Latha Anantha

Latha Anantha
What are the odds of a dam burst?
The recent earthquake in Nepal has pointed fingers yet again at the much neglected area of dam safety. Will that push India to put in place a comprehensive law that addresses this?
Posted on 11 Jul, 2015 10:48 AM

One of history’s worst dam bursts took place in Gujarat in 1979 when the four-kilometer long Machhu Dam II on the Machhu River collapsed. This led to a deluge in the industrial city of Morbi located five kilometers downstream as well as surrounding rural areas destroying thousands of homes and lives. While this was a tragedy, it was by no means an isolated one.

Sardar Sarovar Dam (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Two states and a dam row
Latha Anantha of River Research Centre, Thrissur speaks to India Water Portal on the latest developments on the Mullaperiyar dam controversy.
Posted on 14 Jun, 2015 01:31 PM

While the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala have opposing stands on the Mullaperiyar dam, civil society actors have provided alternatives to the old dam whose decommissioning is bound to happen sooner or later. They have also pointed out the inappropriateness of building a new dam on Mullaperiyar.

Mullaperiyar reservoir (Source: Sibiperiyar, Wikimedia Commons)
"Citizens need to engage in critiquing environment impact assessments": Report of a workshop on environmental flows, organised by Himmothhan and International Rivers at Dehradun
A primer on what, why and how of environmental flows - the reasons for declining flow of rivers and need for adequate water. Posted on 24 Jun, 2012 04:39 PM

What do we see our rivers as? Are they merely conduits for water that is to be used to its fullest extent? Or are they valued and revered ecosystems? The Himmotthan Society, Dehradun and International Rivers, U.S.A., hosted a discussion a workshop on ‘Environmental Flows’ at Hotel Madhuban, Dehradun on 08 June 2012 that sought to clarify the issues around these questions.

A Primer on the What, Why and How of environmental flows, authored by Dr. Latha Anantha (River Research Centre, Kerala) and Parineeta Dandekar (South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, SANDRP) and published by International Rivers, was shared with the participants.  The presentations made during this workshop are presented in this article.A collage of images of the Jog falls before and after damming of the river

The legendary Jog falls are a shadow of their former self after damming (Courtesy: Dr.Latha Anantha)

"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 AM

This 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.

Map of the Teesta basin showing the various planned dams

Why we cannot keep silent : Women speak out for rivers
How do women feel when their rivers are dammed, their forests and villages submerged? Posted on 23 Mar, 2011 09:48 AM

Women have long taken action to protect rivers. These women would be affected by the Sardar Sarovar Dam in India (Karen Robinson).

Flaws in CWC database on Athirappilly project over Chalakudy river, Kerala revealed through RTI by Chalakudy River Protection Forum
The attached RTI filed to the Central Water Commission (CWC) regarding the river flow data of the Chalakudy river, reveals flaws in the river flow database. Posted on 25 Jan, 2011 04:36 PM

 

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