By Simi Thambi* On February 1, 2020, union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman released the annual budget of India for the financial year 2020-21. The budget speech made important announcements for agriculture, irrigation and rural development which have implications across land, water and energy sectors. Before the discussion over the budget fades, it is prudent to … More Solar pumps scheme for farmers should be redesigned to disincentivize overuse of water

By Jubin Mehta* Narmada is a sacred river originating in the Maikal Hills of central India from a place called Amarkantak. Parikrama is a Sanskrit word derived from the root ‘pari’ meaning around and ‘krama’ meaning going. And hence, Narmada Parikrama means circumambulating the river. This is a spiritual/religious tradition of the Hindus existing from … More Important to keep conversation going for a cleaner, greener, more harmonious Narmada

In an incisive analysis of the Union Budget 2020, the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) has called the water-environment sectors a disappointment: The Water & Environment sector, including the Agriculture, Environment & Forests, Urban Development, Ganga and & Other Rivers, Water Resources Ministry, Rural Employment Program and Rural Drinking Water Mission, seems … More Union Budget: Water sector and climate change have not received the priority they deserve

‘Economic Survey 2020’: Where is the ground reality? An analysis by South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP): One of the key objectives of the Economic Survey is to provide an accurate account of ground realities on various aspects affecting the Economy of the country and also what has the govt been doing … More Economic Survey: Without accurate account of ground realities, can one expect any sound path to future?

By Sahana Ghosh* In early April 2015, as wind-borne dust particles, remnants from a major dust storm in the Gulf region, made its way towards the Indian peninsula, a group of citizen scientists and researchers strategically fanned out and placed prepared Petri dishes at vantage points in the west Indian state of Maharashtra by the Arabian Sea. … More How a dust storm transported microbes more than 2000 km across Arabian Sea from Gulf to Maharashtra

South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) note on the implications for India in the Climate Risk Index Briefing Paper “Global Climate Risk Index 2020: Who Suffers Most from Extreme Weather Events? Weather-Related Loss Events in 2018 and 1999 to 2018”: The Climate Risk Index Briefing Paper “GLOBAL CLIMATE RISK INDEX 2020: Who … More GermanWatch Report: Can India not assess its climate risk and vulnerability?

In a judgment on November 29, Australia’s New South Wales Supreme Court has held the State of Queensland, Wivenhoe Dam operators and engineers are responsible for “inappropriate operation of the dam”, leading to the devastating Brisbane 2011 floods. A South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) note on the relevance of the judgment … More Dam operators held responsible for Australia’s Brisbane 2011 floods: Relevance for India