https://www.indiawaterportal.org/people-and-culture/culture/fading-kuhls-and-gharats-the-human-cost-of-hydropower-on-himachal-pradeshs-altered-rivers https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-07/bhciw4ke/Image-14.JPG The construction of dams, tunnels and roads leaves lasting footprints on mountain landscapes already vulnerable to landslides and ecological change. (Image: Rachit Tiwari) https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-07/srs1swez/Kuhls1.png Water diverted from mountain streams travels through these Pakka Kuhls before reaching farms, households, and eventually rejoining the natural watercourse further downstream.  https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-07/sb0travv/Kuhls-2.jpg Water diverts from the main Kuhl to smaller kachha kuhls, reaching farm fields and villages.  https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-07/1f8807z8/Kuhl3.jpg The water from Kuhls is diverted to several small kuhls that provide water to farm fields, following the terrains of the mountain. These water channels sustain a consistent water supply that supports agriculture in terranean farming before joining back the main stream.  https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-07/ebv0ci68/Gharats4.jpg During my fieldwork in Kandbari and neighbouring villages, I found abandoned Gharats which stopped functioning after inconsistent water availability and changing village economies. https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-07/uraziqgg/Gharat5.jpg A Gharat from outside. Made of locally available materials such as rock, stone plates, mud and wood, these structures are an example of sustainable indigenous architecture and knowledge systems. https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-07/d4ga243m/Gharat6.jpg Gharat from inside. The fennel moves grain downwards to the rotating wheel which grinds the grain. Unlike high-speed electric mills, the slow rotation of the grinding stones keeps the flour cooler during milling, a quality that many villagers associate with better taste and nutrition. https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-07/lyt9j5hq/Gharat7.jpg A small gateway that controls water flow towards the rotating wheel. It also filters out the garbage that comes with water, which has increased in the last decade.  https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-07/gt7axafa/Gharat8.jpg Beneath the Gharat, flowing water turns a wooden wheel below the floor. The wheel converts the kinetic energy of flowing water into mechanical power and then moves the grinding stone. This image was taken from a non-functional Gharat.  https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-07/z2iw08bj/Gharats9.jpg The electric substation that transmits electricity to the central grid, while many of the environmental and livelihood costs remain concentrated in the mountain communities where the projects are built.  https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-07/8418hlw4/Kuhl-8.jpg This diversion structure redirects water towards the hydropower system, leaving downstream communities dependent on controlled releases rather than the river's natural flow. https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-07/sugf5y0i/Underground-diversion.jpg Another underground diversion point, from where stream water goes directly into the tunnel. As we can see in the image, the stream completely disappears after this point.  https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-07/ozv30qui/Stream-after-water-diversion.jpg The stream after water diversion into tunnels.  https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-07/yoopvv1l/Concrete-tunnel.jpg The concrete elevated tunnel that carries water to the turbines maintaining same level of height against the terrain.  https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-07/8urlmq1r/Image-16.JPG The discarded grinding stone reminds us of a culture that is disappearing into history.  indiawaterportal en 2026-09-07T05:47:11.965Z Fading Kuhls and Gharats: The human cost of hydropower on Himachal Pradesh’s altered rivers Kuhls, Gharats, Himachal Pradesh, Kangra valley, irrigation channels, hydropower, mountain streams, Kuhl irrigation systems, Khads, agriculture, traditional water management systems, watershed management, Gharat a water powered mill https://www.indiawaterportal.org/rivers-and-lakes/rivers/when-clean-energy-meets-climate-risk-the-hydropower-paradox-along-the-brahmaputra https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-07/mrnpdt1s/lead.jpg Hydropower expansion in Northeast India is compounding flash floods, dry spells, and rural crises instead of buffering riverine communities against climate change. (Image: Rawpixel) https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-07/kisb1elb/1.jpg Made using Gemini https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-07/g4yjcvqa/2.jpg Made using Gemini https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-07/jqrj3vke/3.jpg Made using Gemini https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-07/jt6n6g42/4.jpg Made using Gemini https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-07/pyp4hzpk/5.jpg Made using Gemini indiawaterportal en 2026-09-07T03:57:33.252Z When clean energy meets climate risk: The hydropower paradox along the Brahmaputra Brahmaputra hydropower, Northeast India dams, climate change impacts, double exposure theory, Ranganadi hydroelectric project, renewable energy paradox, riverine community vulnerability, environmental flow regimes, Himalayan climate risk, flash flood amplification https://www.indiawaterportal.org/agriculture/livelihoods/watershed-restoration-offers-new-hope-for-maharashtras-drying-rivers-and-farms https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-05/cwbezsdi/lead.jpg Continuous contour trenches are dug along slopes and above the fields to slow down runoff and recharge groundwater (Image: WOTR) https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-05/66nank8z/1.jpg Fig. Soil Erosion Risk (SER) zones using AHP approach for the Urmodi River watershed. (Map: Wasim Ayub Bagwan et al) https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-05/ek14cr46/2.jpg Fig. Potential soil erosion risk zone using RUSLE for the Urmodi River watershed. (Map recreated using Raj et al by Wasim Ayub Bagwan et al) https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-05/ygoqg0bl/3.jpg Fig. 15. Overlaying view of SER prepared by AHP and RUSLE methods. (Map: Wasim Ayub Bagwan et al) https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-05/c8iqg11j/4.jpg Fig. Soil conservation measures needed to adapt to control the soil erosion in the Urmodi River watershed. (Map: Wasim Ayub Bagwan et al) indiawaterportal en 2026-09-06T05:00:00.000Z Watershed restoration offers new hope for Maharashtra’s drying rivers and farms Watershed restoration, Maharashtra soil erosion, Urmodi River watershed, GIS mapping, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Soil conservation, Groundwater recharge, RUSLE model, Sustainable agriculture, Climate resilience https://www.indiawaterportal.org/climate-change/from-himalayas-to-deccan-how-droughts-and-glacial-melt-reshape-indias-water-reservoirs https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-05/nen7qphv/Surface-water-bodies-4.jpg The Pashan lake in Pune. Image Source: Nikhil12sutar via Wikimedia Commons https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-05/fb3r2ww3/Surface-water-bodies.png The spatial distribution of surface water bodies in India https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-05/l72gqlfw/Surface-water-bodies-2.png What happens during dry and wet years https://media.assettype.com/indiawaterportal/2026-09-05/9d1ceo6i/Surface-water-bodies-3.jpg The spatial distribution of SWBs by shrinkage rate. indiawaterportal en 2026-09-05T12:08:13.553Z From Himalayas to Deccan: How droughts and glacial melt reshape India's water reservoirs surface water bodies, glaciers, rivers, shrinkage, groundwater, droughts, river, mountain frost, monsoon, water management, river basin management, hydrology, water budgeting, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, ecology, sustainibility, biodiversity, ecosystems