India Rivers Forum (IRF) is a vibrant and active network of organizations and individuals that is committed to the conservation and safeguarding of our rivers against needless and detrimental development. Every year IRF organizes the India Rivers Week (IRW) to raise awareness regarding these issues. This year IRW, organized in Pune, brought together more than 100 practitioners, including representatives from academia and civil society movements, to discuss River Front Development (RFD) unfolding in different parts of the country.
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DRP 271123: India Rivers Week 2023
(IRW 2023 organizers, participants visiting Pun RFD project on Nov. 26, 2023. Image Source: India Rivers Forum)
The Tenth India River Week function was organized at BAIF, Pune on Nov 25-26, 2023, with participation of over a hundred people. The focus of the event was on Pune River Front Development (RFD), being pushed by Pune Municipal Corporation, and RFD in other cities around India, and it was strongly critiqued and opposed at the meeting, including by Bhagirath Prayas Samman winners Sarang Yadwadkar and Jeevit Nadi. A field visit of the participants was also organized to the proposed site of the work of the project. (Also see: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/greens-criticize-approval-rfd-project-pune/articleshow/105523479.cms)
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India Rivers Week 2023: Bhagirath Prayas Samman to Dibang resistance; Anupam Mishra Medal to Swapan Kumar Bhowmick
At the tenth India Rivers Week function that was inaugurated at BAIF, Pune on Nov 25, 2023, the annual Bhagirath Prayas Samman (BPS) award for exemplary unsung work for river conservation was announced and the award went (jointly) to Bhanu Tatak and Dibang Resistance, both of Dibang River Basin in Arunachal Pradesh, North East India. The Anupam Mishra Medal (AMM) for exemplary media work for the cause of rivers was awarded to Swapan Kumar Bhowmick of Nadia, West Bengal, for this work that started way back in 1977. Both the awards were given away by well-known ecologist, Prof Madhav Gadgil. The BPS award was accompanied by a citation, a shawl and cash component of Rs 60 000. The AMM award was accompanied by a citation, a shawl and a medal.[i]
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2023: ‘Cloudburst’ Incidents in J&K, Ladakh & North East
(Feature Image:- Locals walk across a damaged road following flash floods due to cloudburst in the Naginar area of Faqir Gujri, on the outskirts of Srinagar, Saturday, July 22, 2023. Photo: PTI/S. Irfan)
This article is about ‘cloudburst’ incidents that have taken place in Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakah in North West Himalayan states and in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim in North East Himalayan states during south west monsoon 2023 season. SANDRP has earlier published detailed analysis on ‘cloudburst’ incidents in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh states in SW Monsoon 2023.
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WFD 2023: Untreated Effluents with Non-existent Regulation Killing Inland Fish En-Masse
(Fish in large number killed in Krishna river in Sangli in March 2023 due to untreated industrial effluents discharge. Image Source: ToI)
On occasion of World Fisheries Day 2023, incidents of mass fish death in rivers and water bodies in India during past one year are compiled here. The report highlights how untreated effluents from industrial and domestic sources with non-existent regulation have been primarily responsible for most of the en masse fish kill incidents across the country. In the first part of the series, we have covered the positive developments related to fish, fisherfolks and fisheries. And in the second part, we have covered the ongoing resistance and struggles of Indian fishers against developmental projects endangering their survival and livelihoods.
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World Fisheries Day 2023: Resistance and Struggles of Fisherfolks
(Feature Image: A Konda Reddi tribe rowing a Dhone, a traditional boat, in the Godavari near the Papikonda hills in Alluri Sitarama Raju district. Photo Credit: T. Appala Naidu/ The Hindu)
On occasion of World Fisheries Days 2023, this compilation of important developments from 2023 highlighting the ongoing resistance and struggles of inland as well as coastal fisherfolks in India whose lives and livelihoods have been significantly affected by destructive developmental projects including dams & hydro power projects, increasing pollution and encroachments of water bodies, mechanized mining of sand from rivers & coastal areas, unsustainable fishing and invasive fish species.
The compilation first lists ten most remarkable developments on the issue and then covers the other relevant incidents in section wise manner. In the first part of the series we have highlighted ten positive stories on river fish and fisherfolks of India. The third part has covered the mass fish death incidents in India that have occurred during past one year.
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World Fisheries Day 2023: Ten Positive Reports from India: Fish, Fisherfolks & Fisheries
(Feature Image:- Fishermen move around the big lake in Jawaharlalpuram in Madurai to increase the catch. M. PALANI KUMAR Photo/PARI)
World Fisheries Day (WFD) is celebrated annually on November 21 to highlight the importance of sustainable fisheries management and to draw attention to the crucial role of small-scale fishers in ensuring food security and livelihoods for millions around the world. The theme for World Fisheries Day 2023 is “Build enabling policy environments for small-scale artisanal fisheries.” This theme emphasizes the crucial role of small-scale fishers in sustainable fisheries management. Small-scale fishers, who often employ traditional and low-impact fishing methods, contribute significantly to local food security and livelihoods. They also possess valuable knowledge and expertise in managing marine resources sustainably. By supporting small-scale fishers and enabling their participation in policymaking processes, we can promote more equitable and sustainable fisheries management practices. https://www.oliveboard.in/blog/world-fisheries-day-2023/ (20 Nov. 2023)
Marking the WFD 2023 while highlighting the significance of fresh water fish species, inland fisherfolks and fisheries sector in general, SANDRP here presents ten positive reports on fish, fisherfolks and fisheries from India in 2023. Also see the second part of the compilation highlighting ongoing resistance of fisherfolks in India and third part covering mess fish kill incident during past one year in the country.
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DRP 201123: Inland fisheries need attention: World Fisheries Day 2023
(Feature Image: Recreational fishers catching fish in Yamuna river downstream Wazirabad barrage in Delhi in June 2023. Image: BS Rawat, SANDRP.)
On the World Fisheries Day, celebrated on Nov 21 every year, there is urgent need to focus attention on the well-being of one of the poorest and socio-economically weakest and much neglected section of population: Inland fisherfolks. They are in huge number, more than 2 crore directly dependent on inland fisheries, many others indirectly dependent. They, unfortunately have no voice in development discourse or decision making processes, nor any even in mitigation measures. Creating an inland fisheries policy, department and institute in every state and at centre can be an important step forward.
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Parbati-II Leakage disaster in Himachal Pradesh in Nov 2023
(Feature Image: Water stream flowing though Parbati -II hydro project tunnel on Nov. 17, 2023. Image Source: Divya Himachal)
The controversial Parbati-II hydro power project has suffered another major setback after massive water leakages was witnessed from the drainage gallery of its power house in the evening on Nov 17, 2023. The sudden gushing down of water from the tunnel caused panic among project staff and local people. About two dozen workers had to run away to save their lives. The water leakages resembled a flowing river as seen in this video report by Divya Himachal.
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Nov 2023 Uttarakhand Barkot-Silkyara Tunnel Disaster: Where is rescue plan?
(Feature Image: Rescue operation underway at the collapse section of an under-construction tunnel between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway in Uttarkashi. Image Source: PTI/ News18)
More than 72 hours have passed since 40 workers were trapped inside Barkot-Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi after a portion of the 4.5 km long, supposedly completed portion of the tunnel collapsed early morning on Sunday, Nov 12 2023. The rescue operation is going on as we write this on Wednesday, Nov 15 2023 morning and might take another day before the trapped workers are evacuated safely. While we all pray for the success of rescue operations and safety of the trapped workers; the incident has once again raised several questions over negligence in planning, appraisal & construction, absence of emergency rescue plan, violations of labour laws and environmental norms resulting in this avoidable accident.
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SANDRP 