Dams · DRP News Bulletin

DRP News Bulletin 14 Dec. 2015 (Your City can be Next Chennai?)

Our cities with their high population density and poor civic standards are vulnerable to the domino effect that can be set off by freak weather it happened in Mumbai in 2005. Last year, it was Srinagar. Now it’s happening in Chennai. Could it happen to your city?

Judging by the burgeoning urban population, and the uncontrolled growth of urban centres that fail on every parameter including drainage and garbage disposal, most of our cities are disasters waiting to happen.

As per global standards cities across the world should prepare for a 100-year flood recurrence period. In other words, they have to be ready for a severe flood situation, even if it has one-in-100 chance of occurring. But our cities guardians overlook larger flood cycle as freak weather events.

That exactly is happening in IT corridor Hyderabad which is sitting on a plan that lacks a storm-water drainage system and ‪‎Navi Mumbai International Airport in Maharashtra which will be built on the flood plains of Ghadi and Ulwe rivers. Amaravati the state capital of Andhra Pradesh is also doing away its underground water channels which drain out flood waters during stresses.

Continue reading “DRP News Bulletin 14 Dec. 2015 (Your City can be Next Chennai?)”

Dams

Dams, Rivers & People News Bulletin 07 Dec. 2015 (Dams sap Earth’s water, release arsenic in groundwater & fuel Climate Change)

Two new studies show that dam not only significantly increase evapo-transpiration but also worsen arsenic problem in groundwater. In the first study done by Stockholm University in Sweden researchers found that dams and irrigation significantly increase evapotranspiration, an effect that increases the loss of freshwater to the atmosphere, thereby reducing the water available for humans, societies and ecosystems on land. The researchers have compiled and analyzed data from 1901 to 2008 for climate, hydrology and water use in one hundred large hydrological basins spread over the world. In the second study done by Stanford University in Cambodia, researchers concluded that hydrological development particularly dams are responsible for release of increased and unnatural amount of arsenic in Cambodia’s groundwater.

Continue reading “Dams, Rivers & People News Bulletin 07 Dec. 2015 (Dams sap Earth’s water, release arsenic in groundwater & fuel Climate Change)”

Dams

भारतीय नदी दिवस2015 -सारांश “दिल्ली को रेणुका बाॅध से पानी नहीं चाहिए”: कपिल मिश्रा दिल्ली जल मंत्री

भगीरथी पुरस्कार 2015 विजेता (बाॅए से) ऐमूअल थियोफिलिप्स, लोबसंग ग्यात्सो (प्रतिनिधि मोन बचाओ संघ) सच्चिदानंद भारती (दूधातोली लोक विकास संघ) कुॅज बिहारी जी (प्रतिनिधि संभव ट्रस्ट राजस्थान) 

राजधानी दिल्ली, पुणे एवं देश के अनेक भागों में मनाया गया भारतीय नदी दिवस

नदी संरक्षण के सराहनीय प्रयासों के लिए दिया गया भगीरथी प्रयास सम्मान

‘दिल्ली को रेणुका बाॅध, शारदा-यमुना नदी जोड़ एवं किसी अन्य बाहरी स्रोत से पानी नहीं चाहिए’: कपिल मिश्रा  जल मंत्री दिल्ली सरकार 

मंत्री ने यमुना पर बच्चों से की चर्चा

रामास्वामी अय्यर स्मृति व्याख्यान में अनुपम मिश्र ने बताई नदियों को बचाने के लिए नजरिया बदलने की अहमियत

आज, 28 Nov. 2015 को INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage) सभागार दिल्ली में भारतीय नदी दिवस-2015 का सफल आयोजन किया गया। कार्यक्रम में दिल्ली के जल मंत्री श्री कपिल मिश्रा ने दिल्ली में यमुना नदी के पानी को तीन साल के अंदर नहाने योग्य बनाने की अपनी प्रतिबद्धता को दोहराते हुए स्पष्ट किया की दिल्ली को रेणुका बाॅध अथवा शारदा-यमुना नदी जोड़ योजना से पानी की कतई आवश्यकता नहीं है। Continue reading “भारतीय नदी दिवस2015 -सारांश “दिल्ली को रेणुका बाॅध से पानी नहीं चाहिए”: कपिल मिश्रा दिल्ली जल मंत्री”

Dams

DRP News Bulletin 30 Nov. 2015 (Delhi does not need Renuka Dam, Sharda-Yamuna linking: Kapil Misra, Delhi Water Minister)

Kapil Misra

Speaking during India Rivers Day- 2015 Kapil Misra said that Delhi does not require any more water from external sources such as the Renuka Dam or Sharda Yamuna River link.  The minister also assured that the Yamuna’s water will be improved within three years to make it good enough to bathe in. He raised doubts over expensive sewerage projects and felt need building of smaller and decentralised sewerage management system. The India Rivers Day brought together several individuals and organisations who have been working on the issues of river conservation in the country.

Continue reading “DRP News Bulletin 30 Nov. 2015 (Delhi does not need Renuka Dam, Sharda-Yamuna linking: Kapil Misra, Delhi Water Minister)”

Dams · India Rivers Day

India Rivers Day 2015 Press Release: Nov 28, 2015

Above: India Rivers Day Function – from Left: Manu Bhatnagar (INTACH), Anupam Mishra (GPF), Kapil Mishra (Delhi Water Minister) and Manoj Misra (Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan)

INDIA RIVERS DAY CELERBRATED in Delhi, Pune and elsewhere

Bhagirath Prayas Samman Awards given to four for exemplary work on river conservation

Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra: “Delhi does not need Renuka dam, Sharda Yamuna River link or any new external source of water”; Minister in dialogue with school kids

Anupam Mishra gives Iyer Memorial lecture: “Change the mindset to conserve rivers”

At a well attended India Rivers Day 2015 function held at the INTACH auditorium, New Delhi on 28th of November, 2015, Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra declared that he personally takes the responsibility for ensuring that Yamuna will have bathing quality water in three years. He also made it very clear that Delhi does not any more water from external sources like Renuka dam or Sharda Yamuna River link. He also said that his government has asked Delhi Jal Board to shelve its Rs 20 000 Crore Delhi Sewerage master plan and in stead work on decentralized sewage treatment and recycle plan and welcomed suggestions from all concerned, how to make this possible. Continue reading “India Rivers Day 2015 Press Release: Nov 28, 2015”

Dams

Yamuna River Story

River Yamuna is fifth longest river of India. For past many centuries the river has been integral part of Indian culture. It has been sustaining means of livelihoods to millions. Many, in pursuit of spiritual inspiration venerate it with great hope. But at present, the river is more in news for its highly polluted state. In this blog SANDRP attempts to presents the picture of the River Yamuna. The blog also briefly mentions the places of cultural, religious, historical and environmental significance on and around the river, pointing out the various factors which has led to present state of the river.  Continue reading “Yamuna River Story”

India Rivers Week

India Rivers Day to be celebrated on Nov 28, 2015 – Letter from Organisers

Dear River Friends,

You may recall many of us celebrated India’s Rivers at the first ever India Rivers Week (IRW) held at the WWF-India Secretariat New Delhi from 24-27, Nov 2014.

IRW 2014 was organized by an organising committee (OC) chaired by Shri Ramaswamy R Iyer and included PEACE Institute Charitable Trust, WWF – India, INTACH, Toxics Link and SANDRP, besides support from International Rivers, People’s Science Institute & Arghyam Trust. One of the key outputs of the event was “Delhi Declaration – Let Our Rivers Live”[1]. Continue reading “India Rivers Day to be celebrated on Nov 28, 2015 – Letter from Organisers”

Dams

Dams, Rivers & People News Bulletin, August 17, 2015

HYDROPOWER

UTTARAKHAND: National Institute of Disaster Management asks Govt. to make disaster study must for Uttarakhand hydel projects (17 Aug. 2015) This is good to see, it uses almost the exact language some of us having using since the disaster.

SIKKIM: Lanco in talks to sell Sikkim hydro power project (11 Aug. 2015) The Lanco group confirmed that it is in talks with strategic investors to sell its 500 megawatt (MW) hydro-electric power plant in Sikkim, as part of an effort to consolidate its businesses and reduce debt.

ARUNACHAL PRADESH: Neha Sinha (BNHS) in her article titled A bird, a dam and a belief explores the ethical and environmental aspects intertwined with construction of Nyamjang Chhu dam which will destroy the habitat of the Black-necked crane at Zemithang in Arunachal Pradesh. The Save Mon Region Federation (SMRF), a group spear-headed by local Buddhist Lamas, has challenged the environmental clearance in the NGT. LIFE are the lawyers for petitioners. Sanjay Upadhyay and Raj Panjwani are lawyers for Bhilwara group.

MANIPUR:  Why Manipur is flooded (12 Aug. 2015) Interesting to see Down to Earth sees role of dams in Manipur floods: On the other hand continuing their agitation Mapithel dam affected downstream people hold protest meet (16 Aug. 2015) Joint Action Committee (JAC) for Mapithel Dam Downstream Affected People organized a protest meeting at Tumukhong Village, Imphal East District. The meeting demanded immediate rehabilitation and resettlement of Mapithel Dam affected people in the downstream areas. Also get to see a special news report on 26 years long protest of Chandog village against Mapithal Dam.

Continue reading “Dams, Rivers & People News Bulletin, August 17, 2015”

Dams, Rivers & People

Dams, Rivers & People News Bulletin August 10, 2015

HYDROPOWER

NORTH-EAST:ASSAM: Experts warned Centre Govt against rushing through big dam projects  (08 Aug. 2015) Even local BJP leaders are against Big dams in North EAST: “BJP leader and former bureaucrat Chandrakanta Das said that the power-starved Northeast should generate electricity through small and run-of-the-river dams instead of big dams. We need power for development, but that should not come at the cost of our pristine environment. We should explore power generation through small and run-of-the-river dams,” he said.

SIKKIM: Delay in completion of 500 MW Teesta Hydropower Project cost Lanco dearly as lenders prepare for Rs. 2400 crore debt-equity conversion (10 Aug. 2015) Lenders to Lanco Teesta Hydro Power will convert part of their Rs 2,400-crore outstanding loans to the company into 51% equity in the most significant such takeover since the Reserve Bank of India allowed lenders to do so when borrowers fall behind on repayments. A consortium of lenders, including some large private and public sector banks, agreed to convert part of their loans to Lanco Teesta into equity at a recent meeting. Senior executives at a large commercial bank said that close to Rs 780 crore will be converted into equity under the capital market regulator’s formula. This will be the second such instance of a bank exercising its right to acquire a majority stake in an ailing company.

Continue reading “Dams, Rivers & People News Bulletin August 10, 2015”

Dams

Dams, Rivers & People News Bulletin, August 03, 2015

HYDROPOWER  

NORTH-EAST: ARUNACHAL PRADESH: Mapithel Dam; Social organization demand decommissioning of Mapithel dam (03 Aug. 2015) Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) and Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) submitted memorandum to the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi demanding a halt to the construction of Mapithel Dam and immediate decommissioning of the project. A joint statement issued by AIPP Secretary General Joan Carling and NPHRM Secretary General Neingulo Krome said the construction of Mapithel Dam under the supervision of the Government of Manipur directly affects and threatens the several scheduled tribes in the affected districts whose sources of income are land and agriculture. It may be mentioned that when it is commissioned the dam would affect over 8,000 people in 22 villages. http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=28..030815.aug15

UTTARAKHAND: Expert Body recommends modification of Uttarakhand hydro projects prevent 2013-like disaster (31 July 2015) An expert body appointed by the Centre to analyze the adverse ecological and environmental impact of hydroelectric power projects (HEPs) in Uttarakahand has told the Supreme Court that comprehensive modification of the projects is required to prevent a repeat of 2013 disaster in the state. In an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, the Centre said the expert body (EB) had suggested promoters of the six projects– National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), Tehri Hydro Development Coporation (THDC), GMR and Super Hydro Pvt Ltd—to incorporate a number of safeguards in view of the 2013 disaster. The government said the projects would not be allowed to operate till the companies modify their projects. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Uttarakhand-hydro-projects-need-to-be-modified-to-prevent-2013-like-disaster-SC-told/articleshow/48290097.cms

Chief Minister asks industry to invest in small hydroelectric projects (27 July 2015) Chief Minister Harish Rawat today sought help from the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry Uttarakhand for investment in small and micro hydel projects in the state. He sought support for 2 MW to 5 MW hydel projects under the policy formulated by the state government. The state is still not realizing how small hydro projects are equally disastrous for sensitive mountains.  In June 2015 SANDRP visit in Yamuna valley highlights how Gangani and Hanuman Ganga small hydro projects have caused irreversible losses to local environment and community people as well.http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/uttarakhand/cm-asks-industry-to-invest-in-small-hydroelectric-projects/110988.html

Continue reading “Dams, Rivers & People News Bulletin, August 03, 2015”