Hyderabad Lakes 2025: Degradation Continues Amid HYDRAA Efforts

February 17, 2026February 17, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Lakes in Hyderabad are infested with heavy growth of hyacinth and algae, reflecting the terrible condition of the water bodies. Surya Sridhar/Telangana Today)

The historic network of lakes in Hyderabad city has been under stress from increasing pollution and encroachment for past many years. In response, the govt in July 2024 formed Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) to protect lakes, nalas and public assets from encroachments and address urban flooding problems. Since then, the agency is actively involved in lakebed reclamation, demolition of illegal structures, desilting, flood-management interventions and selected lake rejuvenation projects. So far, it has attracted both support for removing encroachments from several lakes and criticism for lacking holistic approach and sustainable outcome.

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Dams, Rivers & People

DRP 160226: National River Research Centre Welcome, will it help the cause of rivers?

February 16, 2026February 16, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

The news this week that the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, not known for any concern for rivers, has set up the National River Research Centre (NRRC) is welcome with usual caveats. The fact that NRRC has been set up under the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), a body under Union Environment Ministry is not necessarily as positive sign since MoEF too is not known for any concern for rivers. Moreover, setting up of NRRC through NMCG and NRCD also does not provide any hopeful sign for the same reason. WII, where the NRRC has been situated for now itself has had at best mixed track record as far as rivers are concerned.

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Yamuna River

Complaint against damage to Yamuna floodplain forested patch by dumping of concrete debris & rocks at ITO Chhath Ghat, Delhi

February 13, 2026February 16, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

Date 12 Feb. 2026

To,

1 Sh. Tanmay Kumar,

Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC)

secy-moef@nic.in

2 Sh. Rajeev Kumar Mital,

Director General, National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)

dg@nmcg.nic.in

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Dams, Rivers & People

DRP 090226: NGT Critiques Shoddy CGWA report

February 9, 2026February 9, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

The criticisms of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on January 30 about the report of the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), set up under the Environment Protection Act 1986 in late 1990s is rather mild and seems symbolic, but it has the potential of open up a pandora’s box since CGWA has essentially totally failed in doing anything effective about groundwater regulation in India.

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Wetlands

WWD 2026: Top Ten Judicial Interventions to Protect Wetlands in India

February 3, 2026 SANDRP1 Comment

Marking the World Wetlands Day (WWD) 2026, this overview presents top ten interventions by judiciary to protect the wetlands in India during 2025 so far. Apart from this, there have been several wetlands protection related court cases going on across the country during the year and reports of some of the relevant matters can be seen here. The judiciary has also been pursuing cases pertaining to conservation of several Ramsar wetlands in the country as covered in the first part of the overview here.

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Dams, Rivers & People

DRP 020226: Karnataka High Court Monitored Probe into sand mining menace?

February 2, 2026February 2, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

An interesting sequence of events in Karnataka has led to the High Court Chief Justice taking up a suo moto case and suggesting a court monitored probe into the illegal sand mining menace in the state. One hopes this leads to a proper independent investigation, monitored by the High Court, culminating in ensuring community have the key role in monitoring and compliance of sand mining in their respective area, since that is the most important missing link in governance of sand mining.

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Wetlands

WWD 2026: Govts Wetlands Protection Actions mostly fail to convince

January 31, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: An aerial shot of Madambakkam lake in Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu shows buildings on the banks of the waterbody: Source)

On occasion of World’s Wetlands Day 2026, this overview compiles top ten reports from 2025 covering decisions and steps taken by various state governments for the protection of wetlands in India. There could be some more relevant reports which we could not track and compile. The first part and second part of the overview have covered the continual degradation of Ramsar sites and other wetlands across the country.

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Wetlands

WWD 2026: Top Ten Reports on Our continued Failure to Identify, Protect Wetlands

January 30, 2026February 2, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Vegetation layer covering entire surface of Giri taal of Kashipur in US Nagar, Uttarakhand in Oct. 2025)

While the World Wetlands Day (WWD) 2026 on February 02 will be celebrated with “Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage” theme, the top ten reports about wetlands in India in one year since 2025 WWD shows our collective failure in protecting both the traditional knowledge and cultural heritage concerning Indian wetlands. At national level, the progess of identification and notification process of wetlands over 2.25 ha is very slow. Official health cards of very few wetlands are in public domain.

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Wetlands

World Wetlands Day 2026: India’s Ramsar Sites Facing Threats

January 29, 2026February 3, 2026 SANDRP1 Comment

(Feature Image: Dead fish floating on Ashtamudi Lake at Kadavur in Kollam in last week of Oct. 2025)

“Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage” is theme for global World Wetlands Day (WWD) 2026 celebrated annually on Feb 2. On the occasion, we share reports about 21 Ramsar wetlands from various Indian states underlining the worsening plight of Ramsar sites in India. This does not necessarily mean that the Ramsar wetlands not listed here are in any better state, it only means that media attention has not brought their stories in public domain with sufficient prominence. The state of Ramsar wetlands in India clearly shows complete lack of any governance in place to ensure that the Ramsar sites get protection from degradation, threats and destruction. Worryingly, even Ramsar Convention seems completely disinterested in doing anything to ensure protection of the wetlands that get Ramsar tag.

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Dams, Rivers & People

2025: Env & Forest Clearance Decisions on Dams, Hydro, Irrigation Projects

January 20, 2026 SANDRPLeave a comment

This analysis tracks the decisions taken by Union Ministry of Environment and Forests’ (MoEF) Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for River Valley and Hydropower Projects between Jan. 10 and Dec. 19, 2025 regarding Dams, Hydroelectric Power (HEP), Pumped Storage Projects (PSP) and Irrigation related proposals seeking Terms of Reference (TOR) for Environmental Impact Assessments and Environment Clearance (EC) approvals. It also covers various water projects related proposals considered by the MoEF’s Forest Appraisal Committee (FAC) between 27 Jan. to Dec. 02, 2025 for Forest Clearances (FC) approvals. SANDRP’s 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020 overviews on the subject can be seen by clicking the hyperlinks.

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