World Bank approves dam safety project in India 

The World Bank has approved a $250 million project designed to improve the safety and performance of existing dams across various states of India - described as the world's largest dam management program.

The Second Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP-2) will strengthen dam safety by building dam safety guidelines; bring in global experience; and introduce newer technologies. A major innovation envisaged under the project, that is likely to transform dam safety management in the country, is the introduction of a risk-based approach to dam asset management that will help to effectively allocate financial resources towards dam safety needs. 

The project will be implemented in approximately 120 dams across the states of Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu, and at the national level through the Central Water Commission (CWC). Other states or agencies may also be added to the project during project implementation.

“This is the world’s largest dam management program. Its objective is to break the costly cycle of ‘build-neglect-rebuild’ which characterizes the operations and maintenance of infrastructure across sectors,” said Junaid Ahmad, World Bank Country Director in India. “The expected outcomes will be game-changing: sustaining the livelihoods and food security of millions of Indians who depend on irrigated agriculture and enabling farmers to shift out of pumping groundwater, thereby, reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. This program can act as a lighthouse for other countries tackling the challenge of managing hydraulic infrastructure.”

Since project effectiveness in 2012, Government of India has been implementing the World Bank-supported DRIP-1 (US$279 million) and Additional Financing (US$62 million). This project has improved the safety and sustainable performance of 223 dams in six states of India and one central agency.[Read More]

70 लाख में गोविंद वल्लभ पंत सागर की जाचेंगे प्रदूषण का स्तर, सीडब्ल्यूपीआरएस को मिला अध्ययन का जिम्मा

सोनभद्र, जेएनएन। देश के प्रमुख बांधों में शामिल गोङ्क्षवद वल्लभ पंत सागर यानी रिहंद डैम में आस-पास की कंपनियों ने कितना प्रदूषण डाला, कितना सिल्ट जमा है जिस वजह से उसके जलधारण क्षमता में कमी आई है। इसकी जांच के लिए पुणे की संस्था सीडब्ल्यूपीआरएस (सेंट्रल वाटर एंड पावर रिसर्च स्टेशन) को जिम्मेदारी दी गई है। सिंचाई विभाग की निगरानी में होने वाली इस जांच में 70 लाख रुपये खर्च होंगे जो संस्था को मिल गया है। कुछ औपचारिकताओं को पूरी कर जांच शुरू की जाएगी। इसकी रिपोर्ट एनजीटी (राष्ट्रीय हरित अधिकरण) को भेजी जाएगी और तलहटी की सफाई भी होगी।[Read more]

MCZMA asks BMC to set up environment cell for coastal road

The directive is part of the 16 conditions that MCZMA has asked the BMC to fulfil while forwarding its application of amendment in coastal zone regulation (CRZ) clearance to Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) for final approval.

According to the MCZMA conditions, the BMC shall set up a full-fledged environment management cell for tracking effective implementation and monitoring of environment management, marine biodiversity conservation plans, recommendation of socio-economic study and disaster management plan prepared for the coastal road project.

The environment cell should monitor real-time change in shoreline, erosion/accretion of coastline by engaging competent agencies like National Institute of Oceanography, IIT-Bombay, CWPRS, stated the MCZMA. The authority has also said real-time data should be collected for 15 years down the line and specific budget allocation made for setting up the cell.[Readmore]

JNPT clears the air on green concerns surrounding Vadhavan port as resistance grows

Centre-owned Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) said it is “committed to preserving, protecting and promoting the environment” in and around Vadhavan port while implementing as well as operating the mega project it is helming near Dahanu in Maharashtra’s Palghar district, in the wake of growing protests from locals.

“All environment laws, rules and regulations will be fully complied with and JNPT will take all precautionary and mitigative measures for environmentally sustainable port development and port services which are in the larger interest of the nation and in particular to Maharashtra,” a spokesperson for JNPT said on Saturday.[Readmore]

Securing India's dams

DRIP will ensure a critical aspect of national security and sovereignty - the safety of dams and protection of water sources.

Dams have been at the centre of Indian life for serveral decades and a part of the faith since eons. when the celestial Ganga came crashing onto earth, its ferocity would have broken the planet into smithereens had it not been Lord Shiva who dammed its flow in his locks and saved the planet. [Readmore]

Safeguarding our dams and waters: DRIP a critical aspect of national resilience and sovereignty

When the Three Gorges Dam over the river Yangtze became functional, it slowed the earth’s rotation by 0.06 microseconds. It is this power of dams that both impresses and intimidates us.

With emphasis on weekend tourism, water sports, fisheries, solar power and other allied activities, a perfect balance between structural resilience and economic resilience of dams has been envisioned through the project.

By Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

Dams have been at the centre of Indian life for several decades, and have been a part of the faith for eons. When the celestial river Ganga came crashing onto the earth, its ferocity would have broken the planet into smithereens, had it not been Lord Shiva who dammed its flow in his locks and saved the planet. [Readmore]

Centre, states must seize opportunity to come together for water governance

The Centre can work with the states in building a credible institutional architecture for gathering data and producing knowledge about water resources — a foundational necessity to address most federal water governance challenges.

A slew of bills on water awaits Parliament’s approval. Two of them, passed by the Lok Sabha, were listed for clearing by Rajya Sabha in the monsoon session — The Interstate River Water Disputes Amendment Bill 2019 and the Dam Safety Bill 2019. The truncated session could not get to discuss the bills, though. A common issue that the bills confront is with respect to the ways in which the Centre can work with the states to deal with the emerging challenges of inter-state water governance. The latest centrally sponsored scheme (CSS), Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), too is pumping massive finances into achieving universal access to safe and secure drinking water in rural areas — otherwise a domain of the states. JJM presents an opportunity to get states on board for a dialogue towards stronger Centre-states coordination and federal water governance ecosystem.[Readmore]