Central Water Commission (CWC) under the Ministry of Water Resources signed two Memorandums of Understanding with IIT Madras and IISc Bengaluru on Friday for enhancing its capability to support dam rehabilitation efforts in the areas of dam safety through World Bank assisted Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP).
Sources said the agreement will help them in the procurement of specified equipment and software for enhancing their capability to support dam rehabilitation.
The Ministry has taken on board selected premier academic and research institutes, for their inputs. The scope includes strengthening the testing laboratories, enhancing analytical capabilities, exposure visits to best global institutions and on ground exposure to dam safety concerns to the faculty of these institutions.
Meanwhile, DRIP is assisting rehabilitation of 250 dams in seven States which are experiencing different levels of distress. Owners of these dams require technical support for the investigation of site conditions and supporting rehabilitation efforts. The Government of India has decided to enhance the capability of select premier institutes in dam safety areas so that they, in turn, carry out field investigations at dam sites and provide training and consulting services to assist the dam owners in their dam rehabilitation efforts.
The initiative as per the sources is to equip country’s national institutions to develop capability and expertise at par with global institutions in the times to come.