Dams, Rivers & People Working for water resources development as if democracy, people and environment matter Index Vol 10| Issue 10-11|November-December 2012 Rs15/-

Dams are a Fishy DAMS ARE A FISHY BUSINESS Business 1 In recent times, fish-loving Bengalis have been a troubled lot. The supply of Box: Experts on Fish coveted Hilsa or Ilish fish, from Bangladesh has reduced to a trickle. Bangladesh imposed an import ban on Hilsa and the price in Indian markets soared to over Ladders 5 1500 Rs/ kilo. Mamta Banerjee actually requested the Centre to intervene and FAC Violating the FRA 2006 6 convince Paschim Banga to send more Ilish to Bengal. Deepa Dasmunshi raised this issue first when Bangladesh Leader of Opposition, Khalida Zia visited Thirsty Rivers, Bygone Prime Minister in October 2012. And she was told the real reason. Padma, a Fishes, Hungry Societies 7 distributary of Ganga River, famed for Padma Ilish is facing an acute drought- like situation. What was not stated was that Farakka Barrage built on the Loksabha Quotes on Ganga 9 Ganga just before it enters Bangladesh, has been responsible for this and the near extinction of Hilsa, which once was found much beyond Allahabad. How Many Dams on Chenab: 11 he above was just the most diversity (the Fisheries Act, 1897 deals The Himalayas: blatant example of impacts of only with edible species), no law for High Dam Density 14 T dams on fish, an indicator of protecting river flows, no law for riverine health. Impacts of dams on enabling fish migration, no law for Yamuna: National Shame 16 Riverine biodiversity, including fish compensating affected Fisherfolk, to list biodiversity, have been devastating for a few. These are very serious gaps, with Whitewash of MAHA Scam 18 Indian Rivers. This has been stressed impacts on ecology as well as sociology. Maharashtra Water many times by fisher folk as well as In this scenario, proposals for more Disputes 21 studies by Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), Central Marine dams which will fragment rivers Indore Urban Water Study 24 Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), further and divert flows away from the several universities, independent river have to be looked at very carefully. Methane Emission of Dams 26 researchers, NGOs and even the last Unfortunately, most of the decisions taken during the meetings of Expert Inspiring Microhydro 27 three Five Year Plans. Dams have been singled out as the main reason behind Appraisal Committee (EAC under the Groundwater Mining and fisheries collapse in major rivers like Ministry of Environment and Forests Sealevel Rise 28 Ganga and its tributaries, Krishna, recommends environmental clearances Mahanadi and Narmada, to name a few. to river valley and hydropower Ganga Water, Carcinogenic 29 Dams and related hydrological projects), and the number of dams fluctuations have magnified the receiving environment clearance at Recognizing Rights various stages, without adequate of Rivers 30 impacts of several other aspects detrimental to fisheries like pollution, attention to impact on fish and Book Review: Bagmati 32 sedimentation, wrong fishing practices mitigation measures, is very disturbing and invasion by exotic introduced fish and needs to change. species. EAC discussions and decisions are C o n t a c t : Dams have jeopardised the livelihood based on EIAs submitted by the Himanshu Thakkar, Parineeta proponent and these are routinely of a Dandekar, Neena Koshy, Ganesh Gaud and nutritional security of more than poor quality. Most of the EIAs severely Dams, Rivers and People 10.86 million fisherfolk in India, without C/o 86-D, AD Block, Shalimar Bagh any compensation, redressal or underestimate fish diversity, for Delhi - 100 088, India. mitigation. There is no body entrusted example Environment Impact Ph: + 91 11 2748 4654/5 with the protection of aquatic Assessment of 200 MW Gundia HEP [email protected] biodiversity, no separate Ministry for done by KPCL which concludes that Web:www.sandrp.in fisheries, no law for protecting fish there are ‘no rare or endemic species Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012 fish species in the river’. Not only does has not recommended a fish ladder. It Netravathi Basin, where just in the past the region have endemic fishes, the has simply taken the word of the six months six new fish species were region is one of the most important sites developer that there are no fish in discovered3, no fisheries management in India for protection of fish diversity Chanju Nallah. Actually Chanju Nallah plan is in place while recommending a as clarified by many studies in the and Siul Nalla where the projects will very erroneous environmental region including one conducted by come up are on the Negative List clearance. This region is especially Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore. provided by the Himachal Pradesh important for in situ protection of fish And this is just indicative, there are Fisheries Department, recommended biodiversity and is a freshwater fish 2 scores of such examples which can be for In situ protection of fish . biodiversity hotspot in the World readily provided. In case of Baspa Barrage, which is on Heritage Site of Western Ghats. The EAC needs to lay clear norms for Baspa River, also on the negative list, In case of Renuka dam on Giri river in EIAs about fish diversity in the region, Himachal Pradesh, the Central dependant livelihoods, community Empowered Committee of the conserved fish sanctuaries: impact of 21ST NOVEMBER IS OBSERVED AS dams on all these, in situ mitigation THE WORLD FISHERIES DAY Supreme Court and the Supreme Court itself had directed that fish measures, including eflows and only On this occasion, SANDRP made this ladder be constructed, but the after that ex situ measures like submission to the Ministry of Environment developer, EIA consultant, the EAC and hatcheries. and Forests, specifically it’s Expert Ap- praisal Committee which sanctioned River the MoEF all ignored that statutory Unfortunately, an analysis of EAC Valley and Hydropower Projects on urgent direction. decisions during the past nearly three need to pay attention to fisheries related years1 reveals: The above list is only an indicative list, issues while sanctioning dams. fish ladders/ passes are not 1. The EAC has demanded for fish The submission was endorsed by over recommended for most dams at the passes and fish ladders at the time of 20 fisheries scientists, researchers, time of granting TORs or recommending environmental organisations and activists, including a Environmental Clearances (EC). clearance for only six projects out of member from National Board for Wildlife, a 157 projects considered by it for 4. While some dams are renowned Dolphin conservationists and recommended fish ladders or passes, clearance at stage I or II. Even in the many authorities of fish diversity. six cases, this important condition is some are not without assigning any not clearly or strongly worded. reasons for such inconsistencies. the EAC have not recommended a Decisions of the EAC seem totally 2. The EAC has demanded for fish ladder though the barrage is just 16 inconsistent, unscientific and erratic. passes/fish ladders at the time of meters above river bed. granting/reconsidering Term of For example, in case of 50 meters high References for only nine projects and The EAC must immediately reconsider Mago Chu in Arunchal Pradesh, EAC even here, the wording has been their decisions on Baspa, Chanju I and has said fish pass may be considered, ambiguous. For example, in case of 50 II projects, reject the projects and but for 42 meters high Dinchang Dam meters high Mago chu Dam in Tawang recommend strong punitive measures the EAC explicitly said: “The proposal Basin in Arunachal Pradesh, the EAC against the developer, as per the steps for providing fish ladder in a 42 m high says ‘fish pass may be considered’. Or provided in EIA notification. EAC also dam was not appreciated by the EAC for 128 MW Jelam Tamak in needs to take steps to ensure that it does as fish ladder in high dams is failure Uttarakhand, it says fish pass ‘may’ be not get misled like this in future and everywhere.” provided. take wrong decisions. However, for the same dam, while 3. For scores of dams, fish passes and Same is the case with dams in Lahual reconsidering TOR for revised capacity ladders have not at all been and SPiti region, famed for its trout from 90 MW to 360 MW, the EAC says recommended, though there is a strong fishing. For many dams in Eastern “Committee felt that the issue cannot reason to do so. Himalayan Biodiversity hotspot, no be left loose ended for a study. The ladders or passes have been Proponent needs to agree to provide fish For example, in case of 36 MW Chanju I recommended. passage for which the Proponent project whose barrage is only 16 metres agreed.” Firstly, EAC needs to ensure 200 MW Gundia Dam coming up on high or 17 MW Chanju II HEP on Chanju that decisions made one stage are not Nallah in Himachal Pradesh, the EAC Gundia River in Kumaradhara reversed at another without assigning 1 Analysis of decisions from 34th EAC Meeting: Jan 2010 to 61st EAC Meeting: Oct 2012 2 http://hpfisheries.nic.in/pdf/Negative_list_rivers_etc.pdf 3 http://www.deccanherald.com/content/264870/researchers-stumble-species-fish.html (SANDRP’s submission to the EAConFish Diversity affected by Gundia Dam, October 2012) 2 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012

compensation of Rs. 97.75 lakhs to the fisheries Department, in addition of development charges for farms and hatcheries. Luhri Environmental Management Plan has an outlay of Rs. 346.57 Lakhs for fisheries management plan, to be paid to fisheries department. No wonder then that the Fisheries Departments are giving NOCs to most hydel projects, including those coming up in Negative List of Streams for in situ fish conservation. Hilsa’s fate hangs in a balance Photo: Travel.outlook.com What studies are conducted to ascertain any reasons. Such lack of consistency 5. Hatcheries and Fish Farms are the impact of these farms of riverine in EAC decisions for same projects but increasingly being recommended by fish diversity? The EAC is fast in at different stages have been seen in EAC when impacts of these on riverine rubbishing fish ladders for high dams, other cases too like the Seli hydro biodiversity are entirely unstudied and though the same are being used project on Chenab River in Himachal unmonitored by MoEF. When worldwide after some serious Pradesh. Secondly, the EAC needs to effectiveness of these measures is not research. But, the EAC does not seem define fish pass and fish ladder clearly known, millions of rupees are to have any doubts about the efficacy as in normal parlance, the phrases are allocated for the purpose without an of Hatcheries and Fish Farms. interchangeable and there are assessment of what happens to the numerous designs for fish passes and money. However, it has been proved the world ladders. over that hatcheries help only a few The mainstay of all Fisheries targeted species (often exotic species) In many countries, including Bhutan, Management Plans for hydroelectric and not the biodiversity of the river. On fish ladders are built effectively for high projects seems to be hatcheries, the other hand, fish from hatcheries Dams. In Bhutan, for the 60 MW reservoir fisheries and fish farms. may actually be detrimental to wild Kurichhu Dam built by India NHPC, a However, there has been no study riverine fish, as they may carry functioning fish ladder for Golden commissioned by the MoEF or diseases4. In India too, hatcheries are Mahseer Migration has been provided recommended by the EAC or by any breeding bigger species, commercial and is reported to be working well. credible agency to study the impacts of varieties and exotics like exotic carps these measures on riverine fisheries, and Rainbow Trouts in most of the While the EAC has recommended fish livelihoods of local fisherfolk which are Himachal Hatcheries. They do not help ladder for some irrigation projects, it destroyed by the projects or the fish fish biodiversity and natural has not done so for many irrigation diversity in the river. population restoration, nor are they projects with comparatively low dams targeted to protect indigenous species. on biodiversity rich rivers like Kanhan, In this process, state fisheries They have impact on fish diseases, limit near Pench National Park in departments are receiving huge sums the gene pool, and affect invaluable Maharashtra or Kundalia Major of money from the private developers biodiversity. Measures like Hatcheries, Irrigation Project on River Kali Sindh as compensation and for developing fish farms, reservoir fisheries also in Madhya Pradesh, a tributary of river hatcheries and fish farms. This seems change the ownership of fisheries from Chambal, or the Indira Gandhi Sagar to be the main reason for easily- a common pool resource to a controlled Project on Wainganga River, which is acquired NOCs from State Fisheries destroying the livelihoods of 15000 Departments. fisherfolk only in the upstream, while In Himachal Pradesh alone, the downstream impacts are not even the Department of Fisheries estimated. More than 4 lakh people charges “compensation @ Rs. 0.50 lakhs depend on Wainganga River for per MW power capacity and fisheries alone. Rs. 0.50 lacs per km from tail The MoEF and EAC to be consistent in race to weir of the project in recommending fish passes and ladders, case of macro projects being based on unbiased, scientific studies envisaged on the run of the Fish Ladder on 60 MW Kuricchu Dam in Bhutan for and local participation. river development.” Bajoli Holi Project envisages paying a migration of Golden Mahseer built by Indian NHPC Photo: drukgreen.bt 4 http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/resources/salmonhatchery/risks.cfm; http://phys.org/news/2012-05-hatchery-fish.html 3 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012

innovative designs of fish ladders/ passes need to be explored, all the eflows releases should take place through these fish ways and not additional, smaller turbines, as is being done now. It is well known that fish face high mortality and injuries even passing through turbines, so migration is impossible. If assurance of continuous flow is the concern then an ungated opening in the dam just below the MDDL (minimum Draw Down Level) adequate to assure lean season eflows should be mandated. c. Distance between Dams:The current onslaught of cascade dams on biodiversity rich rivers like Alaknanda, Bhagirathi, Chenab, Sutlej, Siang, Population of Golden Mahseer is fastly declining due to its fragmentation due to dams and Dibang, Subansiri, Teesta, Tawang, barrages on rivers that form their natural habitat. Photo: Travel.outlook.com Kameng, Lohit, Netrawathi, Narmada, etc., will be disastrous to fish resource, severely affecting security of and species specific. For many fish biodiversity. The current norm of EAC the people who depend on riverine species which need flooding as a cue for (though the EAC does not accept it as a fisheries for nutrition and livelihoods. spawning and upstream migration, norm, is what is being recommended) 30% of monsoon flows will not help. In case hatcheries and fish farms are of a mere 1 kilometre between two Project specific, river specific eflows unavoidable and these and reservoir hydropower dams will have very studies, based on the ecology and fisheries are the only option, they can serious impacts on fish biodiversity sociology of the river need to be be set up on the lines of community and fisheries. This distance should be undertaken by independent managed reservoir fisheries like on based on study of fish and riverine organisation, with local participation. Dimbhe Dam near Pune organised by biodiversity for each river by an State of art methodologies like the the efforts of Shashwat5. independent credible agency (not EIA Building Block Methodology need to be consultants paid by the project explored instead of ad hoc, unscientific Why is the EAC not recommending developers without ANY credible ‘rule of thumb’ methods currently other options like innovative and well accountability mechanism) done before adopted. In the absence of e-flows, fish researched fish ways, fish passages and more than one projects start getting passes and ladders will have no ladders and actual in situ conservation allocated on any river. The EAC itself meaning. of fish by protected rivers? River has stated in its 56th Meeting that Tirthan in Himachal Pradesh is the only It has been proved beyond doubt that minimum 50% of the river should be example in India of a River protected fisheries collapse in most of the rivers left free flowing. MoEF and EAC need for its rich fisheries. We urgently need have occurred due to absence of to conduct studies about optimum to replicate such initiatives for other freshwater flows and spawning cues. distance between two dams, based on biodiversity rich rivers and stretches Environmental flow allocation to the carrying capacity, ecology and in all states and all kinds of aquatic estuaries like Krishna is extremely sociology of the basin. This study ecosystems. crucial. Maintenance of artificial floods should be done prior to recommending 6. In situ Conservation of fish and has been practiced in many countries environmental clearances (EC) and not aquatic biodiversity and protection of in Africa which has led to delinked from ECs. improvements in fisheries and have rivers needs to be looked at more d. Monitoring and compliance: regularized high flow volumes well. seriously. For this, a number things Monitoring and compliance of actual These techniques need to be added to need to be changed like: eflows releases, functioning of fish year-round regular maintenance of e- ladders, impacts of hatcheries and fish a. Environmental flows: The current flows. norm of recommending 20% of average farms on diversity and local livelihoods lean season flow in a 90% year, 30% of b. Release of environmental flows needs to conducted by a legally average monsoon flow and 20-30% of through fish passes/ ladders and not empowered project specific team with flow for months in transition is too turbines: Eflows need to be linked with 50% participation from local little, ad-hoc, unscientific and not river fish passes. While well researched communities and civil society groups.

7 http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-10/pune/32617839_1_tribal-farmers-catchment-area-villages 4 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012 e. Exclusion of dams from EIA habitats along rivers and dams which Wild Life Biologist, Member National notification: The EIA notification of Sept play a crucial role in fish breeding and Board for Wild Life Standing 2006 that is currently being followed populations.Many fish are apex feeders Committee and Member, National Tiger has excluded large dams for drinking in most riverine systems and fish Conservation Authority, Kerala, and industrial water supply, diversity and abundance, along with [email protected] 2. Dr. Sunil K. Choudhary, hydroelectric projects below 25 MW vital population processes (migration, Principal Coordinator, Vikramshila and also control measures like recruitment, spawning etc.) indicate embankments from its purview. The Biodiversity Research & Education Center, the overall health of the river. University Dept. of Botany, T.M.Bhagalpur assumption that these are benign Freshwater fisheries, which are an measures with low environmental University, Bhagalpur, [email protected] 3. Dr C.P. Shaji, Fisheries Scientist, Kerala, WHAT EXPERTS SAY ABOUT FISH LADDERS AND PASSES [email protected] Fish ladders/ passes are a controversial topic in India. While the MoEF and EAC 4. Dr. Prakash Nautiyal, HNB Garhwal University, Dehradun, would like us to believe that fish ladders do not work for our high dams, ladders for [email protected] much higher dams (Ex. Pelton am in Oregon, Kurichhu Dam in Bhutan) exist and have 5. Dr. R. Rajkumar, Associate Professor, been functioning well. SANDRP interviewed several fish and conservation experts Research and PG Dept. of Zoology,Govt. from across India and Bhutan about fish ladders and passes. Fisheries Scientists Victoria College, Palakkad, Kerala, and Experts are unanimous in asserting that we do not have any studies to back the [email protected] assumption fish ladders/ passes are ineffective in India. We need more studies for 6. Dr. Nilesh Heda, Fisheries Scientist, Karanja our species as “our fish are not Salmon”. Lad, Washim, Maharashtra, Nor do we have studies about the functioning, monitoring, management and effi- [email protected] 7. Dr. Shrinivas Badiger, Water, Land cacy of the rare few existing fish ladders ( like at Narora Barraga, Hirakud, Harike, and Livelihoods Expert,Karnataka, older Bhimgouda Barrage, Farraka Barrage, etc.) we have. [email protected] Questions to CIFRI solicited a response that MoEF takes fisheries mitigation very 8. Dr. Latha Anantha, River Research Centre, seriously and that CIFRI is working on a report on ladders. Kerala,[email protected] 9. Dr. Biju Kumar, Associate Professor and Interestingly, experts were also unanimous in stating that hatcheries should be used Head, Department of Aquatic Biology as a last resort, if all in situ mitigation measures fail. In their opinion, hatcheries help and Fisheries University of Kerala, only few commercial species, while loss of original gene pool and indigenous Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, biodiversity goes unnoticed. Some experts also raised questions about the unac- dr [email protected] countable and opaque way of functioning of hatcheries like the Tehri Hydropower 10. Dr. K.H. Amitha Bachan , Research Development Corporation's hatchery for Tehri Dam. Director, Western Ghats Hornbill Foundation, Aranyak Interviewed experts include Dr. Shivakumar from WII, Dr. Prakash Nautiyal from Thrissur, Kerala,[email protected] Garhwal University, Nachiket Kelkar from NCF, Dr. Shyam Bhat from Karnataka Fish- 11. Nachiket Kelkar, Fisheries Scientist, work eries Department, WWF India and Karma Choppel from Bhutan Environment Com- on Ganges River Dolphin, Nature mission. Conservation Foundation, Karnataka,[email protected] important component of our rich 12. Panduranga Hegde, Shrishti, impacts (including on fisheries) is freshwater biodiversity and a source of Karnataka,[email protected] clearly wrong. Embankments on subsistence for millions of Indians, 13. Nisarg Prakash, Otter Expert, Nityata Foundation,Karnataka,[email protected] Brahmaputra have resulted in declined should be given their due by the MoEF. carp fisheries while small hydro 14. Ranjan Panda, Water Initiatives Odisha projects in Western Ghats of Karnataka This is even more relevant and urgent ranjan,[email protected] are seriously damaging invaluable fish in the context of climate change which 15. Jiten Umnam, Citizens Concern for Dams and Development, Manipur , biodiversity and community fish is leading to major hydrological [email protected] sanctuaries. changes and affecting habitats. Dams 16. Committee on the Protection of Natural are compounding habitat loss leaving Resources in Manipur The MoEF urgently needs to change this no adaptive options for people or to include all large dams (as per CWC/ 17. Centre for Research and Advocacy Manipur biodiversity alike. Let us hope that the 18. Ravindranath, River Basin Friends, ICOLD/ WCD definition), all hydro MoEF and EAC together look at in situ Dhemaji, Assam, [email protected] projects above 1 MW and all conservation of fish urgently and 19. Shankar Sharma, Power Policy Analyst, embankment projects for Environment seriously and help protect rivers and Karnataka,[email protected] clearance requirements. This will also communities in the process. 20. Samir Mehta, International Rivers, help protect fisheries and riverine Mumbai, samir@ inetrnationalrivers.org ENDORSED BY biodiversity. The River Regulation Zone 21.Himanshu Thakkar (ht.sandrp@ (RRZ) Notification needs to be 1. Dr. A.J.T Johnsingh, Eminent gmail.com), Parineeta Dandekar (parineeta. promulgated to protect riparian [email protected]), SANDRP

contd on5 page 10 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012 “FOREST ADVISORY COMMITTEE BLATANTLY VIOLATING FOREST RIGHTS ACT”

In a very significant letter to the Environment Minister 1dated 21st November 2012, Tribal Affairs Minister Kishore Chandr Deo stated that Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) has flouted not only the orders of its nodal ministry but also the law of the land by blatantly violating the Forest Rights Act 2006.

ccording to the above letter, “As aligning its processes to the Forest harassment, injustice, delays and per the Scheduled Tribes and Rights Act requires that the FAC seek litigation. We have already seen several AOther Traditional Forest consent letters from affected tribals and such instances, resulting in either Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) forest-dwellers before giving over violation of people's rights or in delays Act, 2006 (Forest Rights Act of 2006), forests to the industry. and cancellation of projects." clearance for forest diversion for Despite these strong provisions, that He condemned the FAC's recent any project cannot be given without letter stated that FAC continued to hand practice of merely including a recognition of the rights of the over forest patches to industry in "condition" that the FRA should be people in and around the forests and disregard of the law. "I am anguished complied with before final clearance is consent of the gram sabha for such to find that even five years after given. This is lip service that this diversion. The Forest Advisory enactment of FRA, the statutory FAC committee has been doing to avoid the Committee hence should not be continues blatantly to ignore the law. He notes that "this is only adding considering any project proposals existence of both this law and the 2009 to the confusion ... project proponents unless there are gram sabha resolutions order. How is it (the FAC) then will be placed in the odd position of from the affected villages certifying that continuing to ignore people's rights? having received "in principle" clearance indeed forest rights have been Why is it misleading both project as well as environmental and other recognised and that they are giving proponents and the public into statutory clearances, only to be denied consent for the diversion. This is a believing that these projects are in at the very last stage as a result of FRA statutoryrequire- ment under the compliance with the law when they violations. This would result either in Forest Rights Act.” In addition, enviro- often are not? The FAC's abdication of delay in final clearance, or in State nment ministry order of August 2009 responsibility will produce conflict, governments and project proponents seeking to evade the law entirely." He has further said, “We are in MARKETS NOT A SOLUTION FOR AN ECONOMY WHERE 47% OF agreement that this is a very disturbing ITS POOR RELY ON THE HARVEST OF NATURAL RESOURCES scenario as it is a violation of the legal 47%-89% GDP of India's rural poor comes from natural resources: UN, In a report and constitutional rights of our presented at the CBD COP 11 in Hyderabad in October 2012, the United Nations country’s poorest and most Environment Programme (UNEP) analysed income of 352 million poor Indians and marginalised citizens. It is also found that 47% of their GDP comes from use of natural resources such as harvesting resulting in growing conflict, protests, of forest produce, collecting medicinal herbs from forests and fisheries. The report and litigation, and hence in delays in estimated that the ecosystem services and other non-marketed goods account for decision making.” between 47% and 89% of the 'GDP of the poor' for India. Significantly, he stated that the tribal Pawan Sukhdev, UNEP's Goodwill Ambassador and team leader of TEEB (The Eco- affairs ministry too should be nomics of ecosystems and Biodiversity) said the markets were not a solution to represented on the FAC. Asked about social problems and some cases, they tend, to complicate the matters. "Conven- Deo's letter, Natarajan stated that she tional GDP is not relevant to poor as it does not benefit them as much as the rich". has received the letter and she intends India has about 380 million poor, half of whom are dependent on ecosystem services to reply in detail to reiterate “that we for daily sustainability. Even the Prime Minister said at the CBD that, "Biodiversity are implementing the FRA stringently.” based livelihood options form the basis of rural survival. Living at the periphery of subsistence, the poor are the most at risk from biodiversity loss". In the meantime, in the upcoming FAC Meeting for Nov 26-27 makes no At the same time, according to MoEF Press Release, India has diverted 11.44 lakh mention of the FRA or Gram Sabha hectares of forest land, for projects since Forest Conservation Act came into force in resolution while considering clearance 1980 for developmental projects. This means an annual average of 35,775 hectares of to projects. SANDRP and a number of forest land diverted, we do not know the extent of its impacts on the rural GDP, organisations have written to the MoEF wellbeing or ecological health. (The Hindustan Times 171012) and FAC about this serious and continuing farce. 1 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/developmental-issues/Kishore-Chandra-Deo- accusesenvironment-ministry-panel-of-giving-away-forests-in-violation-of-laws/articleshow/17301883.cms 6 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012 THIRSTY RIVERS, BYGONE FISHES, HUNGRY SOCIETIES

A young naturalist and fisheries expert writes about the bygone fish and biodiversity of Ganga, which nurtured many in her wake and how dams changed the ecology of the lower and middle Ganga basin beyond recognition.

ore than seven decades ago, species, seems to be a mysterious yet and all that eat fish, have shown there used to be a common feature to all perennial rivers tremendous declines (up to 70%) due to Mfacultative1 clan of monsoonal of India, from the Cauvery to the dam regulation of river systems. Himalayan foothill streams. Enormous fishers in the interfluve region of the Fisheries collapse from dams has also declines have been noted for Mahseer Ghaghra and Sarjyu rivers in eastern acted in the reverse order, for species in the southern region of the Ganges, to Uttar Pradesh. They would be involved that migrate to the sea to breed and the tune of ‘ecological extinctions’, otherwise in farming and related swim upriver to develop as adults. The where these species are not able to activities, but a time would come in most notable of these declines has been September when they would go seeking that of the Anguilla benghalensis eel or Hilsa, that tasty fish running up the the Bannbir or Bannbouchh in local waters of the Ganges and into the terms. This eel is not a sensitive animal. Ghaghra River, all the way from West Bengal. The Hilsa Tenualosa ilisha, a Apart from being a good, powerful clupeid fish species, used to make swimmer it can ‘walk’ on flooded rice annual migrations upriver for fields and marshy wet grassland until spawning in the monsoons, throughout it reaches the next water body. It uses the Gangetic rivers. With that surface water connectivity of flooded migration it would not only symbolize wetlands by powering itself with large an eternal and connected river, but also air sacs. Despite this, fishers the arrival of a nature-borne delicacy throughout north and central India for poor fisher folk. In the Ghaghra report that these large eels have nearly basin, that delicacy is not even in vanished. If even the hardy eel finds no anybody’s memory now. The Hilsa, water, it says everything about the rate except in estuarine Bengal, has become at which crucial fish habitats are being extinct almost everywhere today due dissipated. Also, dams have seriously to the construction of the Farakka limited the influx of freshwater that barrage across the Ganges. This barrage maintains estuarine conditions and was constructed in 1972-73 and processes. ‘The sea is already at the thereafter led to a complete blockade in doorstep of people near Sonakhali’ says their spawning migratory routes an old fisher about 30 km inside from upriver, eventuating in a collapse of the the Hooghly-Sunderbans delta mouths once-viable commercial Hilsa fishery at the Bay of Bengal. upstream. That was why I was Last Hilsa of the day Historically important commercial astonished on hearing from the Photo: sos-arsenic.net fishes such as the sawfish or the ‘comb Ghaghra fishers that the Hilsa ranged fish’ or Chiruni Maachh in West Bengal, perform their ecological roles or provide so north once. Even British records have have become extinct in the estuary. This resources to fisheries anymore. Giant not mentioned the occurrence of fish was a predatory unique species catfishes of our rivers, such as the migrating Hilsa much north of with a side-barbed snout. The increase Goonch Bagarius yarrellii, Silonia Allahabad. in salinity of estuaries because of low silondia and Pangas Pangasius freshwater releases by dams across The Hilsa is just one tragic example of pangasius that once grew to 200 kilos India is also leading to destruction of many of its cousins that have met the and above, have been nearly lost too. mangroves and increased coastal same fate because of large dams. The The freshwater stingray Himantura erosion. Thus dams have not only yellow catfish Mystus menoda used to sephen is now a creature of the affected the fishes but also their homes be another such sought-after seasonal imagination. The freshwater and nurseries. Seeing the impressive fishery. Most fishers have not seen the Macrobrachium prawn fishery of the pictures of these unique river giants, one ‘Belonda’ as it is locally called, in several middle and lower Ganges upstream of often feels a sense of guilt, along with years. The trend of declines in ‘yellow Farakka has breathed its last. Our loss. The bygone fishes of the Gangetic migrant catfishes’, irrespective of actual native carps, so highly valued by one

1 Not necessarily fishing, not obligate or restricted to fisheries alone. 7 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012

the tune of 90% in general, and almost excessive sand mining that causes 99% for migrant fishes) leads to extreme destruction of alluvial destructive fishing methods being floodplains and nesting habitats of adopted in desperation and a boom- several turtles, birds and crocodilians. and-bust fishery begins. Mosquito nets We are not much behind China in our are set up in the main channels of rivers freshwater biodiversity debacle. China (which would not withstand the flow has also had very similar species going of enough water), which cause almost extinct in the last 2-3 decades: indiscriminate capture and mortality broadly shads (Clupeids), large of fish eggs and the smallest of juvenile catfishes and sturgeons. The Three fishes. How will the fish even grow as a Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River has Dry Ganga downstream Farakka Barrage population if the youngest of their lot converted this mighty river into a large Photo Courtesy: http:// die at the rate of thousands of tons open sewer. Much has been lost in this riversandcommunities.wordpress.com/2008/ daily? Invasive exotic species such as human-made disaster, including basin serve as painful memory of the Tilapia, Chinese Carps, and (hold your remarkable wild species such as the undammed past. breath) Red-Bellied Piranha, are taking Baiji or Chinese River Dolphin that are completely over natural river fisheries It is also difficult to imagine fishes now totally extinct, and the Chinese alligator in India by escaping from food fish as more than food in the public psyche; and several endemic turtle species that culture ponds, as they can establish especially less so as independent, are now extinct in the wild. It is a for- faster in low flows. Poisoning of charismatic entities of biodiversity, real forecast of what our species are shallow side-channels to capture fishes recognition they immediately deserve. likely to face given imminent ‘complete en masse is another horrible fallout of But for the fisher community it is a devastations’ of freshwater habitats in not having much water. The human memory of tastes that heralded a the form of proposals of hundreds of capacity to degrade fisheries has only glorious, pristine past. It is folk lore, dams and river interlinking. The been exacerbated by dams and cuisine and grandfathers’ tales of their Ganges river dolphin, Gharial, soft- excessive, wasteful regulation of water. times. For the young fisherman it is a shell and Batagur turtles and several When the river flow is so impoverished, borrowed, created experience, feeling fishes are exact parallels to species that digging sand or gravel becomes much those tastes without never actually are only confined to human memory easier. And then there is the threat of feeling them. Being able to eat these now in China. The devastation is in our fishes has been a sense of identity, now stepped over by a distant process of destruction. Fishers who live off the Ganges strongly feel the pressure of dams everywhere. In north India, ‘Farakka’ – the word doesn’t mean a village on the Bangladesh border anymore, but means destruction by dams. The local Hindi dialects have borrowed new phraseology: “Farakka hua, tabse hilsa toh bas bhabis (Farakka happened, and then Hilsa exist only in imagined future)”. The same phrase repeats up to the Yamuna River! In my recent status survey of Gangetic fisheries almost 75-80% of fishers singled out ‘Farakka’ as the root cause of all their miseries. They actually referred to multiple barrages built on the respective rivers. But destruction had a common name. The in-river scarcity of water is not limited to the loss of fish species alone. Having little water causes a cascade of effects – the collapse of fisheries (to Anguilla benghalensis eel or the Bannbir or Bannbouchh Photo: Wikimedia Commons 8 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012

processes and functions apart from meeting irrigation, hydropower and industry needs. This is a difficult balance, but it has been suggested that it may still be possible to approximate these needs through regular releases that follow seasonal changes in natural flow regimes. Regular flow releases could actually entail significant benefits to local farm and fish-based economies, mostly practiced by marginalized resource users. Just allowing more water to flow in the river could be a far more effective subsidy than other ‘intensive’ allocations to these producers (e.g. fertilizers or imported gillnets). At the moment, there is virtually no water in the dry-season even in many large, mountain-fed rivers across the country, as dams have diverted it all away rather wastefully and cheaply, and there is no accountability on the rational use of Fishing in Ganga Delta water distributed. Wasteful, high-end Photo: http://www.realmagick.com/ganges-delta-agriculture-and-fishing/ use of water by urban areas, industry or hydropower projects is highly face. or the National Water Policy Draft, subsidized, whereas it is these uses that need to be charged for cross-subsidy When will our dam builders, ministries 2012, (or even the current NWP 2002) benefits to marginal producers directly of environments, fisheries developers on the issue of ‘e-flows’, and of course, dependent on the rivers. These careless and technocrats wake up? Dams on no action to maintain flow regimes allowances have fuelled the pipe dream regulated rivers are supposed to similar to natural variation or even to of technological capacity that our urban provide timely releases of water in the maintain minimum flows to maintain river, as ‘base flows’ or ‘minimum hydrological continuity. In fact, recent societies are still lost in. studies on regulation of tropical rivers flows’, ‘environmental flows or e-flows’ If there is not enough water in our suggest that it is not enough to just as per seasonal dynamics of pulsed reservoirs and rivers, where is the maintain minimum or e-flows, but flooding and flowing cycles of the rivers. question of mitigation measures for near-natural, adequate flows are There has however, been no river fishes to migrate for spawning, as required for a multitude of ecosystem commitment at all from the government is assumed vehemently for a safeguard?

GANGA, FISH AND FARAKKA IN SOME RECENT PARLIAMENT DEBATE Shri Prasanta Kumar Majumdar (Revolutionary Socialist Party MP elected from Balurghat, W Bengal) said during a discussion under Rule 193 on Situation arising out of the threat being posed to the very existence of River Ganga and the Himalayas in Loksabha on Dec 19, 20113, “In my state west Bengal the Farakka dam obstructs the river and the Calcutta port is also in poor condition. So the Central Government must take steps in this regard. The fishing community of the basin is wholly dependent on Ganga. The river Ganga must be preserved in the interest of the fishermen also.” Bihar’s RJD leader Shri Lalu Prasad Yadav said in the same discussion, “Right from Farakka to Uttar Pradesh lakhs of fishermen live along both sides of this river but today they are starving and have no work to do. Nobody is there to listen to their grievances. People have disfigured the geography of this nation and have also done a great damage to the rivers.” Shri Parbodh Panda (CPI MP from Midnapore in W Bengal) during a debate in Loksabha on Ganga River on May 17, 20124 said: “Farakka project is creating problems in many respects. My suggestion is that, fast augmentation of water flow should be done and most of the dams should be bent and crushed. Steps should be taken against illegal mining. Stringent laws should be made against pollution causing activities. There should be a re-look at the international and several other agreements. There should also be a relook at the dams, canals and hydro plants. There are several options of providing electricity, but there is no alternate to the river Ganga. So, the Ganga should be protected now.”.

9 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012

For instance, the Farakka fish lifts do have to understand the dynamics of among the largest producers of inland not seem to have been of any help, for species responses to different flow freshwater fish in the world, registering studies have been reporting Hilsa regimes. Will dam engineers and a growth of something like 30-40% in extinctions both upstream and ecologists sit together and conceive inland fish production just over the last downstream to the tune of 99.9%. If they options for flow regime ‘creation’ by 15 years. But such ranking hides a lot of were effective even up to a tidbit of what fixing timely releases? It will be of high miserable facts about river is claimed, poor fisher people wouldn’t value and take substantial degradation. Pond fisheries, due to their have singled out these extinctions so bureaucratic courage to test sudden (short-term) economic gains, firmly. Some other dams in hill-streams experimentally, through treatments have cornered all attention of fisheries and rivers in the Western Ghats and and controls with flow regimes for development only to culture ponds and hatcheries. Hatcheries are even being lower Himalaya have fish ladders that short time-periods in actual dams. recommended for helping fish grow, have been claimed relatively helpful, Multiple new practices are being that could be released back into rivers but there is absolutely no empirical adopted in many tropical countries in to enhance production. But how will demonstration of success available. For Africa for the maintenance of artificial these fishes live out there in nature, large rivers, fish ladders, lifts and flooding to help wetland rice without adequate, clean water and passages have been a total failure of cultivation (IUCN, 2000, www.omvs- unblocked swim ways? Also, millions mitigation. The success of mitigation of fishers have no access or capital to has to be assessed at least through the start hatcheries, and continue to partial restoration of viable local subsist on natural flows. With their commerce based on migrant fishes, not only basis of survival taken away a by touting the occasional flood-time mass exodus of fishing castes has been crossover of a handful of fishes to occurring; and eking it out as reaches upstream of dams. rickshaw-pullers and construction laborers in cities. One could argue that Most fish ladders have been letting some more water flow in the completely ineffective as the water rivers’ natural courses could avert levels are simply too low for fishes to these severe economic collapses. cross over their rungs. Tropical fishes Besides it will provide social, cultural, have different strategies from species Completely Dry Ganga downstream of environmental, ecological and such as Salmon that migrate over dam Bhimgouda barrage in Uttarakhand hydrological benefits, including passages in cold-water rivers and Photo: Parineeta Dandekar groundwater recharge. streams. Yet, there is hardly any hc.org). Artificial flood maintenance The heavy and criminal discounting of research on the needs of migratory might be an important temporary river water is going to hit back hard at tropical fish species while planning solution to balance provision of enough us one bad day, a fitting price for our ‘engineering textbook designs’ of these water for replenishment of floodplain blindness as a society to the everyday ladders and passes. There are many soils and hyporheic recharge. impacts of dams we have right before designs, ideas and trials, but what is us. In the process of denigrating river River fisheries have been one of India’s really needed is enough flowing water. water, habitats and biodiversity, we most underperforming production Furthermore, we need a whole body of would have sold short the lives of sectors over the last 3-4 decades. If one research on what ‘our’ fishes actually millions of Indians. Natural river had to clinically investigate this need, for our fishes are no salmon, and courses with adequate water, are not decline, it coincides with the period of the rivers are not bursting with rapids only essential for humans, fishes and maximum dam building in India. Very of icy water (our rivers are much bigger wildlife, but most critical for the few reports actually mention that the forces to reckon with). There has to be survival of rivers themselves. It is said major cause of river fishery collapse has the context of specific address of how we treat our thirsty rivers is a sign been dams, most reports point to river of how much we respect our culture and livelihoods and biodiversity in dam pollution. But dams have also played a civilization. A look at the parched river engineering design, mitigation role in massively concentrating courses points to the course our fish measures, through consultations with pollution effects by reducing the wealth has already taken, and our local farmers and fishers about the dilution capacity of rivers. levels of water they desire to see in the human resources will soon have taken2. river. It does take courage to conduct States like Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal have become big on commercial NACHIKET KELKAR large-scale experiments on the effective ([email protected]) and optimal flow release procedures, carp production in managed ponds. This has contributed to India becoming but it is needed urgently now if we contd on page 30 2 Citations to studies referred to in this article have been listed in the bibliography. 3 http://164.100.47.132/synop/15/IX/Sup+Synopsis-19-12-2011.pdf 4 http://164.100.47.132/synop/15/X/Sup+Synopsis-17-05-2012.pdf 10 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012

DAMS ON CHENAB: HOW MANY ARE TOO MANY? Chenab (Chand Aab), Chandrabhaga, or the Moon River flows for 130 kilometres in Himachal Pradesh, which holds a tiny proportion of the basins catchment area: 7500 sq kms of its total 61000 sq kms. In this tiny area, Himachal Pradesh is constructing, implementing and planning 49 major hydroelectric projects on Chenab. While other rivers like Sutlej, Beas and Ravi as well as smaller streams and tributaries in Himachal are almost completely dammed or in the process of being finished off, Chenab was the last comparatively free flowing, healthy rivers of the State.

s things stand now, if all these should be lifted as “it's unilateral and hydropower dams, when there is projects are implemented, less contrary to the state's interests". Chief burgeoning literature pointing to the Athan 10% of the river can be Minister Shri. Prem Kumar Dhumal, in impacts of hydrological fluctuations on seen flowing at all. Dams are being a letter to Environment Minister ecology, when USA has actually constructed bumper to bumper in a Jayanti Natarajan says, "As many as decommissioned more than 1000 dams, very tight sequence, where water from 28 hydroelectric projects of combined majority of them hydropower projects, one hydro project meets not for their impacts on ecology, the the river, but reservoir of the Power Secretary of Himachal next hydro project in line. This Pradesh, said before a meeting of conversion of a living river Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) into a series of puddles, of the MoEF on Cumulative Impact alternating with dry Assessment study of Chenab that stretches, bypassed by the “so far there is no conclusive study tunnels has a profound impact indicating that the Hydropower on ecology, biodiversity, projects have detrimental effects on hydrology, sociology and the river health”2. This is a water availability of the completely wrong and unscientific region. statement demonstrating clear bias Himachal is already facing all of the state government for hydel these impacts in the Sutlej projects, most of them by private basin where scores of projects players. And the Expert Appraisal Committee, whose primary task is are being implemented and Tandi, where Rivers Chandra and Bhaga meet to form the where Luhri project, funded to look at environmental impacts of Chandrabhaga, or Chenab. all major Hydro projects of the by the World Bank, will Photo Courtesy: Kishore Thakural destroy the last remaining 50 country and sanction projects based kilometres free flowing stretch of the generation capacity of 5,800 MW are at on the severity of these impacts, did not river. In the neighbouring state of an advanced stage of obtaining object to this statement! Uttarakhand which is facing a fate (Environment Ministry) clearances. All Dams on Chenab in Himachal: In the similar to Himachal, such cascades on these projects are located on the ecologically and socially fragile, highly Alaknanda and Bhagirathi Rivers led Chenab. Such a condition would result seismic District of Lahaul and Spiti, in delaying the execution of the to wide protests in the entire country. 1 more than 20 projects are sanctioned IIT Roorkie and Wildlife Institute of projects” . It seems as if the Chief or are under construction. India were commissioned to conduct Minister thinks that interest of the Interestingly, most of these projects are studies on the Cumulative Impacts of state lies only in execution of being developed by powerful private hydropower dams on Alaknanda and hydropower projects and nothing else. players like Tata Power, Reliance, DCM Bhagirathi Basins and the Prime Services obtained from a River like Sri Ram, Moser Baer and L & T. Minister and Environment Minister water availability, groundwater recharge, fishing, irrigation through Impacts: Many of these projects are stressed the importance of such being opposed by locals. Lahaul and studies. smaller streams, climate regulation, tourism and protection of lands, Spiti region is a secluded region with a But no one seems to be bothered about forests, mountains or biodiversity are population density of less than 2 3 Chenab. Himachal Pradesh not in the interest of the state and people/ sq kms at places . The region is Government, on the other hand, is worthless. dotted with Buddhist Monasteries, is aggressively saying that condition of famed for its peas and potatoes, swift Cumulative Impact Assessment for Even as the entire world is making and scenic rivers and thriving projects in Chenab put by the MoEF efforts to ameliorate impacts of population of trout fish. 300 MW Gyspa 1 http://thehimachalnews.com/himachal-asks-for-environment-waivers-on-chenab-river-projects/ 2 Statement by Shri. Deepak Sanan, 55th Meeting of the Expert Appraisal Committee of the MoEF 11 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012

Project has been facing stiff local opposition because of its submergence and displacement of more than 100 families. The region has very few places fit for yearlong inhabitation and cultivation making rehabilitation is very difficult task for close knit communities. In addition to dams on Chenab, dams on Spiti River, tributary of Sutlej also fall in Lahual & Spiti region, adding to the unimaginable stress on the vulnerable and highly seismic region. Nealry all projects fall in seismic zones IV or V. Cumulative Impact Assessment? The MoEF sanctioned TORs for conducting Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) of Chenab In February 2012. Very surprisingly, this critical task has been entrusted to the Directorate of Energy, Government of Himachal Pradesh. Can there be an agency with a greater conflict of interest than the Directorate of Energy to conduct this study? Can we expect this department, which has been hell bent on damming all flowing project being dropped or modified availability as indicated in Central rivers, streams and nallahs in significantly after Environmental Water Commission’s revised Himachal, to conduct this study in an Clearance has been granted. The EAC hydrological studies. Urgent studies unbiased manner? Even as the even finds changing E-flows release are needed to understand why water Directorate put out request for condition impossible after granting a availability in these regions is proposal for contractors to conduct this clearance. So no independent action can increasing sharply. One of the most study, it did not mention that the be expected after this delinking. probable reasons is increased glacial consultant has to be an independent melt due to Climate Change. This needs agency with credible track record. This Delinking environmental clearances from CIA study defeats the entire to analysed further as it has many far was specifically instructed by the EAC. reaching implications on water This seems to be just a beginning of a purpose of undertaking an objective CIA. If the assessment of cumulative security and disaster management. biased study, heavily favouring hydro This can lead to increased danger of projects. impacts is not going to inform the decisions, heights, capacities and extreme climate events like the The MoEF on its part, seems to have lengths of Head Race Tunnels for the devastating floods in Leh in 2010 which meekly accepted Himachal Pradesh project keeping in mind various took a toll of over 115 lives. Impacts of Chief Minister’s demand of delinking aspects of impacts and carrying such extreme climate events will be Environmental Clearances with capacity, what is the use of the compounded by the scores of hydel Cumulative Impact Assessment Study cumulative impact assessment? EAC projects. Local communities are also without any questions asked. EAC and and MoEF should immediately stop raising these issues in most of the MoEF have been according clearances considering any projects in the basin public hearings, without getting and TORs to projects on Chenab with for consideration before a credible, satisfactory responses. great efficiency. In the last 2 Meetings independent CIA is completed and Hydel projects on Chenab in Jammu in Sept-Oct 2012, the EAC approved assessed in participation with the and Kashmir: As Chenab descends TORs and revised capacities for as Chenab valley residents and others from Himachal and enters Jammu and many 6 Projects in Chenab in concerned. Kashmir, it is dammed by even bigger Himachal, without even mentioning In addition to this, private project projects operating, under construction that recommendations of the or planned. Table 2 below lists Cumulative Impacts Assessment Study proponents are ‘revising’ (another term for increasing) capacities of hydel hydropower projects of close to 9000 will have to be adhered to. As it is, we MW in Chenab basin in Jammu and do not have a single example of a projects by leaps and bounds. The reason given is increased water Kashmir, this is not the full list.

12 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012

construction and operation with a Partial List of Large Hydro Projects Planned/Under combined capacity of over 13000 MW Implementation in Chenab Basin in Himachal Pradesh and this is an under estimate in Distance Distance Sl CAP District Length of Developer absence of full exact figures. This very HEP Tributary from U/s from D/s HRT (km) high density of projects magnifies their No in Project Project MW impacts on all aspects: downstream 1 Gyspa 300 Lahaul and Bhaga 14.96 HP Power hydrology, muck generation and Corporation Ltd Spiti disposal, cumulative impacts of 2 Chattru 120 Lahaul and Chandra 10.48 Not DCM Sri Ram submergence, resettlement, cumulative Spiti Applicable impacts of loss of forest land an 3 Shangling 44 Lahaul and Chandra Reliance Power habitats, impacts on fish like famous Spiti Chenab Trout by series of high dams, 4 Miyar 120 Lahaul and Chandrabhaga Moser Baer impacts on region’s seismicity, silt Spiti discharge of the river, impact of 5 Tandi 104 Lahaul and 7.4 ABG Shipyard blasting and tunnelling, transport and Spiti road construction, construction and 6 Rashil 130 ABG Shipyard management of workers camps and 7 Seli 400 Lahaul and Zero Moser Baer colonies, ambient air quality, disaster Spiti risk, impact on local water sources and 8 Reoli Dugli 420 Lahaul and 11 Zero Moser Baer groundwater, cumulative impacts on Spiti region’s waters security, fragile 9 Teling 94 Reliance Power cultural fabric, etc. ABG Shipyard 10 Bardang 126 Lahaul and Cumulative impacts of cascading mega Spiti hydro projects of all the above issues 11 Patam 60 Lahaul and 9.75 + km are unequivocally huge, irreversible Spiti and negative. Most of the power 12 Tinget 81 generated in the basin will be going out 13 Purthi 300 Lahaul and Reliance Power of the basin, so will be the benefits of Spiti Partial list of large hydropower projects 14 Sach Khas 260 Chamba Chenab 3.5 km 9 kms on Chenab in Tata Power SN 15 Dugar 380 Chenab 8.5 km 9 km 3 kms Jammu and Kashmir Chamba Group, Norway Sl Project Capacity River 16 Gondhala 144 Lahaul and Chenab No Spiti 1 Kirthai I 250 Chenab 17 Khoksar 90 Lahaul and Chenab 2 Kirthai II 990 Chenab Spiti 3 Bursar 1200/1500 Marusudar Total 3173 4 Pakal Dul 1000 Marusudar Dul Hasti 390 According to the Central Electricity Kishtwar High Altitude National Park. 5 Chenab Authority4, Projects totalling 4200 MW Here again, projects are planned (Operating) are planned in the 12th Five Year Plan bumper to bumper, no environmental 6 Ratle (GVK) 850 Chenab while additional Projects for 2075 MW mitigation measures like fish passes or 7 BagliharI 450 Chenab have been identified. Some projects are ladders are included and social impacts (Operating) under consideration for forest and appear to be huge, adding to the overall 8 BagliharII 450 Chenab environmental clearance like 1200 MW cumulative impacts. 9 Sawalkote 1200 Chenab Bursar project in Kishtwar district, Despite of this, no cumulative impact 10 Salal 690 Chenab which requires area 1665 hecatres of assessment study is being (Operating) land, including 1077 hectares of Forest, Chainani I, recommended of undertaken for 11 33 Tributary affecting more than 500 families in over II,III Chenab basin in Jammu and Kashmir. 14 villages ( Option 2 requires 4593 Ha 12 Kiru 600 Chenab of land!), and the 1200 MW Sawalkote Cumulative Impact Assessment of the 13 Kwar 520 Chenab entire Chenab Basin: Chenab presently Dam will require 1099 ha land, Total 8623/8923 including 600 hectares forest. Some of has more than 70 major hydel projects these dams are submerging parts of the in various stages of planning, contd on page 20 3 http://www.himdhara.org/2012/03/14/leave-the-chenab-alone-lahaul-residents-activists-appeal/ 4 The 30th meeting of the Standing Committee on Power System Planning of Northern Region, Central Electricity Authority, December 2011 13 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012

INDIAN HIMALAYAS MOVING TOWARDS HIGHEST DAM DENSITIES IN THE WORLD In a ground breaking paper published in May 2012, Conservation Biology entitled 'Potential Effects of Ongoing and Proposed Hydropower Development on Terrestrial Biological Diversity in the Indian Himalaya', authors Maharaj Pandit and Edward Grumbine, highlight the colossal impacts of maniacal hydro power development in the Himalayas on terrestrial diversity, forest cover and rates of species extinctions. The authors qualify these findings by saying that they have used conservative estimates and the actual losses may be much higher than this prediction.

he shattering findings of the 3. More than 54,000 hectares forest to Over the next 13 years, dam-building paper say that if 292 proposed be submerged: 54,117 ha of forests activity alone, if carried out in already- T and under construction dams in would be submerged and 114,361 ha degraded forests, is predicted to lead to Himalayas (including Jammu and would be damaged by dam-related the extinction of 10 angiosperm and 3 Kashmir, Himachal, Uttarakhand, activities. Most dams would be located vertebrate species. In scenario 2, Sikkim, and the remaining North East, in species-rich areas of the Himalaya. haphazard dam building resulted in which is a huge underestimation, the the loss of 114, 361 ha of forests actual numbers are closer to 400+) are A disproportionately high percentage (including 63,360 ha of dense forests) built, then Indian Himalayas would (90%) of dams would be concentrated and in species extinctions doubling have: in species-rich subtropical and over the same period. temperate zones in the Indian 1. The Highest Dam Density in the Himalaya. Yet at present, due to limited By 2100 extinction projections under World: Dam density of the region would studies and little certainty about the conservative SAR estimates indicated be: 0.3247/1000 km2, nearly 62 times likelihood of all projects being built, it the potential loss of 1505 angiosperms greater than current average global is difficult to quantify precisely the full and 274 vertebrates driven by figures; the average of 1 dam for every extent of ecological 32 km of river channel would be 1.5 changes that may times higher than figures reported for result from U.S. rivers. proposed dam building. Sikkim, the most species rich state in the country would have the highest 4. Accelerated density (4/1000 km2), followed by species extinction: Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh By 2025, (both 1.5/1000 km2). Dam densities in deforestation due to the Brahmaputra (0.5825/1000 km2), dam building the Indus (0.2895/1000 km2), and the would likely result Ganga (0.1022/1000 km2) basins would in extinction of 22 be 110, 55, and 19 times higher, angiosperm and 7 respectively, than the current global vertebrate taxa average. projected. For this startling finding, Ganga basin would have the highest the authors say number of dams (1/18 km of river “We have been channel dammed) in the world, cautious with these followed by the Brahmaputra (1/35 km) projections. Our and the Indus (1/36 km). estimates of forest 2. 90% Himalayan valleys affected: loss from dam Nearly 90% of Indian Himalayan building are lower valleys would be affected by dam than those building and 27% of these dams would projected by the affect dense forests. Out of 32 major GOI and we river valleys, 28 would be affected by selected the most dam building and nearly 90% of the conservative dams would be located between the values” Dams planned and under construction in the Teesta Basin subtropical and temperate zones. Photo: SANDRP 14 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012 background deforestation and dam building combined Disturbance due to dam building would likely reduce tree species richness by 35%, tree density by 42%, and tree basal cover by 30% in dense forests. “These results, combined with relatively weak national environmental impact assessment and implementation, point toward significant loss of species if all proposed dams in the Indian Himalaya are constructed. It is unknown whether the Baspa River Destroyed by the Baspa Dam in Himachal Pradesh public, once informed of Photo: SANDRP Partners the consequences, would scientific basis (Sadoff et al. 2011). Our poor implementation of EIA processes be willing to choose social goods over results lend support to these claims, but remain problems, and no projects have ecological benefits. This situation is in India, so far, there remains little been rejected because loss of biological exacerbated by the fact that the GOI has attention paid to ecological evaluation diversity has been cited, except in rare never carried out studies of the of large-scale development cases involving protected areas and country’s future energy requirements (Bandyopadhyay & Gyawali 1994; flagship species such as the tiger (Singh that examine alternatives beyond Agrawal 2010).” 2006). In addition, there is no legal hydropower that may find a reduced requirement in current EIA regulations need for so many dams (WWF 2007). “EIA regulations in India do make for analyses of cumulative effects, but And, according to a recent study from assessment of biological diversity “a given the density of planned dams on the Ganga basin, even the assumed criterion” for project evaluation. all the major rivers in the study area, social benefits of dams may have little However, lack of scientific studies and our results point toward the need to consider this standard in hydropower assessment (Menon & Kohli 2009; Choudhury 2010).” What makes the findings of this study even more disturbing is the fact that the authors have severely underestimated the number of dams coming up in the Himalayas. They have considered only 292 dams planned or under construction. Whereas, In reality, the number would be closer to 460 dams under construction and planning stages in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. See http://sandrp.in/basin_maps/ for details and locations of planned, under construction and completed dams in these states.

Teesta III Dam in Sikkim Photo : Samir PARINEETA DANDEKAR

5 http://www.sandrp.in/hydropower/Pathetic_Cumulative_Impact_Assessment_of_Ganga_Hydro_projects.pdf http://sandrp.in/rivers/Lohit_Basin_Study_by_WAPCOS_A_mockery_of_e-flows_and_cumulative_impacts.pdf 15 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012

YAMUNA RIVER: INDIA’S NATIONAL SHAME WHY THE APEX COURT COULD NOT IMPROVE MATTERS FOR 18 YEARS?

Continuing plight of Yamuna as it flows through Indian Capital is a matter of National Shame, indicating failure at several levels. Supreme Court too has been handling this issue for 18 long years. What has it achieved in the process and where does the problems lie?

he first thing that strikes you Pollution Control Act of 1974, and the about the mighty Yamuna National Capital has been brazenly THE MYTH Tflowing through Delhi is that it indulging in this illegal act for decades, The tale in the 16th century Sanskrit is a National Shame. The river that is in full view of all the law enforcing and hymn, Yamunashtakam, an ode by the largest tributary of the holy Ganges monitoring agencies at state and central philosopher Vallabhacharya (in fact at confluence in Allahabad level. What else one can call this, except describes1 the descent of the Yamuna Yamuna annually brings more water National Shame? river from its origin in Yamunotri to meet her beloved Krishna and to than Ganga brings at that point) has That the Yamuna River flowing been turned into a sewage drain by the purify the world. The hymn praises through the National Capital has been her for being the source of all spiritual National Capital. This has been the turned into drain by Delhi is well situation for decades. The National abilities: it is Yamuna, who being a known now for decades as even the holder of infinite love and Capital has been unable to treat the Supreme Court was informed on Nov compassion, can grant us freedom sewage it generates and dumps mostly 9, 2012 by a committee appointed by from even death, the realm of her elder untreated and some at best partially the Apex Court itself. It signifies failure brother Yama. treated sewage into the river. Such of the pollution control regime at Delhi The question is who is going to help dumping of untreated and partially state level and at the national level the Yamuna herself from a certain treated sewage into a river is supposed again for decades. What is even more death? to be completely illegal according to a troubling is that the case is before the number of laws including the Water apex court since 1994 when the court took up the case suo moto, following a front page headline grabbing news report in The Hindustan Times then. So the court has been handling this matter for eighteen long years. What has the court achieved in the process? The state of the river has gone worse in these eighteen years since 1994 when the Supreme Court of India took up the case of pollution in the river. The state of the river has worsened in terms of the Biological Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Dissolved Oxygen or even the length of stretch of Yamuna that is polluted downstream from Delhi. In every conceivable respect the state of the river has deteriorated even as the highest court of India monitored the state of the river. It is not the first time that the court has been told that downstream of Wazirabad barrage in Delhi there is no Goddess Yamuna atop her vehicle tortoise as depicted in Ellora Caves water in the river as Delhi takes away Photo: blog.naver.com all the water available (at least in 8-9

1 See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamuna#Ancient_literature_and_history for details 16 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012

Yamuna, as it emerges from Uttarakhand Photo: Ravindranath non monsoon months) in the river should be released for the river all along before the SC that Haryana is already there for its use. Downstream from the the river stretch all round the year. That releasing 160 cusecs (4.54 cumecs) Wazirabad barrage there is just order of the Apex court remains water downstream of Hathnikund and sewage of Delhi, mostly untreated as unimplemented till date. The Central another 140 cusecs (3.9 cumecs) into mentioned above. Upstream along the Water Commission, acting like a lobby Najafgarh drain, which confluences Yamuna River, downstream of the for big dams, has been saying that the into the Yamuna River downstream of Hathnikund barrage, as the barrage river cannot have water until mega Wazirabad barrage, thus making up for diverts all the water from the river into dams have been built in the upstream! the 10 cumecs! The SC should have Western and Eastern Yamuna canal, the This is remedy to further kill the river. taken the agency to task for completely river is left dry in 8-9 months of the The CWC has never shown any interest misinterpreting and misrepresenting year. in allowing freshwater flow in any river its order. Firstly, these flows cannot be added as CWC is doing. Out of the 160 In fact in January 1998 the Supreme any where in India. Even in the case of cusecs released at Hathnikund (even if Court in the ongoing Yamuna case Yamuna, the CWC has been telling the this is released, which in reality is not appointed a High Powered Committee court that minimum flow in the river released as there no credible (HPC) “To assess the requirement of a is being maintained! For example, as monitoring agency to ensure that) minimum flow in the river Yamuna to recorded in the order of the Supreme almost nothing would reach facilitate restoration of the desired river Court in IA 17 in WP 537/1992 on Wazirabad. At Wazirabad, Delhi is water quality”. The committee chaired 13.5.1999, “Mr A D Mohile, Chairman, already taking away all freshwater, by the chairman of the Central Water Central Water Commission stated that and no freshwater flows downstream Commission (CWC) told the court, minimum flow in River Yamuna is still of Wazirabad in lean season. Secondly, without any real study that the river being maintained and there is no need as clearly stated in the order of SC dated needs 10 cumecs of water. In the first to release any further quantity of fresh 13.05.1999, the 4 cumecs that Haryana place, the court should have asked the water in the river.” Nothing can be transfers to Najafgarh drain is for HPC/ CWC to study the needs of the farther from truth. irrigation purposes in South Delhi. This river at various points along the river. In fact, making joke of the SC order for is NOT for ecological needs of the river. release of 10 cumecs of water all round However, the SC, based on above In any case to add up such small the year all along the river, the CWC recommendation of the HPC ordered quantities released at various points to has been repeatedly saying in affidavits later in 1998 that 10 cumecs of water contd on page 31 17 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012

WHITE PAPER ON IRRIGATION IN MAHARASHTRA WHO IS THE MAHARASHTRA GOVT FOOLING?

A quick critique of the so called white paper on Rs 75000 crore irrigation scam in Maharashtra. The white paper does not answer any of the questions raised, including in the SANDRP initiated letter carried in Sept Oct 2012 issue of Dams, Rivers & People. Only an independent investigation will help. This status paper is for bringing Mr Ajit Pawar back into the cabinet and white wash the scam. ong overdue & much awaited silent about the alleged irrigation scam like accuracy of costs, claims of White Paper (WP) on Irrigation in Maharashtra. It does not take the escalations, water-availability reports in Maharashtra has finally been cognizance of the reports of various and violations of Maharashtra Public Lissued by Water Resources Department committees [Vadnere, Mendhegiri, Manual and other norms have not been (WRD), Government of Maharashtra Kulkarni, Upase,etc] constituted by addressed. (GoM) on 29th Nov 2012. It is available WRD, GoM to enquire into the charges “The WP is more like a status report as on WRD’s website of corruption & irregularities. It keeps CM had said and that it is not a white (www.mahawrd.org) in Marathi mum about the allegations made by RTI paper, a white paper is supposed to be language. WP consists of two volumes. (Right to Information) activists, a result of wide consultation with key Volume-I (129 pages) presents the politicians & media. Though the whole people. Achievements & Prospects part. attempt appears to be to not bring any Project-wise details regarding Time & “inconvenient truth” on record, the But one thing is clear. The usual Cost Overrun are given in Volume-II argument in WP is full of lame excuses engineering arrogance is missing & (794 pages). This article is a quick & & unwarranted, uncalled for & irrigation-bureaucrats are on preliminary response & thus, has unnecessary explanations. defensive. That is a good omen for water obvious limitations. In-depth analysis Such excuses for delays and cost sector, to say the least! will take some more time. Point-wise escalations have already been rejected In order to prove its innocence WRD, brief comments are only given here. by the Comptroller and Auditor GoM in this WP points fingers at other As only to be expected, WP is absolutely General (CAG). Points of investigation departments / organizations in

TABLE1: COMMENTS ON WHITE PAPER ON IRRIGATION IN MAHARASHTRA Organizational Structure of WRD: WRD, GoM is a top-heavy organization with 3 Cabinet Ministers, 3 Minister of States, 2 Secretaries, 5 Executive Directors, 2 Director Generals, 21 Chief Engineers & 67 Superintending Engineers. Expenditure on Establishment: WP is silent about other establishment (Exec Engr to Junior Engr & supporting staff) & total annual expenditure of complete establishment & its percentage as against expenditure on works. Conflict between Direct Class I officers (Exec Engr and above) & others is one of the reasons of WRD’s poor performance. Powers have been concentrated in the hands of Direct Class –I officers & actual experience of work on site, barring exceptions, is mainly with the officers below the rank of Executive Engineers. Indifference towards grass root level functionaries & subordinate engineers has taken its toll. Administrative Approval: Para 3.3 gives information regarding empowerment in respect of Administrative Approval. It suggests that more autonomy was given to Irrigation Development Corporations on demand from opposition parties & as per Governor’s directives. Alleged misuse of that autonomy has, of course, not been discussed. Sec 11F of MWRRA Act, 2005: The latest decision of bringing in MWRRA – an independent regulatory authority- in the process of Administrative Approval is noteworthy, in absence of any reference to Sec 11F of MWRRA Act, 2005 & Integrated State Water Plan (ISWP). ISWP was supposed to be ready within six months from the date of bringing in force the said Act. MWRRA has been sanctioning projects even in absence of ISWP which, prima facie, appears to be a violation of MWRRA Act. Irrigation Management: Irrigation Status, Water Auditing & Benchmarking reports officially published by WRD don’t substantiate tall claims made in WP. Rapid appraisal of performance of WUAs (including those under MWSIP) recently done by a reputed NGO brings out the sorry state of affairs in respect of Participatory Irrigation Management. The NGO has sent its report to the authorities & has demanded joint inspection of WUAs. WRD & MWRRA, so far, have not accepted that challenge. It is claimed that Maharashtra is the only State where the recovery of water tariff is more than Operation & Maintenance expenditure. If WRD does not provide adequate funds for M&R (Maintenance & Repair) to all projects, its expenditure will always appear to be less. M & R scenario in the State is reflected in the Overall Project Efficiency which is hardly 20-25% as against 41-48% assumed in the design. Amount of arrears of water tariff is approximately Rs. 1000 Crs. The percentage recovery of irrigation tariff is hardly 12-13% & that of non-irrigation is 45-50%. Can this situation be described as satisfactory? Reforms in Water Sector: Contrary to the general impression the reality about the so called reforms is as given below: 1. Rules have not been framed in respect of Maharashtra Irrigation Act,1976 (MIA 76) even after 36 years. 2. No formal decisions have been taken regarding most of the recommendations of Maharashtra Water Irrigation Commission Report,1999 18 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012

COMMENTS ON WHITE PAPER ...TABLE CONTD... 3. State Water Policy adopted in 2003 has not been revised after 5 years as was supposed to be done in 2008. Though the priority of water use has been changed (irrigation now gets second priority instead of industry), it has not been implemented in actual practice. Basin/sub basin-wise development & management of water resources still remains to be done. Issue of regional imbalance is very much alive. Current controversy regarding release of water for Jayakwadi project from upstream projects speaks volumes about the actual implementation of water policy & water laws. MWRRA has virtually become ineffective for all practical purposes because following remains to be implemented even after 7 years of its existence: • Irrigation Development Corps to act as River Basin Agencies & issue water use rights • Preparation of ISWP by State Water Board under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary • Approval of ISWP by State Water Council under the chairmanship of CM • Approval to new projects by MWRRA with reference to ISWP • MWRRA to carry out its legal responsibility towards backward areas & removal of regional imbalance. • Agreements within WUAs & delineation of WUAs for LIS under MWSIP as per MMISF Act,2005. Economic Aspects: This chapter is surprisingly very brief. It deals mainly with various liabilities like balance cost of tenders, land acquisition, resettlement, NPV, etc. Total liability as reported is Rs.31742 Cr. The picture is incomplete due to lack of following information: • Yearwise funds available from all sources (State budget, central assistance, World Bank ,Bonds issued by Irrigation Development Corporations, etc) • Yearwise expenditure done under various heads wrt sources of funds. • Norms & actual cost of potential created in per ha & per M cum terms • Irrigation Development Corporation wise information of 1, 2 & 3 above. (There are complaints that though budget provision is made, funds are not actually MERI and Waghad: MERI has successfully used applications of remote sensing in water sector. But the irony is management wing of WRD has failed to take advantage of MERI’s work. MERI studied silting in live storage of 44 projects & prepared revised capacity tables. Management authority in 41 projects simply did not take cognizance of the study & did “management” & prepared even water audit report without considering effects of silting. Waghad project in Nashik district is an exception, the real credit of success story at Waghad goes to WUAs & people’s participation. WRDs’ efforts, if any, to replicate Waghad can hardly be described as sincere. Praise Waghad, showcase it & conveniently forget about its lessons is the strategy adopted by WRD since long. Analysis of time & cost overrun: WRD has given an impressive list of factors (of course, excluding corruption) which according to WRD contribute in time & cost overrun: 1.Statutary Clearance regarding issues related to forest, wild life, environment 2. Land acquisition 3. ResettlementIncrease in establishment charges 4. Inadequate funds 5.Time required to prepare detailed designs 6. Changes in scope of projects 7. Increase in schedule of rates 8. Escalation in prices of land 9. Increase in royalty charges 10 Increase in establishment charges However, starting projects without land or approvals is illegal as per CAG. This comment takes care of many points listed above. It appears that lack of good governance in WRD has taken its toll. In absence of ISWP, it is free for all & might is right in water sector. Organizational & procedural changes appear to be urgently called for. Important Decisions Taken and Reforms: WRD had to take following decisions which in itself is an indirect admission of charges of corruption, irregularities & inordinate delays: 1. Land acquisition on priority basis. 2. Submit detailed estimate for administrative approval only after carrying out detailed survey, investigation & design 3.To initiate process of tendering only after land acquisition 4. Not to pay mobilization & machinery advances 5. To restrict the use of tender clause-38 Potential created & utilized: WRD is not in a position to conclusively prove on paper that development has really taken place thanks to the non-measurement of area irrigated. Readers are requested to study the details presented in Reference 2 & 3 in this respect. Scientific evidence to arrive at certain percentage of increase in area is not available. WRD itself is to be blamed for this situation. Roadmap for water resources development: There is nothing new in most of the points suggested in this chapter. Maharashtra Water & Irrigation Commission, 1999 had given at least 7 specific recommendations regarding the priority of completion of ongoing / incomplete projects. Those were to be implemented within one decade i.e.by 2009. Nothing has happened. State Planning Board had suggested a way out in 2007. WRD ignored that practical advice. Roadmap suggests that drip irrigation may be made compulsory for perennial crops. There is already a specific provision in this respect in MWRRA Act, 2005. Why that was not brought in force? The fact that WRD had to give a suggestion regarding reduction of financial powers of Irrigation Development Corps speaks volumes.

19 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012

Maharashtra (Public Works generally reliable sources from WRD, guard their interests. Truth may prevail Department, Maharashtra Jeevan GoM confirm the trend & predict a flood in due course of time through RTI. Pradhikaran, Maharashtra Industrial of RTI applications in this matter in On this background, an attempt is made Development Corporation, City and very near future. Pandora’s Box has in accompanying table to present Industrial Development Corporation, been opened. Brihanmumbai Municipal comments on some of the issues Corporation) & even uses examples WP presents a roadmap of water discussed in Volume –I of WP. The from other States in India (AP, resources development in Chapter -9. comments are self explanatory & Karnataka, Goa, Gujarat). It claims that It suggests that in order to avoid thin perhaps, speak volumes. It is sincerely schedule of rates of Maharashtra is on spreading of funds, projects on which felt that WRD has lost an opportunity lower side as compared to that of said expenditure incurred is less than 25% of introspection. Absence of soul- departments & the States. It also cites may at present be suspended & projects searching makes white paper an examples of gigantic Lift Irrigation in advanced stage of completion may exercise in futility. only be completed on priority basis. Schemes (LIS) in other States to justify PRADEEP PURANDARE This has generated a serious political unviable & controversial LIS in 1. WRD, GoM, “White Paper on Irrigation Maharashtra. controversy. People from backward regions (Marathwada, Viderbha, etc) Projects in Maharashtra”, 29th Nov 2012 WP gives lots of procedural details feel that this move may further increase 2. Pradeep Purandare, “Canal Irrigation regarding project formulation & regional imbalance. They complain that in Maharashtra: Present Status”; Dams, implementation which the critics, expenditure incurred is less because Rivers & People, July-Aug 2012. http:// activists & media people already know adequate funds at proper time have not sandrp.in/irrigation/status_of_Canal_ very well. In fact, it is they who have been given in the first place. Some Irrigation_in_Maharashtra.PDF, http:// pointed out the violations in the analysts, however, point out that the sandrp.in/drp/July_August_2012.pdf procedures & have filed petitions in the said suggestion is a clever move to 3. Pradeep Purandare, “Water Auditing courts of law. divert attention from charges of of Irrigation Projects in Maharashtra: Myth corruption & irregularities. WP also presents voluminous project- & Reality”; Dams, Rivers & People, wise data in Volume –II. Its accuracy & There are also rumors that smart Sept-Oct 2012. http://sandrp.in/irrigation/ hence, credibility has already been officers under the guidance of even Irrigation_Projects_Audit_Mah_Pradeep_ questioned & a steady flow of reports smarter politicians have reported Purandare_Nov2012.pdf, http://sandrp.in/ bringing out discrepancies have started inflated figures of expenditure (greater drp/Sept_Oct_2012.pdf appearing in media. Knowledgeable & than 25%) in some of the projects to safe

Chenab..... contd from page 13 Yamuna and Chenab in Himachal, all increased revenues, profits, our CIA studies or basin studies employment and contracts. In Chenab till date (if done at all), have been basin there is the additional issue of routinely poor and biased5. In rare limitations imposed by the Indus water cases where consultants have showed treaty of 1960 with Pakistan. the courage and integrity of recommending dropping projects, their Although India has been aggressively reports have been ridiculed and pushing for cascade hydropower ‘saviour’ committees have been projects in rivers like Lohit, Siang, appointed to look into these reports Kameng, Tawang, Subansiri, Bichome, again to make ‘all ills go away’, like the Teesta and Dibang in North East; Women’s Protest March against 300 MW B.K. Chaturvedi Committee which is Alaknanda, Bhagirathi, Kali in Gyspa Project in Lahaul Spiti. 2010 now looking at WII Study which Photo: viewphotos.org Uttarakhand; Sutlej, Ravi, Beas, recommended dropping 24 projects providing and continue to provide planned in the Upper Ganga. The MoEF An indicative list of capacity revision of millions of other services to the local projects in Chenab basin decided to dump the recommendation communities and our ecology. of the Teesta Cumulative Impact Study Departments and agencies cannot Sl Name Initial Revised No Capacity Capacity when it said that no projects should be simply push ahead their own big dam built upstream of Chungthang. agenda at the cost of the environment 1 Miyar 90 120 It is high time that India takes impacts and communities, in the absence of 2 Gyspa 170 300 of cascading mega projects seriously. unbiased scientific studies and good 3 Dugar 236 380 These rivers are not merely power sense. 4 Sach Khas 149 260 producing channels, they have been PARINEETA DANDEKAR 5 http://www.sandrp.in/hydropower/Pathetic_Cumulative_Impact_Assessment_of_Ganga_Hydro_projects.pdf http://sandrp.in/rivers/Lohit_Basin_Study_by_WAPCOS_A_mockery_of_e-flows_and_cumulative_impacts.pdf 20 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012

INTRA STATE WATER DISPUTES IN MAHARASHTRA SEEDS OF BIGGER PROBLEMS IN FUTURE ALL OVER INDIA?

Reservoir storage levels in Marathwada region of Maharashtra, consisting of 8 districts, are scary. Of the 11 projects, 6 projects have a live storage capacity of 0. The huge Jayakwadi Dam on Godavari, which supplies drinking water to 4 Municipal Corporations and over 200 villages, has mere 2% live storage as on 26th November 2012. While weak monsoon and upstream dams in Nashik and Ahmednagar districts are to blame for this alarming situation, there is a bigger problem of management at the heart of the issue.

fter Jayakwadi was completed Jayakwadi Project. These dams the threshold of perhaps the worst in 1976, numerous medium and intercepted and diverted flows to intra state water protest that it has seen. large dams came up in the Jayakwadi. All was well in surplus or Aupstream Godavari. Many dams on the Jayakwadi supplies drinking water to normal years, but in the current year urban centres of Aurangabad, Paithan Pravara and Mula Basins and Darna with deficit rainfall, Maharashtra is on Dam cluster have been built after the

Map indicating projects in Godavari basin in Marathwada region with live storages in MCM as on 26th November 2012

21 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012

and Jalna, Beed, more than 200 villages ordered that 9 TMC Live Storage Live Storage Sl Basin and Maharashtra Industrial water should be Dam Capacity Capacity Development Corporations (MIDCs) released to No MCM on 26 Nov 2012 % including the 1130 MW Parali Thermal Jayakwadi from Power Plant. For the past few months, Darna group of 2171 Aurangabad has been facing the worst Dams (Nashik 1 Jayakwadi Godavari 2 water shortages, with water being R e g i o n ) , 2 Mazalgaon Godavari 312 0 supplied once in three days at times. Bhandardara and 3 Manjara Godavari 177 0 Government Medical College and Nilwande Dam 4 Purna Yeldari Godavari 809 hospital had to postpone surgeries due (Ahmednagar 0 Godavari to water scarcity. The Chief Minister region) and Mula 5 Lower Terna 91 0 (CM) has made it clear that sufficient Dam (Pravara 1 water cannot be supplied to Parali TPP River, Ahmednagar 6 Seena Bheema 76 0 and Maharashtra should brace itself to region) that water Kolegaon more power cuts. releases actually 7 Lower Dudhna Godavari 242 0 Poor storage in Jayakwadi was not an started. As expected, the 8 Purna Godavari 81 9 overnight situation, nor is it a new Siddheshwar situation. For the last decade, the dam announcement and Godavari 23 has not been filled to its capacity due to subsequent releases 9 Manar 138 2 faced stiff protests scanty rains and upstream projects. 10 Upper Godavari 964 60 Penganga Marathwada region has received a poor from political 3 parties and farmers rainfall and since September 2012 , 11 Vishnupuri Lower 81 77 protests started with demands up for in the upstream. In Godavari more water from the upstream dams4. case of Mula Dam on Pravara River in the drought prone sharing within a state reached a new But no water was released from the level of mistrust and hostility. upstream regions. Ahmednagar district, farmers groups did not allow water release for an entire WATER RELEASED TO JAYAKWADI TILL 3RD However, things went from bad to day and actually stood in the river as DECEMBER 2012 worse after October as water cuts water was released in the river channel, Whither MWRRA? Lest we forget, became more and more pronounced in threatening Jal Samarpan 5. The Maharashtra gets the distinction of Marathwada. There were increasing irrigation department then reluctantly being the first Indian state to have protests in Aurangabad in which all conceded in making one irrigation promulgated the Maharashtra Water political parties participated, rotation through the canals for this Resources Regulatory Authority Act in demanding more water releases from region. Interestingly, only 1.55 TMC 2005, following which the MWRRA upstream dams. This was vehemently was released from Darna Dam in Authority was formed. This was at the opposed by upstream Nashik and Nashik region, which is 92% full as of behest of World Bank under its Ahmednagar regions. It was only after 26th November 2012. the Chief Minister intervened and Maharashtra Water Sector For water releases within the same Improvement Project (MWSIP). The Sl Dam Quantity of Distance state, tremendous security checks were Authority was explicitly created in No water from put in place. Hundreds of police were 2005 “to meet the pressing need for an released for Jayakwadi deployed, gates of KT weirs were forced institutional mechanism to regulate the Dam (Kms) Jayakwadi opened, canals and river banks were allocation, management and utilisation (TMC) constantly patrolled to curb lifting and of the state's limited water resources 6 1 Mula 2.5 52 to top it all, the electricity of the region through a participatory approach” . was cut off to stop electric pumps of the 2 Bhandardara 2 210 Some relevant provisions of the region from siphoning off water! MWRRA Act (2005) include: 3 Nilwande 2.5 Though some people believe this was Section 11: Power, functions and duties 1.55 170 needed, it is indeed shocking and 4 Darna saddening to see this. There were of the Authority states: numerous protests at places. Water to determine the priority of equitable 1. w.wwthehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/economy/water-woes-plague-parli-power-plant-in-maharashtra/ article4093497.ece 2. aurangabad.nic.in/htmldocs/District_Vision2020/C.%20Index.pdf 3. articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-07/pune/33675858_1_major-dams-water-storage-release-water 4. articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-07/pune/33675858_1_major-dams-water-storage-release-water 5. www.afternoondc.in/city-news/marathwada-water-woes-threaten-to-divide-state/article_70151 6. 22 www.mwrra.org Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012 distribution of water available at the unless basin authorities take timely and level 4 M below sill is 232.53 mm3. water resource project, sub-basin and and proactive steps, it will not take It is proposed to have a common head river basin levels during periods of much time for a protest to become a work for lifting water from the dead scarcity; movement. For decisions to be backed storage of Jayakwadi to ensure all time Section 12: General Policies of the by upstream or downstream water availability for drinking water.” Authority states: communities, the composition, the Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran has mandate and functioning of such an estimated the cost of this to be around “in order to share the distress in the authority would have to be 106 Crores, the scheme is yet to take off. river basin or sub-basin equitably, the participatory, transparent and Options like these may have to be water stored in the reservoirs in the accountable. Unfortunately, this is not explored in the current situation. basin or sub-basin, as the case may be, what the MWRRA ever aimed to be. shall be controlled by the end of Here it may also be noted that Godavari October every year in such way that, In Krishna basin, similar situation is emerging, where Ujani dam on Bhima Basin is supposed to be a surplus basin the percentage of utilizable water, as per the National Water Development including kharif use, shall, for all River, the third largest reservoir of Maharashtra and lifeline for Solapur Agency’s calculations. Andhra Pradesh reservoirs approximately be the same”. is building huge projects to transfer (Emphasis added.) city and numerous villages, has only 7% water in live storage as on Nov 26, water from Godavari to Krishna basin. This has been completely violated in the 2012. Similar to the situation in The question is, how such projects are Godavari basin this year. The MWRRA Jayakwadi, upstream dams in Pune sanctioned when the upstream of the has entirely failed in meeting its region like Temghar, Panshet, same basin is in such dire straits. It is explicitly mandate and most important Warasgaon and Pawana have storages high time such projects are shelved. social role in this regard. Even now, it ranging from 95% to 81%. Here too, Else, in climate change scenario, they is not taking any proactive steps to try there has been a strong opposition from will provide fresh battle grounds for and put things in order, to give some the upstream to release water for interstate and intra state conflicts. Same semblance of ‘integrated river basin downstream users and here too goes to water allocations to over 71 management’. MWRRA has been unacceptably silent. Thermal Power Plants in the Vidarbha Ironically, when there were strong What makes the situation more region of Godavari Basin. Ironically, protests in Aurangabad over water alarming in Ujani is the extremely poor MWRRA has been instrumental in releases, MWRRA was in Aurangabad water quality of the water due to changing water allocations of irrigation holding meetings on water tariff untreated sewage from upstream Pune. projects from farmers to Power Plants proposals, not on this pressing issue! It seems, in near future, this situation in this case. This and the contested This is the same institution that is being will get more volatile as here the water tariff seem to the only put forth as an example to be followed competing users are politically contributions of MWRRA so far. throughout the country. The State influential urban areas of Pune and It is now time to show that the state Water Authority formed under the Pimpri Chichwad in the upstream and can and will take strong steps to work MWRRA has not had a single meeting an equally strong and politician-backed towards equity and deficit sharing. since the formation of the authority! sugarcane lobby near the dam. Solapur MWRRA has proved its inability in This only goes on to prove the inability city and the Tail Enders of Ujani have dealing with this and it is time for a of imposed from outside, strait jacketed been suffering historically. truly participatory process to emerge. institutional structures, working with In case of both Ujani and Jayakwadi, Let us not forget that India’s massive a top down and unaccountable manner the dams have huge dead storages, and water infrastructure, the biggest in the and with no perspective to take any some experts, including senior officials world, has been put up at a huge social, equitable, participatory and useful of MWRRA, have argued that the dead economic and ecological cost. decisions. storage can be used for drinking water Jayakwadi Dam submerged 118 The limited water releases that have supply. But there is no policy or villages and displaced 70000 people happened till now in Godavari basin mechanisms to achieve that. when it was completed in 1976. It is time from dams upstream of Jayakwadi Aurangabad Municipal Corporation to review and reconsider the existence, have happened because of Chief has been contemplating installing dimensions, functioning and usefulness Minister’s orders and not the MWRRA common head works at Jayakwadi of such dams. And make functioning of or the Godavari Marathwada Irrigation Dam, to utilise the dead storage from those existing structures that are found Development Corporation (which was the dam for drinking water and necessary, more responsive, efficient supposed to have a water allocation industrial purposes.2 According to and equitable. plan for the Godavari basin). This is Aurangabad Vision 2020 Document, “In PARINEETA DANDEKAR indeed a very serious issue with far Jayakwadi reservoir, the quantity of (This article was published in India reaching implications. Water scarcity water available between Dam sill level will intensify in the coming months and Together.org)

23 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012

SUSTAINABILITY AND FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF URBAN WATER IN DRYLAND AREAS A CASE STUDY OF INDORE CITY

The simultaneous attainment of financial, environmental and social sustainability of urban services is an important requirement of development. Huge investments are being made in the improvement of urban infrastructure and services in India. Within urban infrastructure the supply of water and its disposal after use has become one of the most problematic aspects of planning and management. Water has to be brought from distant sources and the wastewater needs to be treated before being discharged into natural water bodies or rivers. In dryland areas which are physically water scarce and constitute some 70 per cent of the country, the problem becomes even more acute as the costs associated with setting up and running Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS) services go up exponentially.

he simultaneous attainment of study does a detailed analysis of actual water taxes per connection to Rs 225 in financial, environmental and expenditure and revenue of the IMC for 2011 the situation has not improved. Tsocial sustainability of urban five years to show the extent of the The electricity bills are slated to go up services is an important requirement unsustainability of the water supply in future. of development. Huge investments are and sewerage systems. The main 3. The status of the WSS sector is being made in the improvement of conclusions and recommendations are extremely poor. Non revenue water in urban infrastructure and services in as follows: the water supply system is very high India. Within urban infrastructure the 1. The finances of the IMC as a whole due to leakages and theft. The actual supply of water and its disposal after are unsustainable. Property taxes supply is only 243.5 Million Litres per use has become one of the most which should constitute the major Day (MLD) against the design of 391 problematic aspects of planning and source of income because they are a MLD. As a consequence the cost of water management. Water has to be brought progressive tax that is borne is also high. The water supply from the from distant sources and the proportionately more by the more Narmada is the costliest at Rs 17.76 per wastewater needs to be treated before affluent citizens, contribute only 11% Kilo Litre (KL) while the Yashwant being discharged into natural water of the own revenue of the IMC and 9% Sagar and Bilawli supply is the cheapest bodies or rivers. In dryland areas which of the total revenue. The actual per at Rs 2.25 per KL. The actual average are physically water scarce and capita property tax revenue in 2006-07 supply is 113 litres per capita per day constitute some 70 per cent of the was a meagre Rs 131 as against the (lpcd) as opposed to the norm of 135 country, the problem becomes even national average of Rs 486 and even in lpcd. This too is skewed with 54 per cent more acute as the costs associated with 2010-11 it was only Rs 225. The debt of the population receiving piped water setting up and running Water Supply service ratio in 2010-11 was 7.1 per cent supply at 171 lpcd and the rest 46 per and Sanitation (WSS) services go up and it is slated to go up even further cent having to rely on standposts, open exponentially. once the principal payments for the wells and handpumps for a supply of The situation is particularly Asian Development Bank (ADB) loan 46 lpcd. The poor IMC supply has problematical in Indore which is the begin in 2015. This will put further resulted in a proliferation of private and largest city of Madhya Pradesh. The pressure on the finances. commercial groundwater supply city is situated on the dry Malwa 2. The revenue model of the Water which has seriously depleted the Plateau which is naturally water scarce Supply is on an even more aquifers in Indore. An affordability similar to most parts of western, unsustainable footing. The solid waste analysis shows that the recovery of the northwestern, central & peninsular removal and sewerage sector's finances full costs of water supply will lead to India. The city has a fairly long history are in the red. The actual recovery of water taxes constituting 7 per cent or of urban planning from the early 20th costs through water taxes, charges and more of the monthly expenditure of 43 century providing rich material for a state government grants is only about per cent of households living above the study: http://www.scribd.com/doc/ 45%. The collection of water taxes is poverty line assuming that water will 115030982/Indore-WSS-Critique. This about 50% of what the minimum be supplied free to those living below study is based on a secondary review should be. The major cost item is that it. of the documents of the Indore of the electricity bills for pumping 4. The waste water system is grossly Municipal Corp (IMC) and other sources water up from the Narmada to Indore. inadequate and so most of the waste and suggests remedial measures. The Despite the increase in average monthly water is disposed of untreated into the

24 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012 streams running through the city participatory and accountable, more system being used at present. The which have unacceptable levels of democratic in short. A clearly defined centralised systems should be used biological oxygen demand (BoD) and are City water policy needs to be evolved only where necessary to provide highly polluted. There is no proper to begin with. services to the congested poverty storm water drainage and since the 2. A Geographical Information System pockets where there might not be space natural drainages have become blocked must be used to map all the properties available for decentralised solutions. due to construction the city suffers within the municipal limits and then 5. This alternative system would put from extensive flooding in the grade them according to zones and the onus on the more affluent citizens, monsoons. building quality for determination of corporations, private commercial 5. Despite the pre-project review of the adequate property tax rates. The share establishments and government water supply system done by the ADB of property taxes must increase to at institutions who are in possession of a having clearly shown that the current least 30% of revenue receipts and the considerable portion of urban land to supply from the Narmada is financially per capita tax realisation should reach tackle their water supply and waste unsustainable no other alternatives Rs 700. The tax collection system must water disposal needs in a decentralised were explored for providing water to be improved drastically and penal manner from their own resources. This the city. Instead a third phase of the measures taken against defaulters. would then free the IMC resources for Narmada supply has been 3. A Proper inventory of the WSS provision of free or subsidised WSS implemented at a huge cost with the systems in the city has to be prepared services to the poor and the lower ADB loan. Later analysis shows that the including both surface and ground middle class who are not in a position internal economic rate of return (IERR) water and the storm and waste water to pay for them fully. This is something and the financial internal rate of return disposal systems. Currently there are that the ADB, JNNURM and DFID have (FIRR) calculated at the time of sanction radio frequency sensor based wilfully ignored so as to favour big of the loan on the basis of certain instruments and computer softwares companies that set up and run assumptions are grossly inflated. This to accomplish this quite easily. Only centralised WSS systems. will push the IMC into a severe resource then can an authentic water demand 6. Detailed surveys and design should crunch. The ADB it appears, has and waste water and storm water be carried out to determine the actual wilfully manipulated the economic and generation scenario be chalked out for benefit/cost ratio of such an alternative financial data to push through the loan planning of services. Despite clear plan and then compare it with the for the third stage of costly water directions from the ADB and the Central surface water only alternative that has supply from the Narmada to benefit big Groundwater Authority (CGWA) in been implemented so far. This companies which supply and construct this regard no progress has been made alternative plan should be centralised water supply and sewerage so far. implemented forthwith if found more systems. 4. The Water Sustainable Urban appropriate. 6. The poverty pockets in the city which Development (WSUD) principles, which 7. The detailed plan for artificial are home to 27 per cent of the have now been recommended by the recharge in the Gambhir and Shipra population are very poorly served in National Mission for Sustainable River Basins drawn up the CGWB terms of WSS facilities and given the Habitat, should be used to design a should be implemented without any high cost of these services they are not hybrid ground cum surface water delay so as to improve the overall in any position to pay for them. The system. These principles involve special projects for the provision of availability of water in the catchment rainwater harvesting, groundwater of Indore city. basic services to the urban poor under recharge, protection of local water 8. Solar power should be used for the ADB, Jawaharlal Nehru Urban system, demand side management, Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and pumping the Narmada water supply curbing wasteful use, penal provisions Department for International and other power needs to the extent for higher water use, looking for Development (DFID) projects are not cost effective. options to recycle and reuse treated being implemented properly. wastewater, treating wastewater in a RAHUL BANERJEE On the basis of the above review the decentralised way and a road map for following recommendations are being achieving full recycle. This hybrid (The author is associated with made: system will be much more sustainable Dhas Gramin Vikas Kendra and can be 1. The Governance of the Water sector in financial, social and environmental contacted at [email protected]) needs to become more transparent, terms than the wholly centralised

25 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012

even to suggest a rise of about 4 C, when triggering urban heat island effect and CLIMATE CHANGE & WATER IPCC talked about need to limit it to 2 extreme weather conditions. OECD World Bank’s mischievous Report C. study in 2010 on flood risks, climate ‘Why 4 C rise should be avoided’ The Port cities vulnerable to intense change and adaptation in Mumbai report, prepared by the Postdam monsoon climate change and predicts a 3.6º Celsius increase in the Institute for Climate Change Research unsustainable growth are leaving cities mean temperature in Mumbai by 2070 for World bank deals with observed like Mumbai and Kolkata increasingly or 2080 as a worst case scenario. changes and impacts of Climate change, vulnerable. A report on an ongoing The report also points towards pathetic Projections for 21st Century with a climate study places Mumbai sixth in a adaptation strategies in Indian cities. focus on sea level rise and extreme list of 20 port cities worldwide at risk Large areas of reclaimed land are temperatures and looks at sectoral from severe storm-surge flooding, situated just above sea level and below impacts on agriculture, water damage from high storm winds and high-tide level. This inhibits natural resources, ecosystems and biodiversity rising seas. By 2070, an estimated 11.4 runoff of surface water and impacts the and human health. million people and assets worth $1.3 complex network of drains, rivers, The report refuses to delve into trillion would be at peril in Mumbai creeks and ponds that channel water industrialisation, thermal power due to climatic extremes. The study by into the sea. (The Times of India 121112) plants, dams that have fuelled climate Organisation for Economic Co- change, and which have been pushed operation and Development, reveals CDM HYDRO PROJECTS by World Bank. The report goes on to that many of the susceptible port cities Crashed Carbon Credit Market The say that impact of climate change will are in Asia like Kolkata. Rampant Carbon offset credits have fallen to a be severe for developing countries concretization in global cities is leading new all-time low amid oversupply and which are lacking in adaptive to fluctuations in temperatures signs of a possible ban on some credits capacities to cope with these impacts. worldwide and shifts in microclimates. in the European Union system. The World Bank has been furthering this by These changes are likely to build up into price of one carbon credit, nearly Euro funding and pushing projects like 4000 disastrous scenarios and excessive 24 (Rs 1,500) in 2008, was Euro 0.83 in MW Tata Mundra Project, the Rampur rainfall. In cities like Mumbai, where late November 2012. It has been Hydro project, the Vishnugad Pipalkoti poor urban planning has left little space reported that many Indian companies HEP or the Luhri HEP, all in India. There for water to get absorbed into the have sold their carbon credits before is not a single word in the report about ground, the impact may be severe. A Durban talks (UN Climate Change hydropower or thermal power plants. big portion of Mumbai is concretized. Conference, December 2011). After It is also surprising of WB publication Solar radiation is absorbed by concrete, Durban, Europe, one of the major buyers, put a brake on purchase of credits, citing recession and a financial CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF HYDROPOWER GREATER crisis. Indian firms were holding on to A paper by scientists Philip Fearnside and Salvador Pueyo in journal Nature Climate the remaining credit points with the Change dispels the myth that hydropower dams are clean. Authors illustrate different hope that the market would rebound neglected pathways of methane release from both upstream and downstream of but it did not even in Dec 2011. As of dams. Reservoir emissions mostly constitute of methane which is about 21 times November 2011, India had 2,123 more potent a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide over 100 years. approved CDM projects. Of these, 738 were registered with the UNFCCC. Siting an example of Brazil, the authors write "Various mathematical errors have (Business Standard 231112) resulted in Brazil’s electrical authorities estimating the magnitude of emissions from reservoir surfaces at a level of only one-fourth what it should be.” This was also said ALTERNATIVES & INNOVATIONS by a team of Canadian Researchers regarding dams in Canada recently. Chouka system in Laporiya Anupam The paper also states that Dams in the tropics have two principle greenhouse gas Mishra’s new book on Chauka system emissions sources: One-time emissions of "fixed sources" of carbon, which are (literally meaning ‘a square courtyard’) released from soil carbon stocks and dying vegetation when the reservoir is flooded of rainwater harvesting from Laporiya, and Methane formed when "renewable sources" of carbon originating from various Jaipur district, Rajasthan, Gochar ka inputs of organic matter end up in reservoirs and then decay at the bottom, making Prasad Baantata Laporiya explains the them into a Methane Factory. Governments are not only promoting hydro projects simplicity and beauty of these for their supposed benefits in mitigating global warming, but also to take advantage structures. A chouka system is made out of mitigation funds such as the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism. of a series of shallow rectangular dug Shattering the “clean-green-sustainable” myth, authors say “These tropical dams areas that work together like sponges, are expected to have cumulative emissions greater than those of fossil-fuel plants for collecting rains and passing water from several decades to come, making them indefensible on the basis of global warming one chouka to the next. By constructing mitigation”. the pits at intervals across the slope, runoff is intercepted and retained on the field until it is absorbed, increasing 26 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012 ground water recharge. Choukas have cooperative units in villages with an transformed the dry wasteland emphasis on capacity building in rural DAM DRAWDOWNS LEAD TO surrounding Laporiya into grassy areas. METHANE EMISSIONS village common lands perfect for He is now training villagers in Research from Washington State grazing, multi tired biodiversity. operation and maintenance of power University has revealed that Around 1,600 hectares of new choukas plants. Their wages are paid from temperate reservoirs can produce have been built through Gramin Vikas income of the plant, which is collected significant surge in emissions during Nav Yuvak Mandal, Laporiya, a civil from consumers as per their meter drawdown periods: when the water society organisation. The system has reading. In 2009 Agunda village in Tehri level in a reservoir drops rapidly, helped villages around Laporiya in district of Uttarakhand opted for a 40 thereby exposing a "drawdown zone" many ways. Now there is less KW micro-hydro power plant even of decayed plants that can be a migration, more crop diversity and though the village was going to be continuous source of methane. improved milk yields. The low budget connected to the state grid. The Researchers found in experiments that innovation has great applications for villagers find their plant more reliable methane emissions jumped 20 to 36- all of India’s water scarce areas. and which can be repaired fold when the water level was drawn SANDRP has visited Laporiya and this immediately – with their own trained down. system finds mention in SANDRP’s manpower - unlike the government line While emissions from drawdown Report Water Sector Options for India that takes days. regions have long been recognized, in a Changing Climate. (http:// Ironically, the very existence of this this is the first study to actually sandrp.in/wtrsect/ plant, which the villagers want to demonstrate and quantify the Water_Sector_Options_India_in_ upgrade to 100 KW, is threatened by an relationship between water-level Changing_Climate_0312.pdfview?search upstream hydel project, the proposed drawdowns and greenhouse gas term=Water%20sector%20options) 12.5 MW Jhalakoti Hydel Project, by a releases that too in temperate regions. The book by Anupam Mishra can be private company. The Agunda project With 54000 + dams globally, downloaded from India Water Portal: not only provides electricity for continuing to overlook reservoirs as http://hindi.indiawaterportal.org/sites/ lighting, wool carding, rice and wheat a carbon source and treating dams as hindi.indiawaterportal.org/files/ processing, but also irrigates 60-70 a "carbon neutral" energy source is lapodiya-water-Village3.pdf fields. Similarly, the 22.5 MW no longer a viable option. According Inspiring micro hydro projects through Bhilanganga Project in the same region to Katy Yan from IR, an important first step is for governments and dam sustained , inspiring efforts, IIT-Delhi has led to severe problems for the builders to recognize that dams have alumnus Yogeshwar Kumar has set up community including displacement, a carbon footprint. Next, countries environment friendly micro impacts of blasting, reduced water must report their reservoir emissions hydroelectric plants (capacity below 1 flows, etc. (See: SANDRPs comments on in their national greenhouse gas MW, most only a few kilo watts) in the 12.5 MW Jhalakoti MHPs application for inventories. The IPCC must fast adopt hilly regions of Uttarakhand, Kargil, Carbon Credits: http://sandrp.in/ strong guidelines for this. Ladakh, Meghalaya and parts of Orissa comments_CDM_HEPs/ (International Rivers, Washington for supplying power to households as Objection_to_Jhalakoti_HEP_iin_Uttarakhand_ State University August 2012, well as to set up small enterprises and SANDRP_submission_to_U International Rivers). creating jobs through his NGO NFCCC_on_CDM_proposal_June_2012.pdf/ Jansamarth. In the past three decades, view?searchterm=jhalakoti) It is he has built 15 hydel projects which are important promote and encourage manned and operated by villagers, who truly sustainable micro hydel project restoration plans remain resolutely on use the power to run rural enterprises like the ones being set up by Yogeshwar paper. Kumar, while opposing the green farce like flour-mill, oil-mill, sawmill, and In such scenario, a group of youths as welding workshops. Electricity from of small hydel projects which have significant, un-assessed and diverse at local Volley ball club, friends one of the first plants he installed was groups and Khatik Samaj joined hands also used for a night school for children unaddressed impacts on ecology and society. to see the Devayani lake lotus-filled for who were busy in grazing cattle during themselves. Overflowing waters from the day. Power of Positive Actions It is nearby Sambhar Lake, which would Kumar has found it difficult pleasantly surprising to see the power have otherwise affected salt-pans were implementing programmes through of small, inspired local actions. Devyani diverted by digging storage tanks. government agencies. Though Lake, 70 kms from Jaipur in Rajasthan Water from these two storage tanks government funds for building of near the famous saline Sambhar Lake, was actually pumped into the Devayani hydel-plants for remote villages in Leh is one such example. Once fondly called Lake, whose water level reached 9 feet is available, there is no allocation for as ‘sab teertho ki naani’ (grandma of all in just 7 days. The parched lake is now repairs and maintenance. He says there holy waters), the lake has been dry in brimming with water and all that it is imperative need to build strong most living memory. Government brings: festivals, celebrations, rising

27 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012 ground water levels and good cheer. maybe small, their significance as suited for India, since it is socially (The Hindu 281012) decentralised, community managed equitable, economically viable, and The groups had no technical knowledge, and eco-friendly water harvesting environmentally sustainable." (http:// no funds, no restoration manuals at structures is immense. They continue www.prayaspune.org/peg/ their hand, and their actions may not to offer the most sustainable options to index.php?option=com_k2&view be the most refined. But the effort shows destructive large dams and canals in =item&id=186%3Asolar-rooftop-pv- the power of small collective positive India. (GOI Monitor 151112) in-india) actions. Devyani is now brimming and 25% German Power grid on California Coalition for decentralised the mark of this will remain on the renewables Since 2000, Germany has options The California Roundtable on minds of the youth and children of this converted 25% of its power grid to Water and Food Supply, in a new report area. Hope comes in small sizes. renewable energy sources such as solar, From Storage to Retention: Expanding Small Ponds, Huge benefits Lakholaav, wind and biomass. The proportion of California's Options for Meeting its a small pond in Marwar Mundwa town power from renewable sources keeps Water Needs, calls for more retention in Nagaur district, Rajasthan is a rising and is expected to reach 80-100 ponds and other small reservoirs on telling example of community % by 2050. At the same time, Germany farms and farmland, more conservation and benefit sharing. As is talking about phasing out its nuclear groundwater storage on private lands, ponds in other towns have shrunk due energy plants by 2020. (Truthdig Nov and other overlooked approaches. “The to encroachments and dumping of 15, 2012) value of working lands in helping to garbage, Lakholaav is providing If Germany can do it, why can not India sequester water for later use while drinking water to a population of 15000 with its much larger solar power achieving many benefits, such as food people, the whole year round. Citizens potential? Tamil Nadu is now launching security, flood management and habitat as well as the municipal committee take a program to add 1000 MW solar power restoration, represents a critical missed utmost care ensuring cleanliness and each of next three years and each opportunity for improving water efficient management. distribution company will be obliged security,” the report says. The coalition has members affiliated with irrigation While groundwater is heavy with to buy 3% of its power from solar sources, with the percentage going up districts, utilities agencies, USDA, State fluoride, tap water supply is every Water Resources Control Board, and alternate day, making rainwater each year. This is only happening through projects of over 1 MW, unlike other public and private interests. The harvesting a must. Around 50 per cent group wants water storage in the state homes harvest rain water in a small Germany where it is happening through roof top solar projects. India to become more diversified and underground structure called tanka. inclusive so that the full range of Like Devyani lake, Lakholaav is also a too needs to incentivise small, roof top solar projects. options available — such as canals, great social binder and the ghats host small man-made ponds and floodplains the entire town during festivals, like Unfortunately, global investment in — are used to augment the state’s Teej and Dussehra. renewable power in first three quarters existing system of large reservoirs. The There is a ban on bathing, washing of 2012 is down to $ 164.2 Billion from $ report says more water storage is clothes and entry of animals in the 196.4 B last year, largely due to 62% necessary because California’s water pond. Boards warning against open decline in the most polluting country supply will diminish due to climate defecation within 2 km of its catchment US and 29% decline in Europe, both change factors and population growth. area have been erected and there are attributed to economic slow down. (www.acwa.com 171112) guards to check activities in this region. (Business Standard Nov 12, 2012) Several modifications have been made Interesting to see this recent paper from GROUNDWATER in Lakholaav's structure over the years. Prayas Energy Group, Pune on Roof top Groundwater abstraction leading to A 3 km long channel has been photo voltaic (RTPV) solar in India, it sea level rise! According to research by constructed connecting the catchment says: "Further, instead of subsidizing Utrecht University and Deltares, Large- area on a nearby hillock with RTPV, we propose that tariffs of scale abstraction of groundwater for Lakholaav ensuring good water inflow commercial and high-end residential irrigation of crops leads to a sea level even during weak monsoon as was the consumers should be aligned with rise of 0.8 mm per year, which is about case this year. A natural treatment plant those of RTPV costs, thereby one fourth of the current rate of sea level further cleanses the inflowing water. A incentivising them to shift to solar or rise of 3.1 mm per year. From a database few years ago when the pond dried up pay higher tariff. Policy should help of the International Groundwater due to drought, the municipal create an enabling eco-system for RTPV Resources Assessment Centre (IGRAC), committee decided to desilt the pond. and focus on the removal of procedural scientists extracted country-based Local farmers chipped in with their hurdles and other barriers in order to statistics on groundwater abstraction, tractors and used the fertile soil in their facilitate the quick adoption and combining these statistics with fields. deployment of RTPV systems. Finally, estimates of water demand based on Though Lakholaav Pond and many we believe that such a net-metering maps of population density and the such tanks, ponds, baavdis, johads, approach to RTPV promotion is ideally location of irrigated areas, a global map 28 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012 of groundwater abstraction and Brazil environmental impact along the river have been releasing recharge could be derived. By assessment of small dams is carried out, harmful effluents into the river. The subtracting groundwater abstraction but prosecutors are saying that process of disposing of waste has been from groundwater recharge they combined effects of all of the small arbitrary and unscientific. The river arrived at a global map of groundwater hydropower projects together must be and those living along its banks are depletion. evaluated. In Brazil, Small Hydros are paying a price for this indiscretion," The results show that the areas of upto 30 MW with reservoir area of less Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute greatest groundwater depletion are in than 300 Ha. director Jaideep Biswas said. The India, Pakistan, the US & China. In The court ruled that small Kolkata-based cancer institute is an these areas food production and water hydroelectric plants can cause associate of the National Cancer use are unsustainable and serious irreversible damages, by modifying the Registry Programme. (The Times of problems are expected. The annual cycles of flooding and drought India 171012) hydrologists estimate that from 1960 in the Pantanal, one of the world’s The Bihar Pollution Control Board has to 2000 global groundwater abstraction largest wetland systems. This could in said this year on Chhath that Ganga is has increased from 312 to 734 km3 per turn affect the 4,000 families who not fit for aachman or dip at any of the year and groundwater depletion from depend on Pantanal for survival, 21 points monitored by it, the 126 to 283 km3 per year. Contribution through tourism, farming and fishing. bacteriological count is higher than of groundwater depletion to sea level The Pantanal, a national park, was acceptable everywhere. Will this wake rise could be calculated as most of the declared a World Natural Heritage site up the National Ganga River Basin groundwater released from the aquifers by UNESCO in 2000. There are 113 small Authority chaired by the Prime ultimately ends up in the world’s hydropower dam projects along the Minister? oceans. This turned out to be 0.8 mm Upper Paraguay River alone, including per year, which is a surprisingly large 30 that are already operating, in RIVERS amount when compared to the current addition to 10 larger dams. MLAs in Kerala launch drive to save sea level rise of 3.1 mm per year as Experts say that small dams are a hotly rivers A group of legislators of the estimated by the IPCC. It thus turns out debated in Brazil as their impacts are Kerala United Democratic Front have that almost half of the current sea level proportionately larger than those of launched a campaign for protecting the rise can be explained by expansion of large dams, taking into consideration 44 rivers in the State. The objective of warming sea water, over one quarter indicators such as the ratio of area the campaign is to prepare a model by the melting of glaciers and ice caps flooded per kilowatt of electricity, or the legislation that will lead to the setting and slightly less than one quarter by number of fish species affected per up of a river basin authority with groundwater depletion. (Deltares kilowatt. (IPS News 100912). statutory powers. The campaign has Release May 2012) begun from Neyyar in This highlights not only the connection WATER POLLUTION Thiruvananthapuram and will between groundwater abstraction and Ganga: Now a Carcinogenic River conclude at Chandragiri in Kasaragod. sea level rise, but more importantly the Research by the National Cancer The campaign was flagged-off by intricate connections of the global Registry Programme (NCRP) under the Medha Patkar. MLAs have planned for water cycle and how impacts of Indian Council of Medical Research interactive sessions and debates on the unsustainable action at one place can shows that the Ganga river is now thick banks of the rivers during the have far reaching and severe impact for with heavy metals and lethal chemicals campaign, bringing together activists the entire planet. Parts of India is that cause cancer. of various river protection committees, already abstracting double the amount social workers, writers, cultural of groundwater that is being recharged, The incidence of cancer was found to be personalities, and scientists. (The Hindu while depending heavily on some of the highest in the country in 131112) groundwater sector for not only areas drained by the Ganga. The worst- hit stretches are east Uttar Pradesh, the Murray Darling basin reserves water irrigation, but urban and rural for Environment In drought prone drinking water and industrial needs. flood plains of Bengal and Bihar. Cancer of the gallbladder, kidneys, food pipe, Murray Darling Basin, 2760 MCM HYDRO PROJECTS prostate, liver, kidneys, urinary (Million Cubic Meters) water has been bladder and skin are common in these reserved for environmental flows as the parts. These cases are far more common basin plan becomes an act. Already Cumulative Assessment for SHPs and frequently found here than 1577 MCM water has been secured this demanded Brazilian court has elsewhere in the country, the study year, as compared to 65 MCM in June suspended construction of small says. Gallbladder cancer cases along the 2009. Most of this water has been hydroelectric dams along the Paraguay river course are the second highest in secured by increasing efficiency and not River until their possible the world and prostate cancer highest buying water alone, which was a environmental impacts have been fully in the country. "This is the consequence cheaper option. One hurdle remains. assessed. Unlike the case in India, in of years of abuse. Over years, industries The Plan needs to be tabled in

29 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012 parliament for 15 days, during which river protection law is an urgent need hatcheries and fish farms. it could be voted down. (Climate for India. Need for River Sanctuaries to Protect Spectator Australia, 261112) Mahseer Madhya Pradesh State Bio- FISH AND FISHERIES Recognising Rights of Rivers A diversity Board has recommended movement to advance the rights of Water discharge: Driver for Fish declaring Barna and some other rivers waterways is happening now around Diversity In a recent paper entitled: as 'fish sanctuaries' to conserve the the world, with advocates calling for Elevation Gradients in Fish Diversity endangered Mahseer Fish which, once water rights for rivers as part of human in the Himalaya: Water Discharge Is the abundant in Narmada and Tapti right to water. Key Driver of Distribution Patterns by basins in MP, is now on the brink of extinction. To strengthen the gene pool New Zealand recently recognized the Jay Bhatt, Kumar Manish and Maharaj of Mahseer, Biodiversity Board has Whanganui River (third longest river Pandit published in PLoS One Journal recommended declaring Bandrabhan, in NZ) and its tributaries as a legal (Sept 2012), the authors conclude that Sethani Ghat, Omkerashwar and entity with rights to exist and flourish species richness of freshwater fish in Maheshwer Ghat of Narmada as as an "integrated, living whole." Himalayan river systems depends on Biodiversity Heritage Spots under Guardians will be appointed to oversee freshwater flows. Authors collated Section 37 of Biodiversity Act 2002. the rights of the River pursuant to this taxonomic and distribution data of fish new legal recognition. The decision species from 16 Himalayan rivers and The state was so rich in Mahseer that, follows a long court battle initiated by carried out empirical studies on according to experts there were six seed the Whanganui River iwi, an environmental drivers and fish collection sites around Hoshangabad indigenous community with strong diversity and distribution in the Teesta from where seed of Mahseer was cultural ties to the river. Under the river along elevation gradients 50–3800 collected and transported throughout settlement, the river is regarded as a m and sought to understand the drivers the country. (The Times of India 111112) protected entity, under an arrangement behind the emerging patterns. The Mahseer swims upstream in a river to in which representatives from both the study indicates that water discharge is spawn (lay and fertilise eggs) this iwi and the national government will the best predictor of fish species migration route is blocked by dams like serve as legal custodians towards the richness patterns in the Himalayan Sardar Sarovar, Narmada Sagar, Whanganui’s best interests. It is Rivers and showed a strong linear Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, Bargi and recognised as ‘an integrated, living relationship of species richness with Tawa which do not have any fish whole’ and will have its rights, just as water discharge. mitigation measures like passes or any corporate entities or companies. According to the authors, “Our results ladders, neither do they release freshwater flows in the downstream Ecuador has similarly taken action to assume more significance because of the for the river. Dams have been the protect the rights of waterways. A on-going large-scale hydropower primary cause of near extinction of successful 2011 lawsuit over injury to development in the Himalaya with various species of Mahseer in India. Ecuador's Vilcabamba River from nearly 300 dams being built across waste dumping led to the first these rivers. The river regulation implementation by court the country's activity would result in significant Constitutional provisions recognizing reduction of water discharge and Thirsty rivers...contd from page 10 alteration of natural diurnal flows, the rights of nature. Pittsburgh, REERENCES: Pennsylvania similarly has adopted an habitat fragmentation and barriers to 1. M. Banerjee, A Report on the Impact of ordinance recognizing that "natural fish migration. The cumulative effects Farakka Barrage on the Human Fabric. Report. communities and ecosystems, of water withdrawal are known to reduce freshwater biodiversity and lead World Commission on Dams – Thematic including water systems, possess Review. South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers inalienable and fundamental rights to to extinction of fish. Worryingly, the zones of high species richness and and People, New Delhi, India, 1999. exist and flourish." In California, Santa 2. A.I. Payne and S.A. Temple, ‘River and Monica's Task Force on the endemism are also the sites of Floodplain Fisheries in the Ganges Basin. Final Environment approved a proposed concentrated dam building and river report R.5485.’ Marine Resources Assessment Sustainability Bill of Rights that regulation in the Himalaya.” Group Limited, Overseas Development recognizes the rights of natural systems, (www.plosone.org) Administration, London, 1996. including coastal waters. (Tree Hugger Onslaught of dams in Himalayas will 3. K.K. Vass, S.K. Mondal, S. Samanta,V.R. 060912, The Huffington Post 15x12) be disastrous for fish diversity and Suresh and P.K. Katiha, ‘The environment and fishery status of the River Ganges’, Aquatic endemic species. The suggested Looking at the huge social, cultural, Ecosystem Health and Management, 13, 2010, economic and ecological significance of mitigation measures come only in form 385-394. Indian Rivers in hearts and minds of of highly inadequate minimum flows 4. S. Turvey, ‘Witness to Extinction: How we millions of Indians, an overarching and artificial, unproven measures like failed to save the Yangtze River Dolphin’.

30 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012

Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon responsible for the Street, Oxford OX2 6DP, UK. 2008. sewage not 5. J. Bandyopadhyay and S. Perveen, ‘The reaching STPs is interlinking of Indian rivers: some questions c l e a r l y on the scientific, economic and environmental unacceptable, these dimensions of the proposal’. Occasional Paper colonies did not No 60, SOAS Water Issues Study Group, School spring up of Oriental and African Studies/King’s overnight. The College, London, U.K. Delhi govt, the 6. N. Kelkar, and J. Krishnaswamy. Keeping Delhi Jal Board and Rivers Alive. Seminar, 613, 2010, 29-33. the MEF should be 7. S. Choudhary, S. Dey, S. Dey, V. Sagar, T. made answerable Nair and N. Kelkar, ‘River dolphin distribution for this situation in regulated river systems: implications for dry- and all concerned season flow regimes in the Gangetic basin’, must be held Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater accountable. Yamuna in Delhi Photo: India Ecosystems, 22, 2012, 11-25. 8. B.D. Richter and G.A. Thomas, ‘Restoring The HPC’s long governance, ensuring that new STP environmental flows by modifying dam term suggestions of Renuka dam, capacities are set up in time bound operations’, Ecology and Society 12, 2007, 12. Kishau Dam, and river linking manner and are decentralised and use 9. S.E. Bunn and A.H. Arthington, ‘Basic proposals are not necessary for Yamuna biological treatment methods that principles and ecological consequences of to get freshwater all round the year. In require less inputs of power, materials altered flow regimes for aquatic biodiversity’, fact, these projects and other and land and that make recycle of water Environmental Management 30, 2002, 492- hydropower and dams planned in the easier at local level, to name just a few 507. Yamuna basin are more likely to measures. All of these are known steps, 10. D. Dudgeon, ‘Large-scale hydrological destroy the river further. The MOU of but the governments have shown no changes in tropical Asia: prospects for riverine Upper Yamuna River Board suggesting will to take any of these with the biodiversity.’ Bioscience, 50, 2000, 793–806. that even the erroneously proposed 10 required seriousness. Only transparent 11. D. Dudgeon, ‘River rehabilitation for cumecs flow into the river would be and accountable mechanisms can conservation of fish biodiversity in possible only after these big dams on ensure these are actually taken up with monsoonal Asia.’ Ecology and Society, 10, the Yamuna are built is trying to required seriousness. 2005,15–19. mislead the Supreme Court and every In an order on January 12, 2011 the 12. A.H. Arthington, S.E. Bunn, N.L. Poff one else and is only an instrument of Allahabad High Court (in PIL no 4003 and R.J. Naiman, ‘The challenge of providing non action and attempt to push environmental flow rules to sustain river unjustifiable projects. of 2006 in the matter of Ganga Pollution ecosystems’, Ecological Applications, 16, 2006, Vs State of UP and Others) has said that 1311–1318. What can the SC do? Well there is a lot from any river, not more than 50% of that can be done to spare water for the available water should be diverted and river, and spare the river from dumping rest should be allowed to remain in the River Yamuna...contd from page 17 of untreated sewage and effluents. A river. This principle needs to be applied show that 10 cumecs is released in the large number of steps are possible in case of Yamuna at every location, but river as per SC order is making a including adoption of more appropriate particularly at the Hathnikund and mockery of the SC order as the order cropping pattern in Yamuna basin in Wazirabad barrage. Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, adoption was for the whole stretch of river all If all this is done and if the dumping of of water saving techniques like System round the year. untreated sewage and effluents into the of Rice Intensification, and incentives river is stopped, along with other Moreover, Delhi had assured the SC in for organic farming that can help build 1998 that by the end of 2000, Delhi will up soil capacity to hold moisture. In practices mentioned above, there is a have adequate capacity to treat all its Urban areas like Delhi and elsewhere, possibility of rejuvenating the Yamuna almost immediately. The Supreme sewage and after Dec 31 2000, no time bound rainwater harvesting plan, Court seems the only body to ensure untreated effluents would flow into the groundwater recharge, protection of these steps are taken with seriousness river from Delhi. That is yet to happen. local water bodies, flood plain, ridge and implemented with of participatory Delhi today does not sufficient capacity and forests, demand side management of STPs to treat the sewage it officially measures including avoiding governance. The Rs 12000 crore (the generates. Secondly, none of the STPs unnecessary and wasteful water using estimated amount spent on Yamuna cleaning over the last 18 years by all are functioning at even 50% of the activities, ensuring that existing agencies put together) question is, will capacity. Thirdly, Delhi generates much Sewage treatment plants work to their this happen? more sewage that officially assumed optimum capacity in quality and due to the additional 200-300 MGD quantity of output through HIMANSHU THAKKAR groundwater used within the city. The participatory and accountable (This article was published in Civil Society claim that unauthorised colonies are in Dec 2012) 31 RNI NO DEL ENG/2003/09562 RNI No DELENG/2003/09562 Dams, Rivers & People November-December 2012

New Publication from SANDRP: Book Review

RIVER BAGMATI: BOUNTIES BECOME A CURSE by Dr D K Mishra Published in: August, 2012 Published by: SANDRP and Peoples Science Institute Pages:196 + xii (8.5”x11” size)

Reviewed by Sudhirendar Sharma (www.d-sector.org 30 Nov 2012)

The resolute perseverance with which Dinesh Kumar Mishra has chronicled major rivers, flowing through the flood plains of Bihar, during past three decades makes one realise if this civil engineer could have been anything but a ‘river biographer’. Meticulous with details, ranging from mythology to hydrology, the narrative weaves people as victims of hydrological madness. Multiple voices and divergent perspectives only testify what Voltaire had long said: ‘The progress of river to the ocean is not as rapid as that of man to error.’ The story of Bagmati is no different! While the river has preserved its status of a free-flowing drain in Nepal, caging it between embankments has forced the river to roar occasionally in Bihar. Largely unnoticed, the embankments have breached no less than 58 times over last 35 years. Notable aspect of this rather familiar story across major river basins in the sub- continent is that ‘neither have lessons been learnt nor are there any intentions.’ Not surprising, therefore, that the narrative reflects author’s pain and anguish in equal measures. Mishra’s relentless documentation on rivers may not have gone unnoticed but it has not been able to capture popular imagination as yet. Bereft of detailed prescription, the diagnostic narrative has seemingly remained restricted to researchers and academics. Being critical of structural development along river course and the consequences thereof, his books have remained on the periphery of political discourse on flood plain management. Like his previous biographies, River Bagmatimay not be a game changer yet but has essential elements to challenge history. One may well argue that the world is not at the tipping point for a change in managing our rivers yet. Should that be so, these river biographies have surely been written ahead of their times. However, the time is not far for the ‘business- as-usual’ scenario of (mis)managing the rivers to transform. It is then that wise, witty, patient, persistent and persuasive anthology by Dinesh Kumar Mishra will merit serious consideration. For copies of the book, contact [email protected]/ [email protected]/[email protected]. Price Rs 595/- + Rs. 60/- (for postage). Pl send a check or demand draft to SANDRP, C/o 86-D, AD Block, Shalimar Bagh, Delhi - 110 088, Ph: 011-2748 4654/55. Information on other publications of SANDRP could be accessed at sandrp.in/pubindex

Dams, Rivers & People The annual subscription for the DRP is Rs 125/-. Please send a DD in favour of “Dams, Rivers & People”, payable at Delhi, to our address (DRP, c/o 86-D, AD block, Shalimar Bagh, Delhi 110 088). Or, you can send by bank transfer, contact SANDRP for details. Subscriptions can be sent for multiple years at the same rate. The DRP is also available in electronic versions and can be accessed at www.sandrp.in/drpindex.

Edited, Published, Printed & Owned by Himanshu Thakkar at 86-D, AD Block, Shalimar Bagh, Delhi - 88. Printed at Sun Shine Process, B -103/5, Naraina Indl. Area Phase - I, New Delhi - 110 028

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