• The government said it has inked a $250 million (about Rs 1,855 crore) loan pact with the World Bank, and the funds will be used to make the existing dam infrastructure safe in the country.

• The Second Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP-2) will strengthen dam safety by building dam safety guidelines, bring in global experience, and introduce innovative technologies. 

• The Central Water Commission as well as the government representatives from 10 participating states are also part of the loan agreement.

Significance of this project?

• India ranks third globally after China and the United States, with 5,334 large dams in operation. In addition, about 411 dams are under construction at present. There are also several thousand smaller dams. 

• Indian dams and reservoirs play an important role in the economic and agricultural growth of the country by storing approximately 300 billion cubic meter of water annually.

• Rainfall, which occurs mainly in intense and unpredictable downpours within short monsoon seasons, is of high temporal and spatial variability and does not meet year-round irrigation and other water demands. 

• With average annual cost of floods in India estimated at $7.4 billion, many dams are critical in mitigating floods. Their failure could pose serious risks to downstream communities.

• The $250 million project for the long-term is for dam safety programme and improving the safety and performance of existing dams across various states of India.

Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP)

• The Indian government, with financial assistance from the World Bank, initiated Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) in April 2012 with an objective to improve the safety and operational performance of selected existing dams along with dam safety institutional strengthening with system wide management approach. 

• It was a State Sector Scheme with central component.

• The financial outlay of the scheme was originally Rs 2,100 crore, which was revised to Rs 3,466 crore in September 2018.  

• The scheme had rehabilitation provision for 223 dams located in seven States (Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand) with 10 implementing agencies on board.

• The scheme has been able to develop two most important dam specific technical documents — Emergency Action Plan, Operation and Maintenance (O&M) manual — for all DRIP dams which will ensure safety and operational performance of selected dams and  mitigate the associated risks with dam failure. 

• The scheme successfully closed in March 2021.

Launch of DRIP - Phase 2 & 3

• Based on the success of DRIP, the ministry of jal shakti initiated another externally funded scheme — DRIP Phase 2 and Phase 3. 

• The Union Cabinet approved the scheme on October 29, 2020.

• The new scheme has 19 states, and three central agencies on board. 

• The budget outlay is Rs 10,211 crore (Phase 2 — Rs 5,107 crore and Phase 3 — Rs 5,104 crore) with rehabilitation provision of 736 dams. 

• The scheme has a duration of 10 years, proposed to be implemented in two phases. Each phase has external assistance of $500 million.

• The Phase 2 is being co-financed by World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), with funding of $250 million each. 

The scheme has four components:

1) Rehabilitation of dams and associated appurtenances to improve the safety and operational performance of selected existing dams and associated appurtenances in a sustainable manner.

2) Dam safety institutional strengthening in participating states as well as on a central level.

3) Incidental revenue generation for sustainable operation and maintenance of dams.

4) Project management.

Other highlights of DRIP-2

• Another major innovation envisaged under the project, that is likely to transform dam safety management, is the introduction of a risk-based approach to dam asset management. It will help to effectively allocate financial resources towards priority dam safety needs.

• The project will encompass around 120 dams across 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 be added to the project during project implementation.

DRIP-2 will support:

• Flood forecasting systems and integrated reservoir operations that will contribute to building climate resilience.

• Preparation and implementation of emergency action plans to enable vulnerable downstream communities to prepare for and enhance 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.

Manorama Yearbook app is now available on Google Play Store and iOS App Store