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” →

Dams

DRP: 23 Nov. 2015 – Uttar Pradesh declares 50 districts as drought hit

November 23, 2015February 18, 2026 SANDRP1 Comment

Eight Indian States have already declared drought this year. Apart from UP the other states are Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand.

In 2015, India witnesses many weather extremes which can be linked to Climate Change. The unseasonal rains in March, then back-to-back failure of Southwest Monsoon that has led to severe drought conditions in many Indian states. Right now Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh are facing severe flood conditions caused by heavier Northeast monsoon rain. The year 2015 also saw record breaking heat. Clearly Climate Change have started unfolding abnormal weather incidences in India impacting millions of people lives who have become victim of Climate Change despite no fault of theirs. But Indian government is neither connecting these disasters with climate change, nor identifying the victims, leave aside asking for justice for these victims.

Continue reading “DRP: 23 Nov. 2015 – Uttar Pradesh declares 50 districts as drought hit” →

Dams · Himachal Pradesh

Sorang Hydropower disaster: Will we learn any lessons?

November 22, 2015November 23, 2015 SANDRP2 Comments

Google Earth Image of the Area

A burst in penstock pipe of 100 MW Sorang hydro power project (HEP) in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh have played havoc with the lives and livelihoods of people of Burang and surrounding villages. On surface it may look like an accident. But deeper look raises doubts about many systemic loopholes that allowed the siutation that led to the disaster. Let us see the shortcomings and negligence exercised by project proponent and state government which finally resulted in the fatal accident. We urge the Himachal Pradesh Govt., other governments where such projects are coming up and Central Electricity Authority, to constitute a monitoring cell to inspect quality of construction of ongoing HEPs and form adequate safety standards and enusre their strict implementation to prevent such mishaps from becoming a norm. Continue reading “Sorang Hydropower disaster: Will we learn any lessons?” →

Dams · Fish Sanctuaries

Celebrating India’s Riverine Fisheries on the World Fisheries Day

November 22, 2015November 22, 2015 SANDRP5 Comments

Above: Women fishing in small pools near (सादिया घाट) Sadiya Ghat on (लोहित) Lohit and Dibang Rivers. Women use several gear, baskets and nets to catch fish from the slush. The activity is accompanied by laughter, chatter and songs. Photo: Author

21^st November is celebrated as World Fisheries Day. Since the past few years we have been trying to highlight the significance and richness of India’s riverine fisheries which support over 10 million people by providing livelihoods and nutritional security. Ironically, although India is the world’s biggest inland fish producer, our riverine fisheries are woefully neglected. We do not have a record of riverine fish catch and its trends, people dependent on riverine fishing, species of fish and their population trends, etc. Interventions like dams, water abstraction and pollution have severely affected riverine fisheries, which do not find a place in the dominant water management narrative. Continue reading “Celebrating India’s Riverine Fisheries on the World Fisheries Day” →

Dams · Interlinking of RIvers · Rivers · Sand Mining

Dams, Rivers & People: 16 Nov. 2015 (Tamil Nadu floods claim 95 lives)

November 16, 2015February 18, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

Incessant rains continued to disrupt normal life in Chennai and across Tamil Nadu on Monday, with the death toll rising to 95. Many areas in Chennai have been inundated, road traffic has been severely hit and schools and colleges are shut across Chennai as a result of the inclement weather. Boats are being used in flooded areas to rescue stranded people. Also see, Rain continues to batter Tamil Nadu, disaster response teams deployed

Continue reading “Dams, Rivers & People: 16 Nov. 2015 (Tamil Nadu floods claim 95 lives)” →

Climate Change

IEA concludes INDCs will not limit warming to 2 °C; focus on India without any push to the OECD countries to reduce consumption

November 12, 2015 SANDRP1 Comment

It’s not everyday that the Washington Post features India in headlines, so when on Diwali day, that happened[1] in the context of publication of International Energy Agency’s[2] World Energy Outlook 2015[3], it was noteworthy. The IEA report has worrying conclusion that the world won’t be able to limit warming to 2 °C even if all the pledges (INDCs) submitted in advance of Paris Summit get implemented, “The (global) emissions trajectory implies a long-term temperature increase of 2.7 °C by 2100. A major course correction is still required to achieve the world’s agreed climate goal. As the largest source of global greenhouse-gas emissions, the energy sector must be at the heart of global action to tackle climate change.” Continue reading “IEA concludes INDCs will not limit warming to 2 °C; focus on India without any push to the OECD countries to reduce consumption” →

Dams

India’s INDC will increase the water insecurity and problems of the vulnerable and the poor

November 10, 2015November 10, 2015 SANDRP1 Comment

No one can deny that the current Indian government is strong in one aspect: Symbolism. So they did release the India’s INDC[1] (Intended Nationally Determined Contribution) on 2^nd Oct (India time), the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. opening lines of the government in its public statement while releasing INDC reads: “On Gandhi Jayanti, India has submitted it’s (INDC).The approach of India’s INDC has been anchored in the vision of equity inspired by the Father of our Nation Mahatma Gandhi’s famous exhortation: “Earth has enough resources to meet people’s needs, but will never have enough to satisfy people’s greed””. Continue reading “India’s INDC will increase the water insecurity and problems of the vulnerable and the poor” →

Climate Change · Dams · Environment · Ganga · Narmada · Rivers

Dams, Rivers & People: 09 Nov 2015 (Maharashtra Drought-1420 more villages included in affected list)

November 9, 2015February 18, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

The State will now seek a Rs. 4,300-crore package for providing succour to over 16,000 drought-affected villages. Earlier State Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Eknath Khadse had declared over 14,708 villages drought-affected. He now said that the State’s assessment by October 31 showed that drought-like conditions also prevailed in 1,420 villages in Buldhana district in Vidarbha, and they would be added to the list of drought-affected villages.

Continue reading “Dams, Rivers & People: 09 Nov 2015 (Maharashtra Drought-1420 more villages included in affected list)” →

India Rivers Week

India Rivers Day to be celebrated on Nov 28, 2015 – Letter from Organisers

November 5, 2015November 6, 2015 SANDRP4 Comments

Dear River Friends,

You may recall many of us celebrated India’s Rivers at the first ever India Rivers Week (IRW) held at the WWF-India Secretariat New Delhi from 24-27, Nov 2014.

IRW 2014 was organized by an organising committee (OC) chaired by Shri Ramaswamy R Iyer and included PEACE Institute Charitable Trust, WWF – India, INTACH, Toxics Link and SANDRP, besides support from International Rivers, People’s Science Institute & Arghyam Trust. One of the key outputs of the event was “Delhi Declaration – Let Our Rivers Live”[1]. Continue reading “India Rivers Day to be celebrated on Nov 28, 2015 – Letter from Organisers” →

NBWL

Open Letter to NBWL Standing Committee Members: Why NBWL should not consider Ken Betwa River Link Proposal

November 3, 2015November 3, 2015 SANDRP2 Comments

Above: A fabulous view of Ken river. Nesting sites of Long-billed vultures are to the right. All will go under water if Ken-Betwa linkup is carried out, Photo by AJT Johnsingh

November 3, 2015

Chairman & Members, NBWL Standing Committee, MoEF&CC, New Delhi

Respected Chairman and members,

We have just learnt that NBWL standing committee is to meet tomorrow, that is Nov 4, 2015 and one of the proposals that the NBWL is to consider is the Ken Betwa River Link proposal INSIDE Panna Tiger Reserve. We are unable to find the agenda, agenda papers and names and contact details of the NWBL SC members. Prudent, transparent and democratic decision making requires that these should be in public domain at least two weeks in advance of the NWBL meeting, so that all concerned from any part of the nation can know about this, and write to NBWL with their views and concerns. We hope MoEF, full NBWL and NBWL standing committee will take urgent steps to ensure that until this minimum requirement is satisfied, no meeting of NBWL or NBWL SC is held, and we request you postpone the meeting proposed on Nov 4, 2015 till this requirement is fulfilled. Continue reading “Open Letter to NBWL Standing Committee Members: Why NBWL should not consider Ken Betwa River Link Proposal” →