News:Waterman of India Rajendra Singh has said that the Srisailam Dam in Andhra Pradesh needs repair, protection and maintenance works under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project.
Facts:
About Srisailam Dam:
- The Srisailam dam is constructed across the Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh.It is located in the Nallamala hills.
- Several floods in the region have created a need for repair and maintenance of the Srisailam dam.
About Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project:
- The Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement project was launched in 2012 under Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation(now Ministry of Jal Shakti).It is a World Bank assisted project.
- The Central Dam Safety Organisation of Central Water Commission is coordinating and supervising the Project implementation.
Objectives of the project:
- To improve the safety and operational performance of selected existing dams and associated appurtenances in a sustainable manner
- To improve institutional capacities for dam safety evaluation and implementation at the Central and State levels.
Funding:
- The DRIP is an externally-aided project.80% of the total project is provided by the World Bank as loan/credit and remaining 20% is borne by the States / Central Government (for CWC).
- Govt. of India has not sought funding from any internal agency for this project.
Additional information:
About Rajinder Singh:
- Rajinder Singh is a well known water conservationist and environmentalist from Rajasthan.
- He was awarded the Magsaysay Award in 2001 and Stockholm Water Prize in 2015.
- He is credited with harvesting rainwater for drinking and domestic purposes by building check dams in Alwar and nearby districts of Rajasthan.
- The idea was to revive the use of traditional technology of Johad,an ancient water conservation technique to replenish the water sources.
- Johad is a concave structure that collects and stores water throughout the year for drinking purposes by humans and cattle.
- It is the successful implementation of this ancient innovation that earned him the name ‘Jal Purush’ or the ‘Waterman of India’.
