Tag: Disaster

भारत में बांध हटाने की नीति व कार्यक्रम की आवश्यकता
Dam Decommissioning · Dam Safety

भारत में बांध हटाने की नीति व कार्यक्रम की आवश्यकता

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(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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2023: People’s Protests Against Hydro & Dam Projects in India
Hydro Power Projects

2023: People’s Protests Against Hydro & Dam Projects in India

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(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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DRP NB 271123: India Rivers Week 2023
DRP News Bulletin

DRP NB 271123: India Rivers Week 2023

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(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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2023: ‘Cloudburst’ Incidents in J&K, Ladakh & North East
Cloud Burst

2023: ‘Cloudburst’ Incidents in J&K, Ladakh & North East

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(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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DRP NB 201123: Inland fisheries need attention: World Fisheries Day 2023
DRP News Bulletin

DRP NB 201123: Inland fisheries need attention: World Fisheries Day 2023

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(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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Nov 2023 Uttarakhand Barkot-Silkyara Tunnel Disaster: Where is rescue plan?
Char Dham Highway

Nov 2023 Uttarakhand Barkot-Silkyara Tunnel Disaster: Where is rescue plan?

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(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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DRP NB 131123: Another Himalayan Disaster: 40 workers trapped in a tunnel in Uttarakhand
DRP News Bulletin

DRP NB 131123: Another Himalayan Disaster: 40 workers trapped in a tunnel in Uttarakhand

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(Ongoing rescue work inside Badkot-Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi. Image Source: HT)

In yet another disaster in the Himalayas, at least 40 workers are trapped in an under-construction tunnel being constructed by National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL), among others. The Hindustan Times has wrongly named the construction company as Hydroelectricity Investment & Development Company Limited (HIDCL) possibly of Nepal govt. Some people at the location have informed us that it may take another day before the workers are rescued.

NHIDCL was not even sure of the total of number of workers, as they gave the number as 36, which was corrected by the district administration later on to 40. It is also strange to see the work going on even on a Diwali day. Another disturbing aspect is that all the workers are reportedly mostly from outside Uttarakhand, when Uttarakhand villagers are known to migrate in large numbers to outside the state for employment. This disaster thus raises a lot of questions, which will need answers once the workers are rescued safely. The workers are still trapped over 30 hours after the disaster. The work at the 4.5 km long tunnel is being built under Char Dham Road Widening project since over 4 years, and violations have been happening in the work since then, as we reported in 2019.

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Himachal Pradesh 2023: How we are turning ‘Cloudbursts’ into Deadly Disasters
Cloud Burst

Himachal Pradesh 2023: How we are turning ‘Cloudbursts’ into Deadly Disasters

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(Feature Image: Primary School Building in Kuklah, Mandi buried under ‘cloudburst’ induced flashflood debris. Source: ETV Bharat)

In South West Monsoon season 2023, the hilly state of Himachal Pradesh has witnessed several ‘cloudburst’ incidents adding to the death tolls and infrastructural destruction on account of excessive rains, landslides and flash floods. SANDRP has compiled a detailed report on the subject here and this account highlights the summary of the report. Our previous analysis on ‘cloudburst’ incident in Himachal Pradesh state can be seen here 2022 (39 incidents); 2021(30 incidents); 2020 (3 incidents); 2019 (16 incidents); 2018 (21 incidents).

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DRP NB 061123: Dam Disasters bring focus on Dam Safety Governance in India
DRP News Bulletin

DRP NB 061123: Dam Disasters bring focus on Dam Safety Governance in India

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(Feature Image: Location of washed away Teesta Urja dam. Source: Ka Shlem)

Is the Dam Safety Panel (DSP) report dated Nov 1 2023 on Medigadda barrage on Gadavari in Telangana, a self-indictment of the Dam Safety Mechanism in India?

The report concludes: “it is construed that the I&CAD (Irrigation and Command Area Development) Dept. has nothing to submit about instrumentation data, pre-monsoon &post monsoon inspection reports, completion reports, quality control reports, condition of gates and many other inputs sought in the list therein”.

How and why did the NDSA (National Dam Safety Authority) allow such a state of affairs to continue for such an important dam that has huge implications for life and economy as the report itself says? What steps did the NDSA take before this disaster struck to ensure that all these basic dam safety measures were indeed in place and functioning? What is NDSA doing to ensure that all such basic steps and measures are in place at all the large dams in India? What did NDSA do to ensure that this dam, important from the point of view of life and economy, was also listed in CWC’s National Register of Large Dams? What has NDSA done to ensure that CWC’s National Register is indeed updated every year with inclusion of all large dams of India (Large dam as per its definition) and all their salient features? What has NDSA done to ensure that all Dam Safety information is in public domain promptly?

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Uttarakhand: Cloudbursts in SW Monsoon 2023
Cloud Burst

Uttarakhand: Cloudbursts in SW Monsoon 2023

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(Feature Image: A ‘cloudburst’ incident damaging crops, farmlands & threatening Majju Gawad tok of Syun village in Dasholi block, Chamoli on August 06, 2023. Source: Raftaar news)

Since 2018, SANDRP has been documenting the increasing ‘cloudburst’ related disasters taking place in the Himalayan states. This report details the occurrence of such incidents in Uttarakhand during South West monsoon 2023. Our previous report on the subject for Uttarakhand can be seen here: 2022; 2021; May 2021; 2020; 2019 & 2018. 

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