Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP): Making Dams Robust

Relevance

GS 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

GS 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

Context

• Central Water Commission, Ministry of Jal Shakti, signed DRIP-2, a USD 250 million project, with the World Bank to make the existing dam infrastructure safe in the country.

Key points

• The Central Water Commission as well as the government representatives from 10 participating states are also part of the loan agreement.
• The loan amount is for dam safety programme and improving the safety and performance of existing dams across various states of India.
• It will strengthen dam safety by building safety guidelines, bring in global experience, and introduce innovative technologies.
• Risk-based approach to dam asset management is being introduced that is likely to transform dam safety management
• It helps to effectively allocate financial resources towards priority dam safety needs.

Background of DRIP

• In 2012, CWC and the World bank joined hands to improve safety and operational performance of dams. In India.
• It was launched as a state sector scheme to strengthen the institutions with system wide management approach.
• Originally the scheme was scheduled for six years and was scheduled to close in closure. It, however, got extended till June 2020.
• It was recently closed and it has improved the safety and sustainable performance of 223 dams in six states and one central agency.

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Objectives

• The scheme intended to rehabilitate the old dams in the country that are experiencing distress and are in need of attention for ensuring their structural safety and operational efficiency.
• It also aims to strengthen the institutional capacity and project management in the concerned area.
• It envisages greater awareness on dam safety issues and thus find novel solutions to address them by pooling best knowledge, technologies and experience available around world.

How DRIP-2 is different from its earlier version?

• DRIP-2 will support flood forecasting systems and integrated reservoir operations that will contribute to building climate resilient structures.
• It will help prepare and implement the emergency action plans to enable vulnerable downstream communities to prepare for resilience against the possible negative impacts and risks of climate change.
• It will also undertake the piloting of supplemental revenue generation schemes such as floating solar panels.

Geospatial Technologies In Water Sector

Why such projects are necessary?

• On an average, 4 among the 5 dams in our country is built 25- years ago.
• More than 200 dams are over 100 years They were built at a time when safety standards were much lower as compared to today.
• Several of these dams might be experiencing distress and need an urgent attention to remain functional.

Way forward

• Dams are important as they support agriculture by providing water for irrigation, similarly, they provide water for generating electricity through hydro-electric power.
• Moreover, they serve people by reducing the incidences of floods
• Owing to such benefits, projects like DRIP can contribute significantly to the national prosperity.

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