The news this week that the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) has issued a show cause notice possibly on Sept 29-30 2025 to the Member (Engg) of Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA) regarding violation of the Dam Safety Act (DSA) 2021 in operation and maintenance of the Bargi Dam, pointing out “serious” and “gross” negligence and threatening action under sections 41 and 42 of the DSA.
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Post Monsoon 2025: District wise Rainfall in India
According to India Meteorological Department[i] (IMD), during the Post Monsoon Rainfall for 2025, that included rainfall during the three Oct-Dec 2025 months, India received 134.2 mm rainfall, 11% above normal (117.4 mm, 3% below normal in Post Monsoon 2024, 110.7 mm, 9% below normal in Post Monsoon 2023[ii], 144.1 mm, 19% above normal in Post Monsoon 2022[iii] and 177.7 mm rainfall, 43.54% above normal in Post Monsoon 2021[iv]) rainfall of 121 mm. In the same period in 2020, India received 124.6 mm rainfall, 0.64% above the normal rainfall. In Post Monsoon season of 2019, India received 160 mm rainfall[v] in this season, 29% above normal, when 2019 was not a La Nina year.
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DRP 050126: Mumbai HC approval for cutting 45675 mangroves for road that does not make public interest sense
The uproar against the Govt of India and Supreme Court on Aravalli and stay on the decision by the Supreme Court is welcome. However, similarly absurd decision of the Maharashtra Govt, approved by the Bombay High Court on allowing cutting of 45675 mangroves in Mumbai’s northern stretch for a coastal road that makes no public interest sense did not invite similar reactions, as highlighted by the Question of Cities. (Feature Image above from the Question of Cities website)
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Dam Protest 2025: People Demands Development Not Displacement
The annual overview tracks top ten people’s resistance stories against large dam projects in India during 2025. It is encouraging to see that the year ended with the Odisha CM announcing scrapping of Samakoi dam project after strong opposition by local villagers. Interestingly, the NTCA and CEC have boldly underlined the threats to tribal people, tigers and forest biodiversity from proposed Morand-Ganjal dam in Madhya Pradesh and dams in Shivalik national park in Haryana. During the year, the villagers have organized mass protests against massive Guna and Dongari dams under PKC link project. Demanding basic information and consultation, the affected tribals have halted ground surveys for Basania dam project.
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2025: People’s Resistance Against Hydro Projects in Himalaya
The local communities have continued their collective resistance against destructive hydro power (HEP) projects in North East and North West Himalayan states in India all through 2025. The ACT in Sikkim has condemned the EAC decision to rebuild the washed-out Teesta III dam. The SIFF along with dependent villagers and concerned citizen groups have opposed the forceful deployment of armed forces for SUMP surveys in Siang river basin.
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Dec 2025: Vishnugad Pipalkoti HEP Tunnel Accident in Uttarakhand
(Feature Image: Screen shot of FB video report on Vishnugad Pipalkoti HEP tunnel accident)
Collision between two loco trains inside the tunnel of Vishnugad Pipalkoti HEP in Uttarakhand around 9.30 pm on Dec 30 2025 has left over 60 workers injured. The accident occurred during change in work shift about 7km inside the tunnel near the tunnel boring machine (TBM). About 109 workers were working inside the 13km long tunnel at the time of the accident. The trains are deployed to transport the workers. The 444 Mw project is being built by Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) on Alaknanda river in Chamoli district. The construction work is going on since 2013-14.
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DRP 291225: Looking back on 2025, Looking forward to 2026
(Feature Image: Ramganga river at Marchula on Nov. 03, 2025. SANDRP)
As the year 2025 ends, reflecting on the DRP related developments over the year and even in this last DRP of 2025, one cannot but see largely pessimistic situation for India’s Rivers, Water Bodies, Hills and Mountains, Floodplains, and for the environment in general. As we saw during South West Monsoon 2025, the flood disasters have been so severe that the number of deaths in South Ais are the highest among all climate disasters of 2025 according to the just released Christian Aid report. The spread, intensity and frequency of the disasters are only going to increase, but we, including the government and the society seems to show little sincerity in dealing with this.
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DRP 221225: Is it so difficult to understand the importance of Aravalli Mountains?
(Feature Image: Aravalli mountain ranges along the Bewar-Jaipur stretch. Credit.)
Why is it so difficult, for the Union Govt, MoEF, its experts, but most shockingly, for the Supreme Court to understand the importance of Aravalli Mountains – India’s most ancient and ecologically sensitive range? What exactly is driving the unacceptable decision of the apex court? According to the Forest Survey of India, applying the new definition would result in only around 8.7% of the mapped Aravalli landforms being eligible for protection, leaving a substantial portion unregulated.
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2025: Pump Storage Projects Developments in India
(Feature Image: Former SC judge N. Santosh Hegede, environmentalist Suresh Heblekar and other activists stage a protest urging the govt to abandon the Sharavati PSP on Nov. 29. Source)
2025 has seen increase in concerns and protests against pump storage projects (PSP) across the country. While citizens and experts have criticized Sharavathi PSP in Karnataka, Sillahalla PSP in Tamil Nadu, Shahbad PSP in Rajasthan, Bargi PSP in Madhya pradesh and numerous PSPs in western ghats in Maharashtra for their potential adverse impacts on forest, environment, endangered animals, the Sileru, Pedikota and Yerravaram PSPs in Andhra Pradesh faced resistance for undermining tribal and forest rights. Indeed, most of the PSPs are being proposed in sensitive region of Western Ghats and tribal dominated population endangering both the wildlife and vulnerable population.
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2025: Corruption in Dams and Hydro Projects in India
(Feature Image: Washed out Teesta III dam in Sikkim. Credit: Save the Hills)
In May 2025, Sikkim Vigilance Police conducted raid in several cities to probe allegations of financial corruption and fraud in 1200 Mw Teesta III HEP dam project claiming that the material gathered could unearth massive scandal that compromised the dam’s safety and led to its structural failure in Oct. 2023. The Assam GST department in Sept. 2025 has uncovered ₹8.2 cr irregularities in tax filings and transactions by the company involved in constructing the dam of 2000 Mw Subansiri Lower HEP.
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