Dams

Monitoring dam safety

Decommissioning should be a policy option

Joshimath crisis: Some other places at risk of sinking in Indian Himalayas

A sinking Himalayan town is highlighting the dangers posed to the region and the fragile ecology of the mountain range disturbed by a proliferation of dams, roads and military sites near China border

3,700 Indian dams will lose 26% storage capacity by 2050: UN study

Around 3,700 dams in India will lose 26 per cent of their total storage by 2050 due to accumulation of sediments which can undermine water security, irrigation and power generation in future, warns a new study by the United Nations. The Central Water Commission, had in 2015, reported that among 141 large reservoirs which are over 50-years-old, one quarter had lost at least 30 per cent of their initial storage capacity. Trapped sediment has already robbed roughly 50,000 large dams worldwide of an estimated 13 to 19 per cent of their combined original storage capacity. The study by the United Nations University Institute on Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), also known as the UN's think tank on water, shows that 6,316 billion cubic metre of initial global storage in 47,403 large dams in 150 countries will decline to 4,665 billion cubic metre, causing 26 per cent storage loss by 2050. The loss of 1,650 billion cubic metre storage capacity is roughly equal to the annual water u

Raise height of dams on rivers flowing into Karnataka: NCP's Jayant Patil

Amid the raging border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka, Nationalist Congress Party leader Jayant Patil has said Maharashtra should raise the height of the upstream dams to "rein in" the neighbouring state. The decades-old boundary dispute issue was raised in the legislatures of both the states on Tuesday. Speaking in the Maharashtra Assembly here on Tuesday, Patil said Karnataka was deliberately harassing Marathi-speaking people in its border areas. We should reply to what the Karnataka chief minister says in the same language. If they have so much attitude, then we will raise the height of dams on Koyna and Warna rivers and that of all the dams in Satara and Kolhapur districts. They (Karnataka leaders) would not be brought under control otherwise," the former Maharashtra water resources minister said. "If Karnataka holds us to ransom, then we have water, he added. The border issue dates back to 1957 after the reorganisation of states on linguistic lines. Maharashtra la

Flood alert in TN's Tiruvannamalai as water level rises in Sathanur dam

With the water level in Sathanur dam almost full, a flood alert has been issued in Tiruvannamalai district of Tamil Nadu

Water level in Kerala dam crosses 141 ft; second flood warning issued

An alert has been sounded by Kerala as the water level in Mullaperiyar Dam here crossed 141 ft on Wednesday. The district authorities here said the 'second flood warning' was issued as the water level in the reservoir touched 141 ft at 6 AM. "The water level reached 141.20 ft at 12 PM. If the excess water is released, it will reach the Idukki Reservoir in the downstream," an official source said. The maximum permissible limit of water storage in the dam is 142 ft, District Collector Sheeba George said in a statement. There are chances of releasing extra water by opening its shutters if the water level touches the maximum permissible limit, she said. The departments concerned and its heads should take emergency steps as per the government directives in this regard if there is any situation of releasing excess water. Necessary alerts should also be passed on to the local people and the media based on information from the District Emergency Operation Centre (DEOC), the statement add

US regulators to vote on largest dam demolition, river restoration in world

The largest dam demolition and river restoration plan in the world could be close to reality Thursday as US regulators vote on a plan to remove four aging hydro-electric structures, reopening hundreds of miles of California river habitat to imperiled salmon. The vote by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on the lower Klamath River dams is the last major regulatory hurdle and the biggest milestone facing a USD 500 million demolition proposal championed by Native American tribes and environmentalists for years. Approval of the application to surrender the dams' operating license is the bedrock of the most ambitious salmon restoration plan in history, and if approved the parties overseeing the project will accept license transfer and could begin dam removal as early as this summer. More than 300 miles (482.80 kilometres) of salmon habitat in the Klamath River and its tributaries would benefit, said Amy Souers Kober, spokeswoman for American Rivers, which monitors dam removals and

Eight out of 11 major dams in Maharashtra reached maximum storage capacity

Marathwada has already received 840 millimetres of rain this monsoon, or 123.62 per cent of the region's annual average rainfall of 679 millimetre

Heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh; Bhakra and Pong dams brim with water

Both the dams are brimming with water compared to last year but still short of water to reach the maximum limit

People from 11 MP villages asked to vacate homes as seepage from dam rises

Authorities in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh have directed people residing in 11 villages to immediately vacate their houses and move to safety

Mullaperiyar, Banasursagar dams still releasing water; rains predicted

Major dams like Mullaperiyar and Banasursagar are still open and discharging water downstream with the IMD predicting widespread and isolated heavy rainfall in Kerala during the day and on August 11

Kerala: After Cheruthoni dam, more dams opened following red alerts

Even though rains have subsided in Kerala, various dams across the state continue to discharge excess water on Monday after red alerts have been issued as the water level has breached upper rule curve

Three gates of Srisailam Dam in Andhra Pradesh open due to heavy inflow

In view of heavy rainfall, the irrigation department officials of Andhra Pradesh on Saturday opened three gates of the Srisailam Dam up and released water downstream

Maharashtra: Flood situation grim in parts of Wardha due to rainfall

Flood situation in parts of Maharashtra's Wardha district remained grim as the region witnessed incessant rainfall with overflowing dams

How safe are India's dams?

The long-term safety of a dam depends on the extent of degradation of its materials, weakening of the foundations and seismological threats

Tamil Nadu won't allow Karnataka to construct dam at Mekedatu: Minister

Tamil Nadu Water Resources Minister S. Duraimurugan has said that Tamil Nadu will not allow construction of a dam at Mekedatu by Karnataka

PMK urges CM Stalin to call all-party meet on Mekedatu dam issue

Pattali Makkal Katchi Youth Wing leader Anbumani Ramadoss has urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin to convene an all-party meet with immediate effect to discuss the Mekedatu dam issue.

Stalin writes to Kerala CM to maintain water level in Siruvani Dam

Stalin in the letter written on Tuesday said that this was to ensure regular supply of water to Coimbatore corporation and surrounding areas

Ensuring dam safety

Extreme weather events have increased risks

Rajya Sabha passes Dam Safety Bill that seeks to prevent disasters

The bill will now go back to the Lok Sabha as the Rajya Sabha has made amendments to it