South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People
(Feature Image: Cavity formed in Tarbela T 5 Extention project. Source: The Dawn)
After Aug. 2025 coffer dam collapse, a fresh incident at Pakistan’s Tarbela Dam Fifth Extension Hydropower Project (T-5) has disrupted construction work and flooded parts of the project site. The incident occurred on Nov 9, 2026 afternoon during excavation of the second bench of the connecting tunnel at the T-5 project.
Continue reading “Nov. 2026: Another Setback for Pakistan’s Tarbela T-5 Project”(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.
Continue reading “2026: Making Sense of Gandak Flood II”(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.
Continue reading “DRP 021126: Honestly assessing the impacts of Pump Storage Projects”(Feature Image: CWC hydrograph of Melliaputti site on Mahendrathanaya river in Sirkakulam district, Andhra Pradesh)
In Oct. 2026, the first month after southwest monsoon season, we could document Highest Flood Level (HFL) breach incident at four flood monitoring sites of Central Water Commission (CWC). The final analysis of HFL breach incidents at 50 flood monitoring sites across country during southwest monsoon season 2026 can be seen here.
Continue reading “Highest Flood Level Breach in October 2026”(Feature Image: Vasudev ghat and Tibetan colony submerged under Yamuna flood water in Sept. 2025. Source: HT)
30 Oct. 2026
To:
Subject: Serious Concerns Regarding the Proposed Sabarmati type Yamuna Riverfront Development (YRFD) Project in Delhi
Continue reading “Prioritize Yamuna Rejuvenation, Floodplain Protection rather than pushing Sabarmati type Riverfront Development Project”(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.
Continue reading “Oct 2026: Shintaphu Lake GLOF and Artificial Lake in Bhutan”(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.
Continue reading “DRP 261026: Time to Prioritize Wetlands Conservation, Protection”(Feature Image: Marking Yamuna Rivers Day on Oct. 7 to commemorate Yamuna crusader Manoj Misra’s 72nd birth anniversary, members of Nadi Mitra Mandli, school students and Home Guard personnel gather in Agra to discuss the importance of the Yamuna’s tributaries and raise awareness about their disappearance.)
The agreement to build the 236-m high Kishau dam on the Tons river raises serious concerns about the future of the Yamuna. Tons is a larger river system in upper basin and plays a vital role in sustaining Yamuna’s ecosystem. Ironically, the ₹15,000-cr project is being promoted in the name of Yamuna rejuvenation and being justified with baseless ‘rain water flowing in waste’ argument. These unconvincing and contradictory claims clearly underline the basic fallacy in the govt’s dam-building approach.
Continue reading “Yamuna Mathan 1026: Can Damming Tributaries Revive the River?”(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.
Continue reading “DRP 121026: Will India’s mining ravaged rivers get justice this time?”(Feature Image: Weekly drought monitor map dated 23 Sept. 2026 shows drought condition in India. Credit: Vimal Misra/ Drought Monitor India )
The DRP issue this week seems to have one central theme, connecting the various parts: Deficit monsoon leading to reduced reservoir levels, increased pollution, mass fish deaths and announcements of unprecedented droughts in more than one state. Since it was known to be a super El Nino Year and even IMD had predicted (though ratgher conservatively) deficit monsoon, the ultimate deficit of 12.6% in SW Monsoon rainfall may in fact seem like bit of a relief. This was largely thanks to unexpected above average rainfall in the wettest month of SW Monsoon, July, largely due to favorable Indian Ocean Dipole.
Continue reading “DRP 051026: Drought: how prepared are we?”
