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Sunday, Jul 01, 2007
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Storage in dams higher for monsoon onset

Gargi Parsai

Situation may result in greater floods than last year

NEW DELHI: Even as rains have hit parts of western and southern India, a large number of dams monitored by the Central Water Commission (CWC) have more water stored than required at the monsoon onset. If not managed well and at the right time, then the country may once again face floods of the kind witnessed last year, warn experts.

One of the justifications for constructing dams is to store the water during monsoon for use during non-monsoon months. However, if the dams have storage levels above 10 per cent of live capacity before the monsoon, it means that the waters have not been utilised to sub-optimal use of capacity created with colossal investments, said Himanshu Thakkar of South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People here on Saturday.

“This is because we do not have the foresight, the planning, coordination and a reservoir management policy,” said Mr. Thakkar. He warned that the situation may result in greater floods and damage.

As per the CWC records updated on June 16, of the 76 large reservoirs monitored by it, 41 have water filled up to more than 20 per cent capacity. Last week, the water level was over one-third of the capacity in 20 reservoirs. Some other reservoirs like Painganga, Kamthi Khairi and Arunawati in the drought-prone Vidarbha had much more water stored before the monsoon than they should have had. In Gujarat’s drought-prone northern region, the Kadana and Panam dams on Mahi River, and Dharoi and Jakham dams on Sabarmati River had high water storage. Ukai dam on Tapi River in South Gujarat, that flooded Surat and other downstream areas last year, had 18 per cent water storage on June 15.

In Rajasthan, Gandhi Sagar had 35 per cent storage and Rana Pratap Sagar had 87 per cent storage as reported by CWC on June 16.

In the flood-prone Mahanadi in Chhattisgarh, the Gangrel dam had 41 per cent and Hansdeo Bango reservoir had 27 per cent storage, while the Hirakud dam in Orissa had 42 per cent storage.

The sudden release of water from reservoirs of high magnitude flows was one of the most important reasons for the flood damage last year. It seems that lessons have not been learnt as no transparency has been brought into the operations nor any visible policy put in place.

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