Dams

Photo Blog: Chasing Streams, Springs of Asan River in Dehradun

June 11, 2024June 26, 2024 SANDRPLeave a comment

(Feature Image: Asan river flowing through residential areas of Sevala Kalan upstream Chandrabani temple)

Despite being an important tributary to the Yamuna River in Shivalik hills of Dehradun, the Asan appears among the least explored and documented rivers. While, most of the people believe and even available online maps depict Chandrabani temple as origin place of the Asan, a field visit to track the river course reveals some interesting information.

This part one of photo blog documents the river course in its founding catchment sharing pictures and our field observations about the river’s origin place, past history and present situation. The second part of the photo blog will cover the remaining length of the river lying between Chandrabani temple and Asan barrage.

*Google Earth map showing places mentioned in the blog. An interactive map of the same can be seen here.*

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North India Sand Mining Dialogue under IRW 2020: Local communities need to have key role in governance

November 6, 2020November 25, 2020 SANDRPLeave a comment

The Key message that came through from all the panelists and North India Sand mining presentation was that if we are to see any improvement in the murky state of sand mining that is a threat to everyone today, then we urgently need key role for the local communities and civil society in sand mining governance. The second loud & clear message was that the Supreme Order of 2012 on the need for environmental appraisal and clearance of sand mining leases stands violated in letter and spirit by the Union Government. These messages also provide us the way forward.

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Arunachal Pradesh · Hydropower · Lohit River

NBWL pushes Lower Demwe HEP on Lohit River in Arunachal Pradesh based on fudged WII report

September 27, 2018October 4, 2018 SANDRPLeave a comment

The Minutes of 50th Meeting of Standing Committee (SC) of National Board of Wild Life (NBWL), held on 7th Sept 2018, were made available on 26th Sept 2018. On viewing the Minutes of Meeting, the petitioner to NGT Bimal Gogoi wrote to the Chairman and the Members of SC Of NBWL about the recommendation of the SC of NBWL on Demwe Lower Project.

Date : September 26, 2018

To: Dr. Harsh Vardhan

The Chairperson,

Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife,

New Delhi.

URGENT: Grant of wildlife clearance to Demwe Lower project based on faulty WII report is shocking and should be reversed

Dear Dr. Harsh Vardhan and Members of the Standing Committee of the NBWL,

Greetings from the Northeast! I have just perused the minutes of the 50^th meeting of the SCNBWL and I am shocked to see that your committee has granted wildlife clearance to the 1750 MW Demwe Lower project based on a seriously flawed report of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). Continue reading “NBWL pushes Lower Demwe HEP on Lohit River in Arunachal Pradesh based on fudged WII report” →

Interlinking of RIvers

What ails DPR and EIA of Ken-Betwa Link Project: A Note for EAC of MoEF&CC

October 29, 2015October 29, 2015 SANDRP2 Comments

Above: Ken River in PTR – Glimpse of long deep gorge (Photo by RS Murthy, former Field Director of PTR)

Guest Blog by Hemendra Singh Panwar (Padma Bhushan, director of Project Tiger (1981-85 and first director of Wildlife Institute of India (1985-94)

My professional conscience impels me to make this submission, challenged as it is by the reliance on half-truths and misinformation by the Project proponents to justify environmental and wildlife clearances for Ken-Betwa River Linking Project (KBLP) from the State and Union governments. Let me at the outset clarify that I am not and have never been an activist even to promote conservation, though I did strive my best to this end within the system. I also have no phobia against dams and canals but do carry the conviction that ill-conceived such projects using wanton half-truths to present a mirage of unachievable benefits can but severely impact ecological and field conservation status while failing to deliver the claimed outcomes.
Continue reading “What ails DPR and EIA of Ken-Betwa Link Project: A Note for EAC of MoEF&CC” →