Impact of Sand Mining, Transportation on River Infrastructures across India

July 4, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Sand boats stuck in Prakasam barrage during Sept. 2024 floods. Source: Hans India)

This overview tracks the incidents of damage and threats to bridges and other river infrastructure across India between March 2023 and June 2026. The compilation shows that at least six bridge collapse incidents were reported where riverbed sand mining, sand transportation or excessive riverbed disturbance either directly contributed to the collapse or emerged as a significant risk factor alongside floods, poor construction and overloading.

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Sand Mining

June 2026: Mining Destabilizing Himalayan Rivers, Infrastructures in HP, UKD

June 21, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Damaged bridge on Malan river in Kotdwar, Uttarakhand in July 2023. Source: Amar Ujala)

Unscientific mining of riverbed minerals has emerged as a major geomorphic and disaster risk driver in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh as per reports from past few years. Recent studies sharing examples of Ganga and Gaula rivers reveal broader pattern of how excessive riverbed extraction have been changing the very shape and behaviour of Himalayan rivers. The studies find that such mining is resulting in deepening of riverbeds, narrowing down of water channel thus disturbing the natural balance of riverbed minerals.

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Yamuna River

Yamuna Manthan June 2026: Any Hope from Apex Court’s 3rd River Cleanup Attempt?

June 13, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Confluence of Yamuna (left) and Aglar river (left) in Dehradun in April 2025. BS Rawat/SANDRP)

In a significant development, the ongoing proceedings before the Hon’ble Supreme Court on May 27, 2026, in the Kondli drain pollution matter appear to have expanded into a broader Yamuna rejuvenation case. Notably, this marks the third such intervention by the apex court, with the previous two not resulting in any substantial change in river governance or pollution control or state of the river.

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Dams, Rivers & People · Godavari · Irrigation

2025: Sand Miners Suspected for Blasting Check Dams in Telangana

June 10, 2026June 10, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Check dam on Manair river at Adavisomanpalli in damaged condition on Dec. 18, 2025. Source: DC)

Collapse of two check dams, Tanugula and Adavisomanpally, on Manair river during Nov-Dec 2025 under suspicious circumstances has raised serious concerns about the structural safety of the irrigation infrastructures in Telangana. The locals and officials suspect the role of illegal sand mining and possible use of explosives by sand miners as likely cause.

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Sand Mining

2025: Riverbed Mining, Encroachment Damages Four Bridges in J&K

June 9, 2026June 9, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Portion of Logate Morh bridge on the Jammu-Pathankot NH gets damaged in Aug 2025 due to overflowing of Sahar Khad following heavy rainfall in Kathua. Source: The Tribune/ Credit: PTI)

At least 4 bridges across Jammu & Kashmir have suffered partial damages or complete collapse during 2025 underlining the growing threat of excessive riverbed mining & encroachment to bridges & river infrastructure. 3 of these incidents including washing out of part of approach road near the 4^th Tawi bridge in Jammu, Keerian Gadiyal bridge on Ravi river and Logate Morh Bridge on Sahar Khad both in Kathua district occurred during severe deluge in Aug 2025. The Chandura bridge on Doodh Ganga river in Budgam was declared unsafe in Dec 2025.

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Dams, Rivers & People · Ganga · Interlinking of RIvers · Rivers · Yamuna River

Yamuna Manthan May 2026: Ken-Betwa Linking Needs Urgent Reassessment

May 16, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Featue Image: Protesters express anger by staging symbolic hangings during the protest during April 5 to 16, 2026. Photo: Amit Bhatnagar/DTE)

Fresh protests over the past month by tribal communities affected by the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project have again raised serious concerns about its environmental impact and social costs. The project is going ahead despite questions over its hydrological assessment and environmental, forest and wildlife clearances. Moreover, the govt has not even explored the available cost effective and better alternatives.

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Environmental Flow · Floodplain · Floods · Urban Rivers · Yamuna River

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 · Free flowing rivers · River Water Disputes · Riverine Literature · Rivers and Culture

2026: Books, Films, Discussions on State of Indian Rivers

March 21, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Cover page of five books on Indian rivers mentioned in this overview)

This overview puts together brief information on top five books, films, discussions, reports, and cultural stories published during previous year to present a comprehensive view on the state of rivers in India. The compilation emphasizes how rivers are deeply intertwined with ecology, society, politics and culture while highlighting the growing crises they face due to pollution, dams, urbanization and climate change. Through research, storytelling and lived experiences, the collection questions current policies and development models, stressing on the need for sustainable management, stronger accountability and recognition of rivers as living systems essential to human and ecological well-being.

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Fish, Fisheries, Fisherfolk

WFD 2025: Important Studies, Reports on Freshwater Fish Species, Habitats

November 21, 2025November 23, 2025 SANDRPLeave a comment

Marking World Fisheries Day (WFD) 2025, we present some of important studies and reports highlighting the growing threats over freshwater fish species in India and across the globe. The multi-taxon global freshwater fauna assessment for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species published this year is among most concerning report revealing looming extinction threats over 24% of freshwater fauna worldwide. This includes the hump-backed mahseer, subterranean snakehead and peninsular hill trout found in rivers and waterbodies of Western Ghats.

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Yamuna River

केवल सफाई नहीं, चाहिए समग्र यमुना नदी तंत्र संरक्षण नीति

October 24, 2025October 24, 2025 SANDRPLeave a comment

दिल्ली चुनाव के दौरान यमुना नदी प्रदूषण एक अहम मुद्दा बना। चुनाव जीतने के बाद नई सरकार निरंतर यमुना सफाई को लेकर कई घोषणाएं और योजनाओं पर बात कर रही है। स्वयं प्रधानमंत्री और उसके बाद केंद्रीय गृहमंत्री, जल संसाधन मंत्री इसके लिए बड़ी बैठक कर चुके हैं। इन सबमें हरियाणा, दिल्ली और उत्तर प्रदेश सरकार द्वारा मिलकर कार्य करने की आवश्यकता सबसे सराहनीय पक्ष रहा है। सरकार द्वारा एसटीपी क्षमता विकास, औद्योगिक प्रदूषण रोकथाम, जल संचयन बढ़ाने और जल स्रोतों को बचाने की बातें भी कही जा रही है। पर ये सब बातें तो पिछली सरकारों द्वारा पहले भी कही जा चुकी हैं और बातों से आगे ठोस नीति और सफल निष्पदान कार्ययोजना की तरफ नहीं बढ़ पा रही है। इन सबके बीच यमुना नदी स्वास्थ्य में गिरावट जारी है।

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