Himanshu Thakkar
Water management: Still a neglected electoral issue?
Posted on 25 Apr, 2019 12:04 PMIndia is on the brink of a major water crisis. With drought looming over the southern and western parts of the country, the existing water resources are in peril. Rivers are getting more polluted, their catchments, water-holding and water-harvesting mechanisms are deteriorating and groundwater levels are depleting at an alarming rate.
Activists call for disbanding the inter ministerial group on issues related to river Ganga
Posted on 26 Jul, 2012 04:10 PMThis is on the ground that its formation itself was an attempt to further delay the action National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) was expected to make. The composition of the Committee has been criticized, as also its constitution and the Terms of Reference.
Ignoring precaution, MoEF clears a project which has been categorically rejected by majority Standing Committee of the NBWL
Posted on 26 Feb, 2012 01:31 PMGuest Post : Parineeta Dandekar and Himanshu Thakkar
"It is necessary to move away from a project-based approach towards a holistic perspective": Report of the dialogue on mainstreaming river basin planning held from 9 to 11 August 2011 (New Delhi)
Posted on 03 Feb, 2012 11:35 AMThis three day dialogue workshop on 'Mainstreaming river basin planning' held from 9th to 11th August 2011 in New Delhi intended to bring together activists involved in dam movements and other social and environmental movements, civil society groups, experts in water resources management, environment, river basin planning, officials from all the relevant ministries and departments and others concerned. Selected invitees from South Asian countries were also invited for sharing their views on transboundary issues.
Future water solutions for India - a paper by Himanshu Thakkar in the Palgrave Development journal
Posted on 13 May, 2011 03:58 PMThis paper by Himanshu Thakkar published in the journal Development looks at the daunting challenges that future water demand places on India a
CIC orders CWC to disclose the Almatti backwater study under RTI in public interest - Press release by SANDRP
Posted on 17 Feb, 2011 11:46 AM
Non-compliance of dam agencies in construction of hydro-electric projects in Himachal Pradesh - A photo-essay by SANDRP
Posted on 13 Feb, 2011 03:02 PM
Download the photo essay:
Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules 2010 - Welcome, but a lost opportunity - Press release by SANDRP
Posted on 04 Feb, 2011 10:33 AMOn the occasion of the World Wetlands Day 2011, while we welcome the notification of Wetland (Conservation and Management) rules 2010 by the Union Ministry of Env
Can India be firm with China on Brahmaputra dams ? - An article by Himanshu Thakkar
Posted on 20 Dec, 2010 02:34 PMForwarded to the Portal by: Himanshu Thakkar
Article and Image Courtesy: SANDRP
Author: Himanshu Thakkar
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s forthcoming India visit (15-17 Dec 2010) provides another useful opportunity for India to be firm and forthright with China on India’s concerns about Chinese dam and hydropower projects on the shared rivers, including in the Brahmaputra basin. The importance of this issue cannot be underscored considering that this issue has been raised in the Parliament several times, even the Prime Minister has had to make clarifications in the recent past, the people and governments of several states, including Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have been agitated about this. India’s Planning Commission, Environment, Water Resources and Power Ministries have also been raising these concerns.
Transparency demanded in a letter to Jairam Ramesh on Polavaram Project - Himanshu Thakkar
Posted on 04 Sep, 2010 10:43 AMFrom:
Himanshu Thakkar
South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers & People,
c/o 86-D, AD block, Shalimar Bagh,
Delhi,
To: Shri Jairam Ramesh
Union Minister of State for Env and Forests (IC), New Delhi
Respected Sir,
I have just seen your letter dated Aug 18, 2010 to Orissa Chief Minister on the aboves subject, uploaded yesterday on MEF website.
- Your letter says that the Forest Clearance has been given to the Polavaram Project on July 28, 2010 is subject to the condition, "... no submergence and displacement of people including STs take place in Orissa and Chhattisgarh...". However, this condition is in complete contradiction with the environment clearance given by your ministry on Oct 25, 2005, which says in para 2, "Total 1,93,35 persons are likely to be affected by this project, out of that 1,75,275 persons in Andhra Pradesh and 6,316 persons from Orissa and 11,766 are from Chattisgarh." It is clear the condition of no submergence and displacement on Orissa and Chhattisgarh, stated in your letter, in the Tribal Development Ministry's condition, and in the forest clearance letter is in complete contradiction with the environment clearance given by you. One of them have to be cancelled due to this contradiction, we would like to know, which one would be cancelled.