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

December 14, 2023December 18, 2023 SANDRP1 Comment

(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 News Bulletin

DRP NB 030423: IRENA confirms bleak future of Large Hydro globally

April 3, 2023April 4, 2023 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Graph showing annual growth in hydro power capacity in MW. Source: Rivers Without Boundaries, April 01, 2023)

The annual Renewable Statistics 2023 report from IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency) says that globally, only 1.6% was added to the hydropower capacity in 2022, that too two thirds in non-democratic China. The capacity added in rest of the world outside China in 2022 was 7.3 GW, lowest figure in last 15 years. Similarly 99% of additional capacity added in pump storage projects in 2022 was in China. The report from IRENA also says that 97% of hydropower finance comes from public or government sources and private sector seems to have little enthusiasm for this sector. The projections for future painted in the report is no better. This is broadly in line with our lead story in DRP News Bulletin last week (dated March 27 2023) painting bleak future of large hydropower projects.

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Hydropower Performance

India’s hydro generation AGAIN below 10% in 2018-19

May 1, 2019May 1, 2019 SANDRP3 Comments

In 2018-19, for the third year in succession, power generation from India’s large hydropower projects was below 10% of total electricity generation in India. In 2016-17, for the first time in independent India’s history, power generation from large hydropower projects in India fell below 10% of total electricity generation. This calculation is based on actual generation (measured as Million or Billion Units[i]) and not installed capacity (measured in Mega Watts). Continue reading “India’s hydro generation AGAIN below 10% in 2018-19” →