In the just concluded month of Aug 2024, India received just 295.2 mm (162.7 mm or 36.2% below normal in Aug 2023[i], 263.8 mm in Aug 2022, 3.5% above the normal[ii]) or 15.8% above normal rainfall of 254.9 mm as per India Meteorological department (IMD). In Aug 2021, the rainfall was 195.9 mm[iii], about 24.13% below normal and in Aug 2020, the rainfall was 327 mm[iv], or about 26.6% above normal.
Continue reading “June Aug 2024: District wise rainfall in India’s SW Monsoon”
DRP 020924: HYDRA to protect water bodies in Hyderabad – a landmark move?
(Feature Image: An analysis of satellite imaging of 54 lakes taken in 1979 and 2023, secured by the HYDRAA from the NRSA shows that 40 lakes or nearly 75 per cent of lakes have shrunk by half. (Image: Twitter/DC)
The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Monitoring and Protection Agency, or Hydra was established under GO 99, dated July 19 2024. A task the agency has taken up in all seriousness is protection of water bodies in the Hyderabad Capital Region (it includes 4 districts). To begin with it has started demolition of buildings illegally built inside the Full Tank Area (FTL) and Buffer area of the water bodies.
In July, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy replaced the Enforcement, Vigilance and Disaster Management (EVDM) wing of the government with Hydra, a body mandated to tackle illegal encroachment on water bodies in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits and surrounding areas. Its strength was upgraded from around 800 to 2,200 and its officials came directly under the principal secretary, municipal administration and urban development or the CM himself. “Hydra will also ensure the protection of water bodies in and around Hyderabad,” former EVDM commissioner and Hydra chief A V Ranganath said during its inception.
Continue reading “DRP 020924: HYDRA to protect water bodies in Hyderabad – a landmark move?”
Aug 2024: Karchul Earthen Dam Breach in Shahdol-Madhya Pradesh a wake up call
On Aug 28 2024, the earthen wall of the Karchul Dam in Jetpur Tehsil of Shahdol district in Madhya Pradesh breached. A mid night operation[i] had to be conducted to shift about 52 people to safe location in a community building three km away in Bhathia. The Times of India reported: “Officials said that the erosion was severe and the rising water level posed a significant risk.” The dam was full due to recent heavy rains, and the earthen wall of the dam breached, leading to flooding in residential area and panic in the village[ii].
Continue reading “Aug 2024: Karchul Earthen Dam Breach in Shahdol-Madhya Pradesh a wake up call”
Will Sardar Sarovar AGAIN create avoidable flood disaster in Sept 2024?
India Meteorological Department (IMD) Flash Flood Bulletin (FFB) at 11.30 hours on Sept 1 2024[i] for “24 hours Outlook for Flash Flood Risk till 0530 hrs of 02-09-2024” includes large number of Narmada valley districts of MP. All this water is likely to come to Sardar Sarovar Dam as Big upstream dams like Bargi (96% full), Tawa (94%), Indira Sagar (97%) and Omkareshwar (72%) are all almost full and the soil in the Narmada basin is already almost fully saturated, all figures from the daily reservoir bulletin of Narmada Control Authority as on Aug 29 2024 (https://nca.gov.in/dailyreports.htm).
Continue reading “Will Sardar Sarovar AGAIN create avoidable flood disaster in Sept 2024?”
August 2024: Mismanagement Damages Mahan-III HEP In Chhattisgarh
(Feature Image: Mahan III HEP powerhouse in flooded condition due to overflowing of dam. Image Source: Dainik Bhaskar)
The powerhouse and dam of Mahan-III Hydroelectric Project (HEP) in Chhattisgarh have faced significant damages due to floods during intermittent rainfall in the catchment of Mahan river in the 1st week of Aug 2024. As per the reports, the HEP dam overflowed and breached adjoining embankments because the project authority failed to open its gates in time.
The 24.75 Mw project is developed by Venika Hydro Power Project Ltd near Chikini village under Odgi (also spelt as Oudgi & Odagi) block of Surajpur district in Chhattisgarh. Work on the Run of the River (RoR) project started around 2011, and it was commissioned in Nov 2019. The dam is about 21 meter high and about 400 meter long including 70 meter and 20 meter long earthen embankments on right and left side of the main dam respectively.
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Flood Lines, Riverfront Development & Citizen Heroes: Story of Pune Floods
If a city deserved beautiful rivers only through the sheer will and efforts of its civil society, Pune would be a strong contender.
For decades Pune’s civil society has been remarkably active in protecting its rivers. Organizations like Gomukh, Parisar, Soppecom, ACWADAM, Vanrai, Jal Biradari, Ecological Society and newer, powerful people-led groups like Jeevit Nadi and Pune River Revival have put up studies, reports and protests at times. Experts, academics, musicians, poets, writers, historians, students have held the cause of Pune’s rivers high. At any given time, several public interest litigations are being fought by the weary yet hopeful groups, fueled by personal funds, time and passion.
Continue reading “Flood Lines, Riverfront Development & Citizen Heroes: Story of Pune Floods”
DRP N260824: Urban flooding plan welcome, Urban Water Sector needs attention
(Feature Image: Assam Floods: Commuters wade through a flooded road after incessant rains, in Guwahati, Friday, July 5, 2024. Image Source: PTI/ABP Live)
The Union Government plan to spend Rs 2517 Cr in 2 years in seven metro cities to mitigate floods is certainly welcome announcement. The key component of the plan, conservation and improving capacity of urban water bodies is noteworthy along with storm water drainage. Does it mean that the River Front Development projects that actually reduce the flood carrying capacity of the rivers will be closed, since one does not expect govt to be working at cross purposes in different schemes.
In fact, Urban Water Sector as a whole needs attention with National Urban Water Policy as a first step. This is because the groundwater aquifers that are fast being emptied out, can be least cost option for storing the excess rain water, serving the purpose of reducing storm water drainage load and also improving water conservation. There is huge scope for this in all the seven metros listed in the scheme as also in many other cities.
Continue reading “DRP N260824: Urban flooding plan welcome, Urban Water Sector needs attention”
Uttar Pradesh Yamuna Aug 2024: NGT Com Finds Sand Mining Rules Violated
(Feature Image: Feb. 2024 screengrab of a video clip shows instream mechanized sand mining going on in Yamuna river during night hours at Mandawar village in Kairana tehsil of Shamli, UP)
A joint committee formed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Delhi has found gross violations of several rules in a sand mining project on Yamuna river in Shamli district of Uttar Pradesh. The joint committee was formed by principal bench on NGT comprising Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Chairperson, Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and Justice Dr. A. Senthil Vel on May 13, 2024, to ascertain the correct factual position through ground visit while hearing a petition filed by local resident Farukh Chouhan.
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August 2024 Tripura Floods: Questions over Disaster Management
Tripura is facing one of its worst floods, possibly worst since 1983, affecting all districts, at least since 19th August. South Tripura, Gomati and Unakoti are worst affected districts. According to latest estimates, at least 24 people have lost life with two more missing, 65400 people are in 450 relief camps, landslips at 2032 locations, 1.25 lakh ha crops submerged among other extensive damage. Total of around 1.7 million people or about 40% of state pulation are affected. 3 columns of army, 11 NDRF & 26 SDRF teams, 4 MI 17 helicopters and other emergency service teams are involved in rescue and relief works. The actual rainfall that started on Aug 19 gave enough warning for the state to prepare for the approaching disaster, but once again disaster management has failed to respond using this warning.
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Aug 2024: Massive Landslide damages NHPC’s Teesta V Hydropower station
A massive landslide (location: [27.2515, 88.4594]) at Dipu Data near Singtam in Gangtok district that brought down a huge part of a hill above the power house of the NHPC’s 510 MW Teesta V hydropower project on Teesta river in Sikkim at 7.30 in the morning of Aug 20 2024 has damaged the power house. The GIS building above the underground power house located at Balutar can be seen getting destroyed in the massive landslide and getting buried under the debris. The project has been out of operation since the Oct 4 2023 GLOF disaster in Teesta river[i] had over topped the dam and seriously damaged the project.
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