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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Dams, Rivers & People

DRP 6 April 2026: CAG Report on DJB indicates fundamental issues

April 6, 2026April 6, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Sewer line cleaning work by DJB in North West Delhi’s Sanjay Colony. Credit: Bhim Singh Rawat/SANDRP)

The Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India Audit of Delhi Jal Board (DJB) for 2017-2022 highlights the fundamental issues facing Urban Water Sector in India. Unfortunately, CAG stops short of reaching the conclusion that lack of National Urban Water Policy and lack of accountable governance are the fundamental issues also plaguing DJB like other Urban Water Bodies in India.

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Groundwater · Urban Water Sector

Urban Groundwater: NGT’s Struggle to Improve Governance in 2025

April 4, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Entry gate of NGT’s principal bench in New Delhi: Source: Bar & Bench)

This overview looks at how the judiciary particularly; the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has tried to address the urban groundwater depletion and governance crisis during 2025. Cases from Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad and other cities indicate a common problem of weak regulation, poor coordination among concerned agencies and slow enforcement of court orders, allowing illegal groundwater extraction to continue. Many cases have been going on for years without clear results.

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Groundwater

Groundwater in India: Judiciary Failing to Resolve Governance Crisis in 2025?

April 3, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Illustration on deepening groundwater levels in India by Binay, Source: IWP)

This overview tracks the major judicial interventions concerning groundwater conservation and management in India during 2025, highlighting persistent failure to address the gaps in governance. The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) have been criticized for no real action, inadequate data, weak transparency and poor enforcement. The inefficiency of state-level groundwater authorities reflects a deeper systemic failure.

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Groundwater

Groundwater: Govts Actions to Recharge, Regulate in 2025 in India

April 1, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Principal Aquifer Map of India. Credit: CGWB’s Annual Ground Water Quality Report 2025, Figure 02, Page 09)

This overview highlights the top ten measures undertaken by various governments to protect groundwater in India in 2025. At the central level, the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) has a master plan for artificial recharge, targeting the construction of 1.42 crore structures. As per MoJS, 21 states and UTs have adopted Model Groundwater Management Bill 2020. The MoJS is also piloting pressurized irrigation systems and water accounting technologies to improve efficiency, especially in agriculture, which consumes 87% of extracted groundwater.

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Dams, Rivers & People · Fish, Fisheries, Fisherfolk

DRP 300326: Sad state of migratory Riverine fish in India

March 30, 2026March 30, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Cover page of CMS summary report on Global Assessment of Migratory Freshwater Fishes)

The key CMS (Conservation of Migratory fish Species) report this week once again highlights the sad state of migratory Riverine fish, fisheries and fisherfolks in India. Shockingly, even when thousands or tens of thousands of fisherfolks lose their livelihoods due to projects on rivers, there is not even assessment of impacts of such projects on fish, fisheries and fisherfolks, leave aside consideration of compensation or rehabilitation for them. The Sardar Sarovar Project on Narmada River in Gujarat, one of the most celebrated dams of India, as an apt example of this situation. Farakka Dam is another such example.

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Climate Change · Dams, Rivers & People · Himalayas

DRP 230326: Small Hydro environment friendly and help community development?

March 23, 2026March 23, 2026 SANDRP2 Comments

(Feature Image: Priyadarshini Small HEP on Manuni khad in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh damaged after flash flood in June 2025. At least 8 workers of the project were also killed in the disaster. Image Source: Gems of Himachal, post on X.)

The impression being given through the following PIB Press Release dated March 18 2026 that this scheme cleared by the Union Cabinet to promote small hydropower projects will promote environment friendly and socio-economically beneficial projects in North East and other hilly areas is incorrect and misleading.

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Groundwater · Rural Drinking Water · Water · Water Options

WWD 2026: Collective Groundwater Conservation Efforts in India

March 22, 2026March 22, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: In Rajasthan’s Chambal, wives of ex-dacoits lead revival of water sources and hope. Source: The Tribune)

On the occasion of World Water Day (WWD) 2026, themed around water and gender, this overview highlights ten stories of collective efforts by communities, experts, and government agencies to conserve groundwater from across India. These examples show how decentralized actions such as reviving wells, recharging aquifers, harvesting rainwater and managing surface water bodies offer simple yet effective alternatives to large-scale infrastructure projects to address the water scarcity. The compilation demonstrates that sustainable groundwater management depends on collective action, local knowledge and active participation of local people.

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Dams, Rivers & People

DRP 160326: Urgent need for adaptive reservoir management in India

March 16, 2026March 16, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Vyasi dam on Yamuna river in Uttarakhand. Bhim Singh Rawat/SANDRP)

A detailed report this week in an international Water Power Magazine underlines the urgent need for India, as rest of the world to adopt adaptive reservoir management. This has become urgent as under changing climate, the Probable Maximum Precipitation figures are changing fast. In India, it has already increased by 35% in 84% of mainland. This makes the current reservoir operation models including rule curves and spillway capacities outdated. Human activities in the catchment and aging infrastructure are making the situation worse.

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Dams, Rivers & People · Rivers

International Day of Action for Rivers 2026: Efforts to Protect and Revive India’s Rivers

March 14, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Uttar Pradesh’s Matuka River Revived: How Farmers Got Their Lifeline On Course. Source: News18)

Marking the International Day of Action for Rivers 2026, this overview brings together several encouraging examples of people’s efforts to protect, revive and defend their rivers across India. At a time when rivers are increasingly threatened by pollution, indiscriminate sand mining, encroachments, dams and half-baked developmental projects, these stories remind us that citizens, communities and grassroots organizations remain the strongest defenders of the rivers.

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