Riparian Forest 22 degrees Celsius cooler than the Riverfront Project!

July 16, 2026July 17, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

Pune saw some of the warmest summer days and nights this summer. So did several Indian cities. With the recent monsoon, the thoughts of this heat might have washed away but it is important that one does not forget the summer heat. Why? Read More:

*Riparian Forest Photo Credit: Tara Tanmayi S.*

Why run and hurry? Here’s dictionary: Microclimate: Microclimate generally refers to the specific climatic conditions within a small area (such as street, park, riverside, etc.). With rise in extreme events like heat and global warming, microclimate is what make cities/ spaces livable. The temperature difference you experience while driving on a road with no tree cover vs with a tree cover is what microclimate is.

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Urban Rivers

International Day of Actions for Rivers 2026: Citizens Actions to Protect Urban Rivers in India

March 13, 2026March 13, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Short march with a loud message: Citizens protest against Riverfront Development project in Pimpri-Chinchwad. Source: Express Photo)

On the occasion of the 29^th International Day of Action for Rivers, celebrated annually on March 14 since 1997, the SANDRP highlights ten inspiring examples of citizen-led initiatives in last one year across India aimed at protecting urban rivers. The overview showcases how citizen groups and individuals are taking action to address river pollution, oppose ecologically harmful development projects and promote restoration and conservation of urban river ecosystems. These efforts demonstrate the crucial role of public participation in safeguarding rivers and ensuring that river management prioritizes ecological health, transparency and the rights of affected communities.

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Dam floods · Urban Flood · Urban Rivers

2025: Dam Induced Urban Floods in India

December 7, 2025 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: The Musi river in flood spate in Hyderabad on Sept 27, 2025 following incessant rains and the lifting of gates at the overflowing Osman Sagar and Himayatsagar reservoirs. Credit: Nagara Gopal )

In 2025, we could find reports on two Indian cities facing the impact of dam induced floods. While the excessive discharges by Himayat Sagar reservoir severely inundated residential areas along Musi river in Hyderabad in last week of Sept 2025, the significant releases by Ukai dam authority into Tapi river affected daily life in Surat city twice in mid Aug and first week of Sept. 2025.

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River Basin

From Texas to Maharashtra: Can River Basin Organizations Actually Work?

June 15, 2025June 16, 2025 SANDRPLeave a comment

The principles of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) have been supported by practitioners, policy makers and stakeholders across the world for a long time. While IWRM aims at integrating planning of land and water management initiatives together considering water as a resource, IRBM accepts the integrity of a river basin as an ecological unit for the same. River Basin Organizations (RBO) are basin level entities that can bring together stakeholders and coordinate, envision, plan and implement these integrated plans at the basin scale (or aquifer/subbasin/watershed scale). By implication, RBOs must be a bottom-up democratic bodies, upscaling solutions.

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Urban Flood

2024: Dam Induced Floods in Urban India

January 3, 2025 SANDRP1 Comment

(Feature Image: A drone visual of the flood-affected areas of Vijayawada city on Sept. 6, 2024. Credit: ANI Photo/Source: Rediff.com)

Having covered dam induced flood incidents and embankment breach flooding events in part 1 and part 2, this third part on annual overview compiles media reports on manmade Urban flood disasters in India during the year 2024. While the cities of Pune, Nasik, Nagpur, Vadodara and Bharuch were affected by dam induced floods, the high discharges from Prakasam barrage and multiple breaches in Budameru river deluged the Vijayawada city. Interestingly, these urban flood episodes coincided with heavy rainfall events giving a reality check to dam and city managers.

In addition to failure in dam management, the deluge in Pune, Vadodara and Vijayawada city were particularly worsened by river front development projects and encroachment on river floodplains putting question marks on the urban planning and development works in these cities. Similarly, the breach in embankment of Munak canal in Delhi flooded several homes Bawana area during the monsoon season.

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Art, Literature, Culture · Culture · Dams

When the riverbanks bloom in color

October 23, 2024October 23, 2024 SANDRP3 Comments

Sharad Ritu or Autumn is eulogized in almost all Indian epics. Ramayana especially talks about the crystal clear waters, emerging silver sand banks and blossoming kash grasses along the rivers in this season.

Festivals around the autumnal harvest time, like Durga Puja and Navratri bring bustle and energy across the land. In Maharashtra, days before Navratri hold a special significance. Entire homes are washed, scrubbed and laundered before the deity enters the abode. But thousands of people living in tiny homes, with miniscule bathrooms have no place to wash their bedsheets, blankets, curtains and such home linen. No space and more importantly, no water.

And so, they gather along a place where people have been coming together since time immemorial: the riverbank.

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Dams · Fish Sanctuaries · Fish, Fisheries, Fisherfolk · Hydropower · Western Ghats

MoEF Committee Rejects the Adani Application and asks to apply afresh for Warasgaon-Warangi Project!

October 3, 2024October 3, 2024 SANDRP1 Comment

In a respite to forest dwelling communities, fragile biodiversity and community conservation areas in the Western Ghats, Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union MoEF (Ministry of Environment and Forests) rejected Adani Energy’s application for 1500 MW Warasgaon-Warangi Pump Storage Project. The committee has asked the proponent to apply afresh for Stage I Clearance, adding several conditions to assessment.

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Climate Change · Dams · Floods · River Front Development · Urban Rivers

Flood Lines, Riverfront Development & Citizen Heroes: Story of Pune Floods

August 30, 2024June 5, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

If a city deserved beautiful rivers only through the sheer will and efforts of its civil society, Pune would be a strong contender.

For decades Pune’s civil society has been remarkably active in protecting its rivers. Organizations like Gomukh, Parisar, Soppecom, ACWADAM, Vanrai, Jal Biradari, Ecological Society and newer, powerful people-led groups like Jeevit Nadi and Pune River Revival have put up studies, reports and protests at times. Experts, academics, musicians, poets, writers, historians, students have held the cause of Pune’s rivers high. At any given time, several public interest litigations are being fought by the weary yet hopeful groups, fueled by personal funds, time and passion.

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River Front Development

Preserve the Ecological Integrity of Rivers – statement on Pune River Front development by India River Week 2023

November 27, 2023November 29, 2023 SANDRPLeave a comment

India Rivers Forum (IRF) is a vibrant and active network of organizations and individuals that is committed to the conservation and safeguarding of our rivers against needless and detrimental development. Every year IRF organizes the India Rivers Week (IRW) to raise awareness regarding these issues. This year IRW, organized in Pune, brought together more than 100 practitioners, including representatives from academia and civil society movements, to discuss River Front Development (RFD) unfolding in different parts of the country.

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Art, Literature, Culture · Groundwater

Sacred Springs and Kites: Groundwater reaches the skies

August 6, 2022August 6, 2022 SANDRPLeave a comment

Groundwater management is an area where almost all of the world seems to be faltering right now. Like in India, in Texas too groundwater is private property, and its use, regulation and conservation is a complex and often an unsuccessful task. Groundwater is a major source of water in Texas, providing about 60 percent of the 16.1 million acre-feet of water used in the state[i]. Cities like Amarillo, Bryan-College Station, El Paso, Lubbock, Houston and San Antonio use groundwater to supply water for homes and industry.[ii] This year, Texas has seen record hot months and lowering water tables with 99% of the state facing drought right now, and 21% area facing exceptional drought. Jacob’s Well, an iconic artesian spring, has officially ceased flowing for the fourth time in recorded history as a result of the ongoing drought and increased levels of groundwater pumping.

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