Flow of the river is its master variable which affects many other variables like water quality, sedimentation, biodiversity,
etc. Dams profoundly affect this natural flow. Unfortunately, in India there are very few studies which systematically
analyse impacts of a dam on a river and its biodiversity in the pre and post dam situation. This is especially true for dams
built in 1960s, 70s and 80s. We have limited database and nearly no biodiversity studies of river richness prior to and after
a dam. In this scenario, local interviews, discussions with village elders as well as communities which are linked to the
river like the fishermen and boatmen can be revealing and valuable. In the era of scientific, peer reviewed research
papers, this collective reality is often neglected. Dr. Nilesh Heda, who heads NGO Samwardhan in Washim, has been
working closely with river communities for over a decade and here, he puts together impressions of communities about
the river after Adan Dam came up on the Adan River in 1977. He also strengthens these arguments with his research.