Four hydro projects violate Ganga flow norms: Central Water Commission
4 years, 11 months ago

Four hydro projects violate Ganga flow norms: Central Water Commission

The Hindu  

Over a year after the government made it mandatory for hydro power projects on the upper reaches of the river Ganga’s tributaries to release minimum quantities of water through the year, 4 of the 11 projects are flouting norms, says a report by the Central Water Commission. The ecological flow, or e-flow notification as it is called, specifies that the upper stretches of the Ganga — from its origins in the glaciers and until Haridwar — would have to maintain: 20% of the monthly average flow of the preceding 10-days between November and March, which is the dry season; 25% of the average during the ‘lean season’ of October, April and May; and 30% of monthly average during the monsoon months of June-September. The Centre’s e-flow notification came into effect last October and gave companies three years to modify their design plans, if required, to ensure that a minimum amount of water flowed during all seasons. This was after the CWC undertook field visits to hydro power sites and reported that most of the power projects could begin implementing the norms right away and didn’t need three years.

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History of this topic

The Ganga’s Last Stand: How Bureaucracy and Hydropower are Choking India’s Sacred River
1 day, 20 hours ago

The Ganga’s Last Stand: How Bureaucracy and Hydropower are Choking India’s Sacred River

The Hindu  

Published : Jan 13, 2025 20:48 IST - 16 MINS READ The Ganga and the Himalaya are sacred to millions of Indians, yet these iconic entities of veneration face unjust and unethical treatment. Supreme Court initiates inquiry into impact of HEPs In 2012 the Wildlife Institute of India recommended cancelling 24 proposed dams in the Ganga basin, citing their potential …

CEA issues guidelines for hydro projects after disaster in Sikkim
1 year, 3 months ago

CEA issues guidelines for hydro projects after disaster in Sikkim

Live Mint  

India’s apex power planning body, the Central Electricity Authority, has come up with guidelines for slope stability—inclines that can withstand movement—in hydropower projects after heavy rains and glacial lake floods damaged a dam in Sikkim. “The examination of upper reaches may include study of hazards due to avalanche, GLOF, landslide hazard analysis of slopes above the reservoir rim area, among …

Activists oppose Centre’s nod to select hydropower projects in Uttarakhand
3 years, 4 months ago

Activists oppose Centre’s nod to select hydropower projects in Uttarakhand

The Hindu  

A group of environmentalists, historians, geologists and intellectuals have petitioned the Union Environment Ministry to recant its endorsement of seven hydroelectric power projects in Uttarakhand. The signatories include Kunwar Rewati Raman Singh, MP, Rajya Sabha; Justice Giridhar Malviya, Chancellor, Benares Hindu University, Ravi Chopra, chairman, Supreme Court-appointed expert body on impacts of hydro projects, Shashi Shekhar, ex-Secretary, Water Resources Ministry …

A fine line: The Hindu Editorial on development and conservation
3 years, 4 months ago

A fine line: The Hindu Editorial on development and conservation

The Hindu  

The need for infrastructure development in the Himalayan region rubs up against the environmental and ecological challenges that they pose. The Uttarakhand government has for decades envisaged hydroelectric projects as the way forward to power the State, premised on the region’s undulating topography. There have been divisions even within various Central ministries: the Water Resources Ministry, which manages the NMCG, …

Ministries reach consensus on hydropower projects in Himalayas
3 years, 4 months ago

Ministries reach consensus on hydropower projects in Himalayas

The Hindu  

Six months after a devastating flood of rock, ice and debris gushed down the Rishiganga river in Uttarakhand and killed at least 200 and severely damaged two hydropower projects, three Central Ministries, which initially had dissenting views on the future of hydroelectric power projects have agreed to a consensus. According to an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court this month, …

Himalayan tragedy in Uttarakhand
3 years, 10 months ago

Himalayan tragedy in Uttarakhand

The Hindu  

When will the authorities learn from past experiences? Completely disregarding environmentalists’ recommendations, the government pushed through its foolhardy programme of developing run-of-river hydroelectric power projects, damming and tunnelling rivers in the process, blasting mountains to make roads and cutting down trees, destabilising the already fragile high-altitude Himalayan mountainous zones, thus creating disasters like the one unfolding in Chamoli district of …

Uttarakhand law to levy water tax on hydropower projects in state held valid
3 years, 11 months ago

Uttarakhand law to levy water tax on hydropower projects in state held valid

Hindustan Times  

Uttarakhand high court has upheld the constitutional validity of 2012 legislation enacted by Uttarakhand government to levy water tax on hydro power projects of more than 5 MW capacity in the state on water drawn for power generation at the rates decided by the state government, as per the order. The court order stated that a bare reading of the …

Until about 10 years ago, I believed that it was possible to have hydropower projects in Uttarakhand: PSI Director
3 years, 11 months ago

Until about 10 years ago, I believed that it was possible to have hydropower projects in Uttarakhand: PSI Director

The Hindu  

Ravi Chopra, Director, People’s Science Institute, has been a critic of hydropower projects in Uttarakhand and has chaired and been part of several committees that have deliberated on infrastructure development in the State, while staying true to the principles of sustainable environment. However, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, which was then led by Secretary, Mr. Shashi Shekhar, accepted our …

Was Against Power Projects on Ganga, Its Main Tributaries, Says Uma Bharti Amid U'khand Tragedy
3 years, 11 months ago

Was Against Power Projects on Ganga, Its Main Tributaries, Says Uma Bharti Amid U'khand Tragedy

News 18  

BJP leader Uma Bharti Sunday said the Uttarakhand flood tragedy triggered by a glacier burst is a matter of concern as well as a warning, and added that as a minister she had spoken against having any power project on the Ganga and its major tributaries. In a series of tweets in Hindi, she said the glacier breaking off had …

Tracing the Ganga's intricate waterweb
3 years, 11 months ago

Tracing the Ganga's intricate waterweb

The Hindu  

Originating from Vasudhara Tal, perhaps the largest glacial lake in Uttarakhand, the Dhauli Ganga flows in a meandering course, which takes it through the Nanda Devi National Park. Dhauli Ganga, which merges with Alaknanda, is one of the several tributaries of the Ganga, as the holy river flows down from the Himalayas and snakes its way through the plains. Sunday's …

Ganga likely to have necessary e-flow by December 15
5 years, 2 months ago

Ganga likely to have necessary e-flow by December 15

India TV News  

The Centre has directed hydropower and irrigation projects on Ganga to ensure a minimum and uninterrupted flow in the river by December 15, a notification said. Issued last month, the notification reduced by more than half the time that was originally given to the projects to ensure compliance with the mandated environmental flows. The National Mission for Clean Ganga in …

Water supply in 15 districts of Uttar Pradesh to be affected till October 24
5 years, 3 months ago

Water supply in 15 districts of Uttar Pradesh to be affected till October 24

India TV News  

Water supply in 15 districts of Uttar Pradesh will be affected with the closure of the Ganga canal till October 24. Districts that will be affected include Aligarh, Bullandshar, Eta, Firozabad, Ghaziabad, Hathras, Meerut and Muzaffarnagar, a Uttar Pradesh irrigation department official said. Sub-Divisional Magistrate Ajay Kumar said, sand mining will not be allowed during the canal closure and strict …

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