DRP 091126: Shift towards Weather Forecast based Dams’ Operation

November 9, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Model performance computed across 71 stations (a) NAT-KGE: median 0.4 (b) NAT-NSE: median 0.42 (c) DAM-KGE: median 0.47 (d) DAM-NSE: median 0.60. Source: AGU)

A new study has again emphasized on why dam operations in India need to move from routine schedules to weather forecast based management. The study analyzed 223 dams across the country over 23 years by comparing river flows with and without the dams. Most importantly, the study has highlighted the limitations of dams in controlling successive floods. It found that about 74% of the dams were more than 90% full on the day of a high-flood event. Thus, leaving very little space to hold the next heavy rainfall spell and control resultant floods.

Continue reading →

2026: Making Sense of Gandak Flood II

November 5, 2026November 5, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(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 →

Dams, Rivers & People

DRP 021126: Honestly assessing the impacts of Pump Storage Projects

November 2, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(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 →

Floods · Highest Flood Level · Monsoon · River Basin

Highest Flood Level Breach in October 2026

November 1, 2026November 1, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(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 →

Dams, Rivers & People

DRP 261026: Time to Prioritize Wetlands Conservation, Protection

October 26, 2026November 1, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(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 →

Dams, Rivers & People

DRP 191026: India Disaster Management Must Shift from Response to Prevention

October 19, 2026October 19, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: A large part of residential areas witnessed severe flooding in first week of Oct. 2026 in Fazullaganj of Lucknow after heavy rains and flood in Gomti river. Source: Screenshot of FB post)

Two informative reports by Amal Chandra and Venkatesh Dutta in Down To Earth this week have once again highlighted serious gaps in India’s disaster management system. While our forecasting and response have improved in some cases, the number of disasters has also increased sharply. We often fail to understand the exact chain of events and remain reactive until the last moment. A key problem is that our system continues to focus more on response than prevention and lacks a holistic approach to disaster risk reduction.

Continue reading →

Dams, Rivers & People

DRP 121026: Will India’s mining ravaged rivers get justice this time?

October 12, 2026October 12, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(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 →

Dams, Rivers & People · Drought

DRP 051026: Drought: how prepared are we?

October 5, 2026October 6, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(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 →

Floods · Highest Flood Level · Monsoon · Rivers

Rivers in Extreme Floods During SW Monsoon 2026

October 3, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Aerial view of a residential area inundated by Ganga floodwaters in Patna, Bihar on Sept. 10, 2026. Source: TNIE/Credit: PTI)

This is the final analysis of CWC’s flood monitoring sites where we could track rivers crossing their respective Highest Flood Levels (HFL) in months of July (at 15 sites), Aug. ( at 10 sites) and Sept. ( at 25 sites) during South West Monsoon Season 2026.

In addition, there are 2 sites where HFL breach has happened on Oct. 01, 2026 and 1 site where HFL breach is missed by narrow margin on Oct. 02, 2026. All the three sites are part of Ganga basin and details of the same is given in table 1 and 2 below.

Continue reading →

Dams, Rivers & People

DRP 280926: Early Warning System important, but not a magic bullet

September 28, 2026September 28, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Aerial image of the Wanlixi landslide and lake as of 30 July 2026. Credit: Forestry & Nature Conservation Agency, Taiwan, Source: EOS.Org)

While writing about the landslide dam breach in Taiwan last year leading to 24 deaths, Dave Petley remarked: As always, the focus should be on vulnerability and resilience rather than only early warning systems (EWS). This is indeed worth emphasizing, underlining, highlighting. While early warning systems can be important and must be used wherever possible, it is not a magic bullet. It is one of the many other instruments in disaster management.

Continue reading →