Yamuna Manthan 1126: Parichha Fly Ash Damaging Health of People & Betwa River

November 11, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Google Earth Jan 2025 imagery shows Parichha power plant, fly ash dumps in quite proximity to Betwa river near Parchha dam in Jhansi, UP)

The information in the NGT order and media reports on fly ash pollution from the Parichha Thermal Power Plant in Jhansi has raised serious concerns over the contamination of the Betwa river. The petition has revealed that the continuous discharge of fly ash has led to the formation of large ash islands in the riverbed, obstructing its natural flow. It has further claimed that the toxic heavy metals in the fly ash have been harming aquatic ecosystems in the river. The petition has also raised concerns over air pollution and adverse health impacts on nearby residents.

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Dams, Rivers & People

DRP 091126: Shift towards Weather Forecast based Dams’ Operation

November 9, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Model performance computed across 71 stations (a) NAT-KGE: median 0.4 (b) NAT-NSE: median 0.42 (c) DAM-KGE: median 0.47 (d) DAM-NSE: median 0.60. Source: AGU)

A new study has again emphasized on why dam operations in India need to move from routine schedules to weather forecast based management. The study analyzed 223 dams across the country over 23 years by comparing river flows with and without the dams. Most importantly, the study has highlighted the limitations of dams in controlling successive floods. It found that about 74% of the dams were more than 90% full on the day of a high-flood event. Thus, leaving very little space to hold the next heavy rainfall spell and control resultant floods.

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2026: Making Sense of Gandak Flood II

November 5, 2026November 5, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Flood inundated areas in Saran district after a breach in Gandak embankment. Source: IAF, Oct. 02, 2026)

After July 2020 Gandak floods, SANDRP had highlighted inconsistencies in flood levels recorded at the Central Water Commission’s (CWC) monitoring stations along the river and called for an independent investigation into embankment breaches, obstructions in the river and the role of Nepal’s catchment in the floods. Six years later, these concerns remain relevant and the Gandak continues to experience unusual flood spells.

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Dams, Rivers & People

DRP 021126: Honestly assessing the impacts of Pump Storage Projects

November 2, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Felled trees lie piled up at the site of Torrent’s proposed pumped-storage project in Karjat. Source: Mumbai Mirror)

Amid growing opposition to the proposed 3,000 MW Saidongar-I pumped-storage hydropower project in Karjat, Maharashtra, the most important question that needs to be asked is whether we are doing honest assessment of impacts of such projects. It may be remembered that these are not even location specific projects. A pump storage project does not have to come in the middle of western ghats, needing destruction of thousands of trees. Can these be called renewable energy projects or ‘clean’ without adequately assessing their impacts on forests, water sources, wildlife and local communities.

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Bhutan · Climate Change · GLOF · Himalayas

Oct 2026: Shintaphu Lake GLOF and Artificial Lake in Bhutan

October 30, 2026November 9, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Shintaphu Lake. Source: The Bhutanese. It is not clear whether the image is old or post Oct 2026 GLOF)

A glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) was reported from Shintaphu Lake in Bhutan’s Gasa district on the evening of Oct. 29, 2026. The disaster triggered flash flood alerts in downstream areas of Bhutan and India. Bhutan’s National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) is stated to be monitoring the situation. The cause, volume of water released and full extent of the damage are still being assessed.

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Dams, Rivers & People

DRP 261026: Time to Prioritize Wetlands Conservation, Protection

October 26, 2026November 1, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Giri taal in Kashipur lying in degraded condition. Bhim Singh Rawat, SANDRP)

The latest directions of the Supreme Court of India offer hope for wetland conservation but also raise serious concerns about the state of their protection. It is welcome that the apex court has recognized the water bodies as vital sources of drinking water and affirmed that their protection falls within the ambit of the fundamental right to life.

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Dams, Rivers & People

DRP 191026: India Disaster Management Must Shift from Response to Prevention

October 19, 2026October 19, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: A large part of residential areas witnessed severe flooding in first week of Oct. 2026 in Fazullaganj of Lucknow after heavy rains and flood in Gomti river. Source: Screenshot of FB post)

Two informative reports by Amal Chandra and Venkatesh Dutta in Down To Earth this week have once again highlighted serious gaps in India’s disaster management system. While our forecasting and response have improved in some cases, the number of disasters has also increased sharply. We often fail to understand the exact chain of events and remain reactive until the last moment. A key problem is that our system continues to focus more on response than prevention and lacks a holistic approach to disaster risk reduction.

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Dams, Rivers & People

DRP 121026: Will India’s mining ravaged rivers get justice this time?

October 12, 2026October 12, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Google Earth May 2025 imagery showing Sone riverbed ravaged by excessive mechanized sand mining activities near Paliganj in Bihar)

In a significant development last week, the Supreme Court has expanded its illegal sand mining case from the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary to rivers across India. For over six months, the apex court has been hearing the matter and issuing directions to state governments of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. However, the directions issued so far are yet to be fully implemented.

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Dams, Rivers & People

DRP 280926: Early Warning System important, but not a magic bullet

September 28, 2026September 28, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Aerial image of the Wanlixi landslide and lake as of 30 July 2026. Credit: Forestry & Nature Conservation Agency, Taiwan, Source: EOS.Org)

While writing about the landslide dam breach in Taiwan last year leading to 24 deaths, Dave Petley remarked: As always, the focus should be on vulnerability and resilience rather than only early warning systems (EWS). This is indeed worth emphasizing, underlining, highlighting. While early warning systems can be important and must be used wherever possible, it is not a magic bullet. It is one of the many other instruments in disaster management.

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Dams, Rivers & People

DRP 210926: Mismanagement at BBMB projects confirmed by CEA and Punjab

September 21, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: The Tribune’s file photo of Pandoh dam)

The Central Electricity Authority has said in its report that there have been some serious operational and maintenance issues at BBMB’s Pandoh project, part of Beas Sutlej Link Project. In a separate development, Punjab government affidavit in the NGT has said that due to mismanagement at Bhakra-Pong dams, there has been avoidable flood disasters in Punjab in several years. Both developments confirm what we have said about role of BBMB projects in 2023 and 2025 floods in Punjab.

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