Tag: Sand Mining

Yamuna Manthan 1126: Parichha Fly Ash Damaging Health of People & Betwa River
Yamuna River

Yamuna Manthan 1126: Parichha Fly Ash Damaging Health of People & Betwa River

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(Feature Image: Google Earth Jan 2025 imagery shows Parichha power plant, fly ash dumps in quite proximity to Betwa river near Parchha dam in Jhansi, UP)

The information in the NGT order and media reports on fly ash pollution from the Parichha Thermal Power Plant in Jhansi has raised serious concerns over the contamination of the Betwa river. The petition has revealed that the continuous discharge of fly ash has led to the formation of large ash islands in the riverbed, obstructing its natural flow. It has further claimed that the toxic heavy metals in the fly ash have been harming aquatic ecosystems in the river. The petition has also raised concerns over air pollution and adverse health impacts on nearby residents.

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DRP 091126: Shift towards Weather Forecast based Dams’ Operation
Dams, Rivers & People

DRP 091126: Shift towards Weather Forecast based Dams’ Operation

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(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.

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DRP 021126: Honestly assessing the impacts of Pump Storage Projects
Dams, Rivers & People

DRP 021126: Honestly assessing the impacts of Pump Storage Projects

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(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.

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DRP 261026: Time to Prioritize Wetlands Conservation, Protection
Dams, Rivers & People

DRP 261026: Time to Prioritize Wetlands Conservation, Protection

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(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.

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DRP 191026: India Disaster Management Must Shift from Response to Prevention
Dams, Rivers & People

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

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(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.

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DRP 121026: Will India’s mining ravaged rivers get justice this time?
Dams, Rivers & People

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

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(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.

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DRP 051026: Drought: how prepared are we?
Dams, Rivers & People · Drought

DRP 051026: Drought: how prepared are we?

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(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.

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Yamuna Manthan 0926: River Cities Failing to Protect, Sustain Water Resources
Yamuna River

Yamuna Manthan 0926: River Cities Failing to Protect, Sustain Water Resources

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(Feature Image: A tanker discharging untreated sewage in an open area near Yamuna river close to Mokshdham in Vrindavan. Source: Amar Ujala, Sept. 10, 2026)

Multiple reports over the past month again highlight serious failures in water governance in major cities in the Yamuna basin including Delhi, Gurugram, Greater Noida, Noida, Vrindavan and Bhopal. The problems range from poor rainwater harvesting and inadequate sewage networks to ineffective sewage treatment capacity, unregulated groundwater extraction and neglect of water bodies.

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Yamuna Manthan Aug 2026: Floodplains remain under threat
Floodplain · Floods · Urban Rivers · Yamuna River

Yamuna Manthan Aug 2026: Floodplains remain under threat

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(Feature Image: Map showing the temporal changes in the Yamuna river courses for years 1990, 2007, 2014 and maximum possible/ visible extents of the associated floodplains for years 1807, 1952, 1980, 1990, 2007 and 2014; digitized from the toposheets compiled from Survey of India, IRS 1C LISS III imageries and Google Earth images. Credit: Constriction of the Yamuna River Floodplains within Delhi Region since 19th Century: A Serious Concern)

Three recent studies have once again highlighted both the severe degradation of the Yamuna and the critical role of its floodplain in Delhi. Their findings make it clear that cleaning sewage alone will not revive the river. Protecting natural flows, restoring floodplain connectivity and conserving wetlands are equally important for reducing flood risk, recharging groundwater and sustaining the river’s ecology. Undoubtedly, the Yamuna floodplain has already suffered extensive encroachment, fragmentation and ecological damage due to weak governance.

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Yamuna Manthan July 2026: River without Flows Even During Monsoon
Yamuna River

Yamuna Manthan July 2026: River without Flows Even During Monsoon

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(Feature Image: HKB July 06, 2026 hydrograph showing only 9.97 cusecs flow being released in Yamuna despite substantial rise in inflows. Source: CWC)

It is well known that excessive diversion of Yamuna waters at the Hathnikund Barrage (HKB) in Yamuna Nagar, Haryana over the past two-and-a-half decades has turned the perennial river into a seasonal stream in its upper reaches during the lean season. However, an analysis of the Central Water Commission’s (CWC) hourly discharge figures and hydrographs since July 1, 2026 reveals that the river is now being deprived of its essential flows even during the monsoon.

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