DRP 250526: No more Hydro in Upper Ganga welcome decision: Science demands same for rest of Himalayas

May 25, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Yamuna river in flowless condition downstream Juddo dam (Vyasi HEP) in Dehradun in June 2023. Bhim Singh Rawat/ SANDRP)

The decision of Government of India, conveyed to the Supreme Court through a joint affidavit from Union Ministry of Jal Shakti and Ministry of Environment and Forests, with concurrence of also the Union Power Ministry that no more hydro projects will be taken up in Upper Ganga basin after three under construction projects are completed (four of the seven listed are already commissioned, so only three under construction projects remain) is welcome. It has taken decades of struggle by many campaigns and movements, including the massive June 2013 disaster and the Supreme Court order led by Justice Radha Krishnan then among others.

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Dams, Rivers & People

DRP 180526: Ethanol Production in Drought prone areas: A false solution?

May 18, 2026May 19, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: AI generated image. Source: National Herald)

The proliferation of sugar mills and sugarcane cultivation in drought prone areas like Marathwada, North Karnataka, Cauvery basin areas in Tamil Nadu has always been a huge scandal, ongoing for decades. Now new dimensions are getting added to this, as the following article this week shows: Ethanol procurement for blending with petrol, now upto 20%, but there are moves afoot to increase it to upto 100%.

The Ethanol does not come just from molasses, a by-product of sugar manufacture, but now even from sugar. Yet another dimension that is getting added is the use of rice and maize also for manufacture of ethanol. Rice itself is hugely water intensive crop, its second stage high water consumption come from manufacture of ethanol from rice. This is being sold as a solution to high import bill in petroleum import, particularly in times of the ongoing Gulf War.

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Yamuna Manthan May 2026: Ken-Betwa Linking Needs Urgent Reassessment

May 16, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Featue Image: Protesters express anger by staging symbolic hangings during the protest during April 5 to 16, 2026. Photo: Amit Bhatnagar/DTE)

Fresh protests over the past month by tribal communities affected by the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project have again raised serious concerns about its environmental impact and social costs. The project is going ahead despite questions over its hydrological assessment and environmental, forest and wildlife clearances. Moreover, the govt has not even explored the available cost effective and better alternatives.

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Climate Change

Submission to Karnataka Govt: Climate Change Adaptation & Mitigation Strategies for Water Sector

May 12, 2026May 12, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

Guest Article by Nirmala Gowda

Under the National Water Mission, the Government of Karnataka conducted a consultation workshop on 24 March 2026 on “Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies for the Water Sector in Karnataka.” Mapping Malnad attended the session and subsequently, along with SAPACC (South Asian People’s Action on Climate Crisis), submitted written comments on the presentation. This is a summary of our submission.
(The background image in the feature photo above is Pandri river, tributary of Kali river, Upstream of Supa Dam in Uttara Kannada District. Photo taken by the author.)

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Dams, Rivers & People

DRP 110526: Fast spreading impacts of climate crisis

May 11, 2026May 25, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Binnu river a tributary of Ramganga in Deghat, Almora. SANDRP)

Interestingly, there are a number of developments this week related to climate crisis from at least four states/ Union Territories of Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh, even if we do not include in these other directly or indirectly related developments. These show how fast the impacts of climate crisis across the country are spreading and the number of different sectors are increasingly getting involved in the climate crisis. All these are related to water related issues.

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Dams, Rivers & People · Urban Rivers

DRP 270426: Probe into violations by Pune River Front Development Project

April 27, 2026April 27, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Pune RFD work along Mula Mutha river. Credit: Free Press Journal)

The Maharashtra government order for a probe into the violations of the Environmental Clearance of the controversial Pune River Front Development (RFD) project is noteworthy for a number of aspects. Most importantly, it signifies a significant gain for the critiques of the project, since the probe has been ordered following a letter by environmentalist Sarang Yadwadkar, who has been relentlessly fighting against the project.

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Dams, Rivers & People

DRP 200426: Himachal HC takes cognizance of impact of Hydro Project silt flushing on rivers

April 20, 2026April 20, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Pandoh dam discharging silt laden flood waters in Beas river in Aug. 2025. Source: Amar Ujala)

In a remarkable development, the Himachal High Court has taken cognizance of the impact of silt flushing from the Shanan Hydropower project in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh on the downstream fish, has fined the project Rs 12 lakhs and has ordered scientific monitoring of the future sediment discharge, only to be done after March 1 each year. The order is largely due to the fact that under the Himachal Pradesh Fisheries Act, Nov to Feb is trout breeding season. The order thus is not likely to be applicable for silt flushing by other hydropower projects. It is also good to see that the court has formed a monitoring committee and asked for compliance reports.

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Dams, Rivers & People

DRP 130426: CAG Reveals Governance Failure in J&K Wetlands Management

April 13, 2026April 13, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Cover page of CAG report on Wetlands management in J&K)

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India report is revealing official document on how systemic governance failure has failed the wetlands in Jammu and Kashmir. The fact that 518 out of 697 lakes have shrunk or disappeared, reflects on decades of ineffective policies. As per the report, the multiple departments operated in isolation with no accountability, no shared database and no management plans thus making the wetlands vulnerable to encroachment.

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Groundwater · Himachal Pradesh · Himalayas · Ravi River · River Ethnographies

Chhatradi: Thirty-Six Spring Fountains of the Ravi

April 10, 2026April 10, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

“If you really want to see Panihars, you should visit Chhatradi” says the shy Aditya. He is 15 years old and studies in class X. We are standing on a busy and dusty bridge across a tributary of Ravi in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh. Beside us is the legendary Fulmutala spring fountain (Panihar). Hundreds of people come here every evening to collect cool and clear drinking water. Most have piped water supply in their homes but insist that waters of Fulmutala are peerless. Spring Fountains are a way of life in the Ravi Basin. And yet, very little is said about these beautiful places bringing together groundwater, rivers, ecology and culture.

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Environmental Flow · Floodplain · Floods · Urban Rivers · Yamuna River

Yamuna Manthan 0426: Will Govts Ensure Survival of Chambal River Sanctuary?

April 9, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Index map of Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal River Interlinking Project. Souce: NWDA)

Two critical developments over the past month have once again highlighted the scale of threats undermining the ecological integrity of the Chambal, the largest tributary of the Yamuna. The rich aquatic life in the Chambal Sanctuary has already been adversely affected by the gradual decline in river flows and unabated illegal sand mining.

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