Centre initiates project to rehabilitate TN dams

Tamil Nadu, which is facing water deficit, will heave a sigh of relief as the Centre initiated the long-pending Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) in 66 reservoirs, including the Mettur dam, in the state.

Sources from Water Resources Department (WRD) told Deccan Herald on Sunday that in Tamil Nadu, 66 WRD dams and 38 Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) dams were selected for DRIP with a preliminary project proposal of Rs 745.49 crore.

“The project is funded by World Bank and the officials of the global financial organisation started inspecting the dams a few weeks ago since most of the reservoirs are brimming and also, it was the appropriate time to check the health parameters of the reservoirs,” a senior WRD official said.

He said the duration of the project is six years and the work is likely to commence after signing of agreement with the World Bank. According to the official, the World Bank has already made arrangements with the Controller of Aid and Audit Accounts, Ministry of Finance, Government of India for arranging payments to the official concerned for the DRIP.

The reason for undertaking such project is mainly that many large dams are ageing and have various structural deficiencies and shortcomings in operation and monitoring facilities.

“In addition, many large dams are ageing and have various structural deficiencies and shortcomings in operation and monitoring facilities,” the official said. The Central water commission, with assistance from the World Bank, was engaged in the DRIP project, which will be carried out in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha, for improving the safety and operational performance of dams. More than 200 reservoirs in these four states will get the much-needed rehabilitation and improvement.

Development of appropriate institutional mechanisms for safe operation and maintenance of all large and older dams would also be taken up under this project.

Dam safety review panels comprising several experts will also join World Bank officials to review and advise the borrower on complicated design and construction matters related to dam safety.