The nearly 60-year-old Rana Pratap Sagar dam, Jawahar Sagar dam and Kota Barrage dams, built on the Chambal River often referred to as «always blue» have become old and dilapidated. Out of the total 21 gates of Rana Pratap Sagar (Rawatbhata), Rajasthan›s largest dam, 17 are large, and 4 are sludge gates. These 4 sludge gates have not been opened in 37 years. There isn›t even a wire rope to open the dilapidated sludge gates, and there is continuous leakage, with smelly water coming through. Drinking water for the Rawatbhata area is supplied near these gates. Before conducting the health checkup of the gates, it was suggested that underwater videography is necessary to assess and repair the dams› structural integrity.
One gate of the Rana Pratap Sagar Dam has previously gotten stuck. A proposal has been made to open the four sludge gates using hydraulic technology, but the work has yet to begin. This year, too, the sludge gates will remain closed because no executive agency is willing to work underwater.
According to the Water Resources Department, tenders for the renovation of the three Chambal dams Rana Pratap Sagar, Jawahar Sagar, and Kota Barrage will be reissued with new estimates. After three failed attempts at a tender worth Rs 183 crore, the cost of issuing new tenders will increase by 20%. Discussions are ongoing between the Water Resources Department, the World Bank, and the Central Water Commission. New proposals have been sent to the Central Water Commission, and approval is pending. Even if the Central Water Commission approves the project in Delhi, work will only begin by 2025. It will take 90 days just to issue the new tender, meaning that three months will pass before work begins. By the time the work actually starts, it will be 2025. However, officials claim that work will start before the end of this year.
The dam expert team has recommended replacing 4 gates of Rajasthan›s largest Rana Pratap Sagar Dam, 2 sludge gates of the Kota Barrage, and all 12 gates of the Jawahar Sagar Dam, all of which are built on the Chambal River. Health checkup experts reported their findings to the Water Resources Department, based on the proposals requested by the Central Water Commission for the renovation of the three dams. Renovation work worth Rs 134 crore is expected, which includes replacing some parts of the gates and completely replacing all 12 gates of Jawahar Sagar. For the Kota Barrage, it was suggested to replace the stop gate and conduct necessary repairs, including updating the electric wiring.
Nearly 60 years after these dams were built, the Central Water Commission initiated renovation proposals worth Rs 46 crore for the Rana Pratap Sagar Dam, Rs 53 crore for the Jawahar Sagar Dam, and Rs 35 crore for the Kota Barrage. However, new instructions from the Government of India, the World Bank, and the Central Water Commission have delayed the renovation work, despite the implementation of the Dam Safety Act. If the dams are not renovated soon, their lifespan will be further reduced. One gate of the Jawahar Sagar Dam is already stuck, and the condition of all 19 gates of the Kota Barrage is poor.
Rajiv Chaudhary, Chief Engineer of Rana Pratap Sagar, Jawahar Sagar, and Kota Barrage Dams, Water Resources Department, Kota, says that a departmental report is being sent to the Central Water Commission based on the health assessment team›s findings. Following this, the renovation process will begin. It has been recommended that some gates be replaced, and others be repaired. The final decision will be made at the Jaipur headquarters.
Under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project, the World Bank, through the Central Water Commission, has approved Rs 11,000 crore for the safety and repair of 733 large dams across the country. This funding allows for the rehabilitation of dams, including the Rana Pratap Sagar, Jawahar Sagar, and Kota Barrage dams, as well as the Mahi Dam in Banswara. India has a total of 5,264 large dams, with 211 of them located in Rajasthan.
A Look at the Three Dams of Chambal
The Rana Pratap Sagar Dam in Rawatbhata has 17 large gates and 4 sludge gates. The dam›s height is 177 feet. Its full capacity is 1,157.50 feet, and its maximum water level is 1,162 feet. Similarly, the Jawahar Sagar Dam in Bundi district, adjacent to the Rawatbhata subdivision, has 12 gates. The dam›s height is 147 feet, with a full capacity of 980 feet and a maximum water level of 990 feet. The Kota Barrage in Kota city has 19 large gates and 2 sludge gates. The dam›s height is 122 feet, with a full capacity of 852 feet and a maximum water level of 857 feet.
India›s Dams: 5,334 Large Dams Nationwide, 411 Under Construction
India ranks third globally, after China and the United States, with 5,334 large dams. Additionally, around 411 dams are under construction, along with many small dams. These dams are crucial for ensuring the country›s water security. Indian dams and reservoirs store about 300 billion cubic meters of water annually, playing an important role in the country›s economic and agricultural development. The new scheme, DRIP Phase-2, covering large dams in 19 states, is co-financed by the World Bank (WB) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) with a contribution of $250 million.
Bhupendra Sharma is post graduate in Social Work
