दामोदर घाटी निगम Damodar Valley Corporation
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Dams have played a key role in fostering agricultural and rural growth and development. Irrigated agriculture and hydropower development supports Govt’s strategy to enhance agricultural and rural development goals thereby ensuring food security. As the rain fall in the Damodar Valley area is mostly restricted to a four-month monsoon season, maximum storage of water in a safe manner is vital. As creating new reservoir capacity is very challenging job under present scenario, the maintenance of already created reservoirs assumes great importance for optimum management of water resources. Hence it is essential to keep them in sound condition. With passage of time, dams are facing structural degradation which is needed to be rectified.

In April 2012, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (then known as Ministry of Water Resources) through Central Water Commission initiated World Bank assisted Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP), to improve the safety and operational performance of selected dams, coupled with institutional strengthening through a system wide management approach. The Scheme had provision to rehabilitate 223 dams, located in 7 States across country including three dams of DVC, viz., Maithon, Panchet and Konar dams. Rehabilitation of different hydro-mechanical and civil structures of above dams such as crest Gates, under sluice, intake structures, Gantry Cranes, Emergency gates, Draft tube gates, repairing of cracks, Slope protection works, Grouting works etc. were considered. Additionally, preparation of important manuals/ documents for these dams were also considered in the project such as Design Flood Reviews, Operation & Maintenance Manuals, Emergency Action Plans etc. Major works were completed by DVC within the schedule closure time of DRIP in June 2020 with an expenditure of Rs. 100 cr. DVC continued to carry out the necessary activities to ensure safety of dam through its own funding.

Another externally aided Scheme DRIP Phase II and Phase III has been approved by Govt. of India. This Scheme has rehabilitation provision of 736 dams at the budget outlay of Rs 10211 Cr, having 10 years duration, to be implemented in two phases of 6 years duration with two years overlap. 19 States, and three Central Agencies are part of this Scheme. The Phase II of Scheme has co-financing provision, wherein external assistance of USD 500 million, is equally shared between the World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The Scheme has been declared effective in October 2021. DVC has requested CWC for inclusion of Tilaiya dam, Bokaro Barrage and CTPS weir along with the balance activities of Maithon, Panchet and Konar dams under the DRIP Phase II and Phase III scheme, with the total cost outlay of around INR 145 crores.