, commercial establishments, roads, railway lines and even the airport and the resulting misery for residents, travelers, industry, commerce and the tourists alike. Continue reading “CHENNAI FLOODS: Cities today, countryside tomorrow?” →

Climate Change · Dams

COP21: Climate Initiatives Must Not Include Large Hydropower Projects- NGOs

December 3, 2015December 4, 2015 SANDRP6 Comments

Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP), Interamerican Association for Environmental Defense (AIDA), International Rivers, South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP)

December 3, 2015

In a global manifesto released today, a coalition of more than 300 civil society organizations from 53 countries called on governments and financiers at the Paris climate talks to keep large hydropower projects out of climate initiatives such as the Clean Development Mechanism, the World Bank’s Clean Investment Funds, and green bonds. Continue reading “COP21: Climate Initiatives Must Not Include Large Hydropower Projects- NGOs” →

Dam Induced Flood Disaster · Dams · Disasters · Himachal Pradesh · Himalayas

Kinnaur in crisis; Sheer Negligence in hydro projects claiming lives. Who is accountable?

December 3, 2015December 4, 2015 SANDRP2 Comments

Above: Entirely destabilised house next to 100 MW Sorang HEP transmission lines Photo: Sumit Mahar

Immediate Press Statement from Himdhara 02/12/15

In the last two weeks a half a dozen lives have been lost in the Kinnaur region alone in three separate incidents that have one thing in common – accidents at hydropower project sites. The first event took place in Burang village on the 18^th of November 2015 where a penstock pipe burst of the 100 MW Sorang Hydro-electric project led to the death of three people. On 29^th November, two labourers died in blasting operations in the 450 MW Shongthong Karchham project, some others were seriously injured. And on the same day in the Bhabha Valley, a young teacher lost her life in a landslide that occurred in the area. Continue reading “Kinnaur in crisis; Sheer Negligence in hydro projects claiming lives. Who is accountable?” →

Dams

जलवायु संकट समाधान के प्रयास हर हाल में करें बड़ी जलविद्युत परियोजनाओं से परहेज

December 3, 2015December 4, 2015 SANDRPLeave a comment

For Immediate Release December 3, 2015

जलवायु संकट समाधान के प्रयास हर हाल में करें बड़ी जलविद्युत परियोजना से परहेजः- सामाजिक संगठन

पेरिस में चल रही जलवायु परिवर्तन की शिखर वार्ता में आज अनेक सामाजिक संगठनों ने सरकारों से बड़ी जलविद्युत परियोजनाओं से परहेज करने के लिए एक घोषणा पत्र जारी किया।

53 देशों से आए 300 से अधिक सामाजिक संगठनों ने घोषणा पत्र का समर्थन करते हुए कहा कि सभी देशों की सरकारें एवं विश्व बैंक समेत सभी प्रमुख पूॅजी निवेशक संस्थाएॅ हर हाल में पर्यावरण के लिए खतरा बन चुकी भारी-भरकम जलविद्युत परियोजनाओं को जलवायु संकट समाधान के मसौदे से बाहर रखें।

प्रतिभागियों ने एकमत से यह भी कहा कि जलवायु परिवर्तन समाधान के नाम पर चलायी जा रही सरकारी एवं विश्वबैंक की योजनाओं जैसे हरित विकास प्रणाली, हरित विकास अनुबंध एवं हरित पूॅजीनिवेश धनराशि के तहत बड़ी जलविद्युत परियोजनाओं को कतई शामिल ना किया जाए।

Continue reading “जलवायु संकट समाधान के प्रयास हर हाल में करें बड़ी जलविद्युत परियोजनाओं से परहेज” →

Dams · India Rivers Day

Muthai River Walk: Exploring what was and what can be

December 1, 2015December 5, 2015 SANDRP4 Comments

“A River Walk in Pune City? You must be kidding!” said my old friend when I asked her to join me for the Muthai River Walk on the India Rivers Day. I could not blame her. Inside the city limits, Pune’s Rivers: Mula, Mutha, Pawana, Indrayani and smaller rivulets like Dev Nadi and Ram Nadi look anything but walk-worthy. We Punekars have ensured that our rivers stink, are clogged with sewage and solid waste, have little water and carry exclusive sewage. Even the seasoned Jairam Ramesh, when he visited Pune as the Union Environment Minister, was appalled at the state of Mula-Mutha. He immediately wrote a strong-worded letter to the Collector, but that did not really change anything. Continue reading “Muthai River Walk: Exploring what was and what can be” →

Dams

भारतीय नदी दिवस2015 -सारांश “दिल्ली को रेणुका बाॅध से पानी नहीं चाहिए”: कपिल मिश्रा दिल्ली जल मंत्री

November 30, 2015December 5, 2015 SANDRP2 Comments

भगीरथी पुरस्कार 2015 विजेता (बाॅए से) ऐमूअल थियोफिलिप्स, लोबसंग ग्यात्सो (प्रतिनिधि मोन बचाओ संघ) सच्चिदानंद भारती (दूधातोली लोक विकास संघ) कुॅज बिहारी जी (प्रतिनिधि संभव ट्रस्ट राजस्थान)

राजधानी दिल्ली, पुणे एवं देश के अनेक भागों में मनाया गया भारतीय नदी दिवस

नदी संरक्षण के सराहनीय प्रयासों के लिए दिया गया भगीरथी प्रयास सम्मान

‘दिल्ली को रेणुका बाॅध, शारदा-यमुना नदी जोड़ एवं किसी अन्य बाहरी स्रोत से पानी नहीं चाहिए’: कपिल मिश्रा जल मंत्री दिल्ली सरकार

मंत्री ने यमुना पर बच्चों से की चर्चा

रामास्वामी अय्यर स्मृति व्याख्यान में अनुपम मिश्र ने बताई नदियों को बचाने के लिए नजरिया बदलने की अहमियत

आज, 28 Nov. 2015 को INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage) सभागार दिल्ली में भारतीय नदी दिवस-2015 का सफल आयोजन किया गया। कार्यक्रम में दिल्ली के जल मंत्री श्री कपिल मिश्रा ने दिल्ली में यमुना नदी के पानी को तीन साल के अंदर नहाने योग्य बनाने की अपनी प्रतिबद्धता को दोहराते हुए स्पष्ट किया की दिल्ली को रेणुका बाॅध अथवा शारदा-यमुना नदी जोड़ योजना से पानी की कतई आवश्यकता नहीं है। Continue reading “भारतीय नदी दिवस2015 -सारांश “दिल्ली को रेणुका बाॅध से पानी नहीं चाहिए”: कपिल मिश्रा दिल्ली जल मंत्री” →

Dams

DRP: 30 Nov. 2015 (Delhi does not need Renuka Dam, Sharda-Yamuna linking: Kapil Misra, Delhi Water Minister)

November 30, 2015February 18, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

Speaking during India Rivers Day- 2015 Kapil Misra said that Delhi does not require any more water from external sources such as the Renuka Dam or Sharda Yamuna River link. The minister also assured that the Yamuna’s water will be improved within three years to make it good enough to bathe in. He raised doubts over expensive sewerage projects and felt need building of smaller and decentralised sewerage management system. The India Rivers Day brought together several individuals and organisations who have been working on the issues of river conservation in the country.

Continue reading “DRP: 30 Nov. 2015 (Delhi does not need Renuka Dam, Sharda-Yamuna linking: Kapil Misra, Delhi Water Minister)” →

Dams · India Rivers Day

India Rivers Day 2015 Press Release: Nov 28, 2015

November 28, 2015December 5, 2015 SANDRP4 Comments

Above: India Rivers Day Function – from Left: Manu Bhatnagar (INTACH), Anupam Mishra (GPF), Kapil Mishra (Delhi Water Minister) and Manoj Misra (Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan)

INDIA RIVERS DAY CELERBRATED in Delhi, Pune and elsewhere

Bhagirath Prayas Samman Awards given to four for exemplary work on river conservation

Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra: “Delhi does not need Renuka dam, Sharda Yamuna River link or any new external source of water”; Minister in dialogue with school kids

Anupam Mishra gives Iyer Memorial lecture: “Change the mindset to conserve rivers”

At a well attended India Rivers Day 2015 function held at the INTACH auditorium, New Delhi on 28^th of November, 2015, Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra declared that he personally takes the responsibility for ensuring that Yamuna will have bathing quality water in three years. He also made it very clear that Delhi does not any more water from external sources like Renuka dam or Sharda Yamuna River link. He also said that his government has asked Delhi Jal Board to shelve its Rs 20 000 Crore Delhi Sewerage master plan and in stead work on decentralized sewage treatment and recycle plan and welcomed suggestions from all concerned, how to make this possible. Continue reading “India Rivers Day 2015 Press Release: Nov 28, 2015” →

Dams

Yamuna River Story

November 27, 2015November 30, 2015 SANDRP10 Comments

River Yamuna is fifth longest river of India. For past many centuries the river has been integral part of Indian culture. It has been sustaining means of livelihoods to millions. Many, in pursuit of spiritual inspiration venerate it with great hope. But at present, the river is more in news for its highly polluted state. In this blog SANDRP attempts to presents the picture of the River Yamuna. The blog also briefly mentions the places of cultural, religious, historical and environmental significance on and around the river, pointing out the various factors which has led to present state of the river. Continue reading “Yamuna River Story” →

Dams · Maharashtra

Dams and Equitable Water Distribution: Learnings from Maharashtra

November 26, 2015November 27, 2015 SANDRP4 Comments

Above: Placard proclaiming Ahmednagar’s claim over Mula Dam waters, protesting any downstream release Photo: Zee24 Taas

While largely unheard of in the country, bitter intrastate water conflicts are now routine to Maharashtra since the past few years. Come November or December, just as the state wearily puts behind one more sad monsoon, newspapers start carrying pictures of desperate farmers standing inside canals challenging dam authorities to release water. Politicians are quick to use this opportunity to deepen schisms between the state. Continue reading “Dams and Equitable Water Distribution: Learnings from Maharashtra” →