Centre takes measures to mitigate risks associated with big dams

Cabinet approves project for rehabilitation and improvement of dams worth Rs. 10,211 crore

Projects to ensure safety of dams, enhance water security of the country and support sustainable development while creating employment opportunities

New Delhi: With 5334 large dams in operation, India ranks third globally after China and the United States of America. At present  411 more dams are also under construction while there are also several thousand smaller dams in the country. These dams and reservoirs collectively store approximately 300 billion cubic meter of water annually and ensure country’s water security.

These dams present a major responsibility in terms of asset management and safety. However, so far the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) ensured the safety of 223 dams in 7 states, and  took care of safety and operational performance of selected dams, along with institutional strengthening through a system wide management approach.  Apart from structural measures to improve hydrologic safety, hydro-mechanical measures, seepage reduction, structural stability etc., non structural measures such as dam break analysis, emergency action plans, Operation and Maintenance manuals, were put in place for the selected dams. In addition, DHARMA (Dam Health and Rehabilitation Monitoring), a system to monitor the health of dams, was developed and was being used by 18 states. A seismic hazard analysis information system (SHAISYS) had also been developed.

However, due to deferred maintenance and other health issues, these dams had associated risks in case of failure. As it is, the consequences of dam failure can be catastrophic, in terms of loss of human life and property, and damage to ecology. Therefore, in order to carry forward the momentum gained through the ongoing DRIP, and expand it vertically and horizontally, a new Scheme, DRIP Phase II, co-financed by World Bank (WB) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) with US$250 million each, is being implemented to cover large dams in 19 states and 3 Central Agencies of the country.

Today, the Union Cabinet approved the externally aided DRIP Phase II and Phase III with a Budget Outlay of Rs 10,211 Cr for an implementation period of ten  years.

The Project will be implemented over a period of 10 years duration in two Phases, each of six years duration with two years overlapping from April, 2021 to March, 2031. The share of external funding is Rs 7,000 crore of the total project cost, and balance Rs 3,211 crore would be borne by the concerned Implementing Agencies (IAs). The contribution of Central Government would be Rs. 1,024 crore as loan liability and Rs 285 crore as counter-part funding for Central Component. The programme will fund physical rehabilitation of key dams as well as capacity building of dam operators in order to ensure availability of trained and skilled manpower for better operation of dams.

DRIP Phase II & Phase III envisages the following objectives:-

1. To improve the safety and performance of selected existing dams and associated appurtenances in a sustainable manner.
2. To strengthen the dam safety institutional setup in participating states as well as at central level, and

• iii. To explore the alternative incidental means at few of selected dams to generate the incidental revenue for sustainable operation and maintenance of dams

“This Scheme is especially focused on mitigating the risks of dam failure and ensuring safety of people, riverine ecology and property located downstream of these selected dams,  through structural as well as  non-structural measures like physical rehabilitation, preparation of Operation and Maintenance Manuals, Emergency Action Plans, Early Warning System and various other measures,” a Cabinet note stated. It informed that  life of these selected reservoirs would be extended further by addressing health and safety concerns of these selected dams so as to benefit irrigation, drinking water, hydel power, flood control  etc.

In addition to physical rehabilitation, as mentioned before, equal emphasis would be provided to capacity building of dam owners in order to ensure availability of trained and skilled manpower for better operation of dams. Customized training programmes for various technical and managerial aspects will assist dam owners to create a pool of knowledge to deal with matters of dam safety confidently and scientifically.

This programme would complement the provisions in the Dam Safety Bill 2019, by ensuring capacity building of the dam owners as well as the proposed regulators, as well as creating necessary protocols for dam safety. Furthermore, the government expects it to  generate employment opportunities equivalent to approximately 10,00,000 person days for unskilled workers, and 2,50,000 person days for working professionals; and also enhance water security in the country, and support sustainable development.

“This programme is a model of cooperative federalism. States will borrow from the external agencies to rehabilitate their dams, based on their assessed needs. Government of India facilitates access to external financing, and also provides technical support to assess risk and strengthen dam safety in the state,” the Cabinet note stated.

In view of the size of India’s dam portfolio and challenges in operating and maintaining these existing assets, Government of India is making all out efforts to ensure the availability of a pool of dam safety professionals across the country. There would be a  provision for partnerships with premier Academic Institutions like IISc and IITs and capacity building of five Central Agencies along with dam owners, the government expects to strengthen its “Atma Nirbhar Bharat” mission. “It will ensure long term sustainability of required knowledge and human resources to assist our dam owners. India will also position herself as a knowledge leader on dam safety, particularly in South and South East Asia,” the Cabinet stated.

The programme will enable states and dam owners to extend these safety protocols and activities beyond the selected dams to all other dams within their jurisdiction, overall enhancing the culture of dam safety in the country, the government stated.

The Scheme envisages comprehensive rehabilitation of 736 existing dams located across the country.   Implementing Agency wise breakup of number of dams to be taken up for rehabilitation are as follows:

– globalbihari bureau