Government announces new norms for infrastructure along waterways

Inspired by the waterdrome project on Sabarmati River at the Sardar Sarovar Dam and the floating passenger jetty in Goa, the Centre is keen to encourage development of similar infrastructure across India for various purposes, including tourism.

The Sardar Patel memorial and the area around it is being developed as a major tourist attraction. Photo: PTI File

The central government has announced a set of guidelines on construction and operation of infrastructure along the country’s waterways.

Inspired by the waterdrome project on Sabarmati River at the Sardar Sarovar Dam and the floating passenger jetty in Goa, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is keen to encourage development of similar infrastructure across India for various purposes, including tourism. Till now the guidelines covering floating structures were focused on basic requirements such as safety. The new norms are an attempt to incorporate technical advancements that open up new avenues for enhanced standards.[Readmore]

BRICS Water Ministers meeting chaired by Shri. Kushvinder Vohra, Member, CWC

New Delhi: The third meeting of the committee for planning the BRICS Water Ministers meeting and the BRICS Water Forum was held under the Chairmanship of Shri. Kushvinder Vohra, Member (WP&P), CWC on Jan 28, 2021, with participants from NWDA, CGWB, and Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti.

BRICS Water Ministers meeting and BRICS Water Forum is being planned to be held along with 7th India Water Week 2021 during 16th-20th Nov. 2021. During the meeting, detailed discussions were held, and planning for Sub-Themes of BRICS Water Forum, event programme, no. of participants, invitees, action required for field visit during the event, etc.[Readmore]

Why is China’s new dam a concern for India?

What is the course of the river Brahmaputra?

China is planning to build a huge dam on the river Brahmaputra. And it has raised concern in downstream countries – India and Bangladesh. What is the Chinese dam project all about and what could be its impact? Let’s find out in this Five Ws & One H...

The Brahmaputra (called Yarlung Tsangpo in China) is one of the longest rivers in the world. Starting in the Himalayas in Tibet, it enters India in Arunachal Pradesh, then passes through Assam, Bangladesh, and empties into the Bay of Bengal. The Brahmaputra, a perennial river, is the lifeline for communities living along its banks. They use it for irrigation, fisheries and inland water transport. In its lower course, the river is both an advantage and a disadvantage. On the one hand, it deposits huge quantities of fertile alluvial soil suitable for agriculture, but on the other, due to geographical and climatic conditions, it causes periodical, disastrous floods in Assam and Bangladesh.[Readmore]

Union govt completes formalities for funding 'DRIP'

Formalities completed with World Bank for funding Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project

The Union Government has completed the formalities with the World Bank for funding of the Phase II and III of the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP).

In effect, this raises hopes of the project’s implementation kicking in sometime in the coming summer.

The formalities with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which will co-fund the project, will be completed soon, allowing for the rollout of the funds.

The funding period of the two international institutions will be ten years.[Readmore]

Polavaram Irrigation Project: Dam review postponed, panel meet in January-end

While the civil works related to the project have gained momentum, there are about 30 designs pending to be approved.

VIJAYAWADA: The meeting of the dam design review panel (DDRP), which was to meet this week to discuss the approval of pending designs of various components of Polavaram Irrigation Project (PIP) and other aspects, is learnt to have been pushed to a later date. The panel is likely to meet in a week or two, officials said.[Readmore]

Allegations based on erroneous interpretation of CWPRS report on impact of Pune Metro on Mutha River: Maha-Metro

A day after activists accused the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) of misleading the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on the impact of Pune Metro on Mutha river in order to get clearance for an elevated 1.45 km route, the Maha-Metro said Tuesday that the allegations are based on erroneous interpretation of the Central Water Power Research Station (CWPRS)’s study report.

In a press statement, Maha-Metro said the construction work of Metro piers along the left bank of the Mutha river is being executed under the supervision of the expert committee appointed by the NGT under the divisional commissioner. The matter is sub-judice with the NGT.[Readmore]

Pune metro: Maha-Metro claims reported values of CWPRS report “far from truth”

Some activists including Rajya Sabha MP Vandana Chavan, Anu Aga, Sarang Yadwadkar held a press conference and raised a concern over rising water levels due to ongoing metro work in the Mutha river

As activist and political leaders raised concern over the flood level, Maha Metro issued a press statement on Tuesday. (HT PHOTO)

The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (Maha-Metro) blamed the media and activists for exaggerating the figures mentioned in the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) report.

Maha Metro issued the press statement on Tuesday and claimed, “The flood levels would increase very normally due to metro work, but to ensure citizens, Mahametro would present and discuss the CWPRS report with an expert committee during the forthcoming meeting under the chairmanship of divisional commissioner.”[Readmore]