CAUSE OF CONCERN: 227 DAMS IN INDIA ARE 100 YEARS OLD

Central Water Commission maintains the National Register of Large Dams (NRLD) as per input/information provided by dam owners. As per NRLD-2019, there are 227 large dams in the country, which are more than 100 years old (constructed on/before 1921). There is a specific phase-wise plan for rehabilitation and improvement of these dams and Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) phase I is already finished and phase II and Phase III is implemented.

Each Phase has external assistance of $500 Million. The Union Cabinet has approved the Scheme on 29 October 2020. DRIP and DRIP Phase II & Phase III are State Sector Schemes with Central components, with back to back loan arrangements. As per CWC officials, DRIP had no central grant. In DRIP Phase II & Phase III, Special Category States i.e. Manipur, Meghalaya, and Uttarakhand are getting 90% of the loan amount as Central Grant from Central Govt. The Scheme is planned to kick start in October/November 2021.

As per CWC officials, Central government with financial assistance from the World Bank implemented DRIP from April 2012 to March 2021, with rehabilitation provision of 223 dams located in seven States (namely Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand). The aim of this scheme is to improve the safety and operational performance of selected existing dams along with institutional strengthening of participating states/agencies. The original financial outlay is Rs 3466 cr, with a final completion cost of Rs 2567 cr in Phase I.

As per officials of the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MOJS), they have again initiated DRIP Phase II and Phase III by inviting proposals from the States. This new scheme has 19 states, and three central agencies on board with a budget outlay of Rs 10,211 cr. Phase II has Rs 5107 cr and Phase III has Rs 5104 cr. This comprises rehabilitation provision of 736 dams. The Phase II of DRIP is being co-financed by World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), whereas funding for Phase III will be triggered at a later stage.