According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), during the just concluded Post Monsoon Rainfall for 2023, that included rainfall during the three Oct-Dec 2023 months, India received 110.7 mm rainfall, 9% below normal (144.1 mm, 19% above normal in Post Monsoon 2022[i] and 177.7 mm rainfall, 43.54% above normal in Post Monsoon 2021[ii]) rainfall of 121 mm. In the same period in 2020, India received 124.6 mm rainfall, 0.64% above the normal rainfall. As per IMD[iii] definition, the rainfall in Post Monsoon 2023 was in Normal Rainfall category.
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2023: EAC & FAC Decisions on Dams, Hydro, Irrigation Projects
(Feature Image: Yamuna river deprived of e-flows downstream 120 Mw Vyasi HEP dam in Dehradun, Uttarakhand in June 2023. Bhim Singh Rawat/SANDRP)
This annual overview examines minutes of meetings held by Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for River Valley and Hydropower Projects between 15 December 2022 and 24 November 2023 for consideration of Dams, Hydroelectric Power (HEP), Pumped Storage Hydro Projects (PSP) and Irrigation related proposals seeking Terms of Reference (TOR) and Environment Clearance (EC) approvals. The report further analysis various water projects related proposals considered by the Forest Appraisal Committee (FAC) between 27 December 2022 and 18 December 2023 for Forest Clearances (FC).
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DRP 251223: Justice Swaminathan: SC closes its eyes to big-scale environmental violations
(Feature Image:- Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madras HC speaking at a seminar organised jointly by Madurai Bar Association and Wildlife Trust of India in Madurai on Sunday (Dec. 17). Photo Credit: G. Moorthy/The Hindu)
The statement of Justice R Swaminathan of Madras High Court is so true: When it comes to violations in big ticket environment projects, the Supreme Court closes its eyes, including the current CJI DY Chandrachud. As he mentioned the SC has such a poor track record whether it is Narmada or Tehri project or the Kundakulam Nuclear Power project or even the Navi Mumbai Airport project. The list can be much longer.
It is indeed high time that there is a comprehensive review of track record of higher judiciary (including the Supreme Court, High Courts and even the National Green Tribunal) in judging violations in environmental governance of big projects. Even on eminently justiciable matters like adequacy of rehabilitation of the displaced, the adequacy of environment and social impact assessments, adequacy of public consultation process, adequacy of environmental appraisal, monitoring or compliances, not only the track record of the governments pathetic, but the track record of higher judiciary is also nothing to write about. Unfortunately, there is no pressure on the judiciary to amend this.
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Rivers Crossing Highest Flood Levels in Dec 2023
During ongoing North East monsoon season at least six rivers have breached highest flood levels (HFLs) at their respective flood monitoring sites in December 2023. All of these HFL breach incidents have taken place in two states of Andhra Pradesh (3) and Tamil Nadu (3). Interestingly, all of these rivers are part of East Flowing Rivers (EFR) between Pennar and Kanyakumari basin. The details of HFL breach sites and rivers are given in table below.
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DRP 181223: Varanasi’s illegal tent city inaugurated by Prime Minister in Jan 2023
(Feature Image: Collage of Sentinel Hub satellite images of Tent City location in Ganga river bed in Varanasi from Nov. 26, 2022 to Dec. 11, 2023)
While the NGT putting a stay on the Varanasi Tent city and imposing a fine of Rs 25000 on MoEF for not responding to NGT about how the turtle sanctuary was denotified is welcome, we hope NGT takes it to its logical conclusion. It is strange, to say the least to see the NMCG telling NGT through its one page report dated Dec 13 2023 that the Varanasi Development Authority proposal dated Nov 28 2023 for tent city is under consideration! The Tent city companies were fined by NGT, but UP PCB is yet to do anything to collect the fine. Most interestingly, the Prime Minister, no less, inaugurated the tent city project on January 13 2023, over 11 months back! And very shockingly, none of the National Media is even reporting this remarkable situation.
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भारत में बांध हटाने की नीति व कार्यक्रम की आवश्यकता
(Feature Image: NDRF rescue work at damaged Tapovan Vishnugad HEP Dam in Chamoli, Uttarakhand in Feb. 2021. Image PTI/ Source: The Tribune)
हिमांशु ठक्कर
जल शक्ति मंत्रालय की संसदीय समिति ने मार्च 2023 की 20वीं रिपोर्ट[i] में जल संसाधन, नदी विकास और गंगा संरक्षण विभाग से भारत में बांधों और सम्बंधित परियोजनाओं के व्यावहारिक जीवनकाल और प्रदर्शन का आकलन करने की व्यवस्था को लेकर सवाल किया था। वास्तव में इस सवाल का बांधों को हटाने के विचार पर सीधा असर पड़ता। लेकिन विभाग ने जवाब दिया था कि “बांधों के व्यावहारिक जीवनकाल और प्रदर्शन का आकलन करने के लिए कोई तंत्र नहीं है। और, बांध मालिकों की ओर से किसी भी बांध को हटाने के लिए कोई जानकारी/सिफारिश प्रस्तुत नहीं की गई है।”
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दुनिया भर में बांधों को हटाने में वृद्धि
हिमांशु ठक्कर
सभी बड़े बांधों की उम्र सीमित होती है। क्या आपने कभी सोचा है कि एक बार बांध का उपयोगी जीवन समाप्त होने पर उसका क्या होता है? इसे हटाना होता है जिसे डीकमीशनिंग कहते हैं। डीकमीशनिंग का मतलब[i] बांध और उससे जुड़ी संरचनाओं को पूरी तरह हटाने से है। दुनिया के तीसरे सबसे बड़े बांध निर्माता के रूप में भारत के लिए यह एक बहुत ही प्रासंगिक सवाल है। यह मुद्दा इसलिए और भी अधिक महत्वपूर्ण हो गया है क्योंकि अब बड़े बांध न तो आवश्यक है और न ही व्यावहारिक। इसके अलावा अब बहती नदियों के महत्व को तेज़ी से सराहा जा रहा है। यह ध्यान में रखना ज़रूरी है कि किसी बांध को बिना उचित रखरखाव के नदी पर बने रहने की अनुमति नहीं दी जा सकती है। इससे बांध के नीचे की ओर रहने वाले समुदाय और अर्थव्यवस्था के लिए खतरा बना रहता है।
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Why India needs Dam Decommissioning policy and program
India’s Dams and decommissioning As per the Parliamentary Committee for Ministry of Jal Shakti, in its 20th report dated March 2023[i], the committee had asked the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti about the mechanism put in place in India to assess the viable lifespan and performance of dams and projects, which has a direct bearing upon the consideration for dam decommissioning. The Department had replied: “There is no mechanism to assess the viable lifespan and performance of dams… However, no information/recommendation from the dam owners has been submitted for de-commissioning of any of their dams.”
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2023: People’s Protests Against Hydro & Dam Projects in India
(Feature Image: Joshimath locals take part in a protest rally against the NTPC project in landslide-hit Joshimath town of Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. PTI Photo/Source: Financial Express)
This yearend overview compiles the ten remarkable reports on community led protests against dam and hydro power projects in India in 2023. The report also covers some important judicial and government decisions regarding dams related issues during the year. It further compiles some relevant reports which significantly highlight bleak future of hydro and dam projects due to persistent decline in power generation, rise in construction cost and corruption issues. The first part of the overview detailing on dams and hydro projects related disasters in 2023 can be seen here.
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Book Review: An odyssey through waterbodies
Guest Article by: Abhilash Khandekar
Book Review : “Shades of Blue—Connecting The Drops In Cities” by Harini Nagendra & Seema Mundoli, Penguin/Viking, Pages: 334, Price: Rs 499/-
The scarcity of water, how we use and misuse it and thus the very importance of this very precious resource is yet to dawn upon most Indians. Not that different awareness campaigns in various parts of the country are not held regularly. The media stories about deep water crisis, the plight of most of our rivers and lakes is all known yet criminal neglect of the water sector continues. Be it drinking water in our homes or hotels and other uses like factories, agriculture–all come from the very limited fresh water available to the mankind—0.5%. Over 96% water lies in seas and oceans and is salty; of the 3% of fresh water available, much is locked up in ice, snow and glaciers. So, the humankind have to rely only on the 0.5% water for survival. Authors Harini Nagendra and Seema Mundoli teach sustainability at the Azim Premji University, Bengaluru. They have already published highly readable book—Cities and Canopies which talk about a select important species of trees mostly found in urban areas.
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SANDRP 