Dam

Bomb threat prompts security sweep at Kerala's century-old Mullaperiyar dam

Police in the Idukki district of Kerala said on Monday that security personnel conducted intensive searches at the more than a century-old Mullaperiyar dam here following a bomb threat. An email, threatening to blow up the reservoir, was received at the district collectorate in neighbouring Thrissur, police said. As soon as the information was received, a team of police and the bomb squad rushed to the dam site and carried out searches there, they said. "Nothing suspicious has been found so far. The inspection is still continuing," a police officer added. Built in 1895, the Mullaperiyar dam is a bone of contention between Tamil Nadu, which owns and operates it, and Kerala, where it is located. The bomb threat was received on a day when the Supreme Court issued notice to the Centre, the Tamil Nadu and Kerala governments, as well as the NDMA, on a PIL seeking construction of a new dam to replace the 130-year-old dam following concerns over its safety and structural stability.

Water released from Maharashtra's Ujani dam after storage rises to 97%

Water level in the Ujani Dam in Maharashtra's Solpur district has reached 97 per cent of its capacity, prompting the irrigation department to release water from the reservoir, officials said on Tuesday. The dam is almost filled to its capacity owing to good rainfall in the catchment areas of the Bhima river. Water was being released from the dam at the rate of 70,000 cubic foot per second (cusec), an irrigation department official said. The total capacity of the Ujani Dam is 117 TMC and it generally gets filled up to its maximum capacity by August 15 in case of normal rainfall. The reservoir mainly provides water to Solapur and partly to Pune and Satara districts. "So far, the dam is filled up to 97 per cent, thanks to the good rainfall upstream in the Bhima river catchment area in Pune. Currently, water is being released from the dam at 70,000 cusec," Ujani dam project executive engineer Raosaheb More said.

China starts building world's largest hydropower project in Tibet

China's CSI Construction & Engineering Index jumped as much as 4 per cent to a seven-month high. Power Construction Corporation of China and Arcplus Group PLC surged by their 10 per cent daily limit

China constructing dam on Brahmaputra not immediate concern, says Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday tried to alleviate fears on China's move to construct the world's largest dam on Brahmaputra and said he does not foresee any immediate cause of worry as the river gets most of its waters from Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function here, Sarma said the exact impact of the massive dam, the construction of which began last week, is not properly known as different theories are being floated, and hoped that the Centre must be in touch with China on the matter. China on Saturday formally started the construction of a USD 167.8 billion dam over the Brahmaputra River in Tibet, close to the border with India in Arunachal Pradesh. "I am not immediately worried because Brahmaputra is a mighty river and it is not dependent on a single source (of water)," Sarma told reporters here. When asked about the possible downstream impact of the dam on Assam, he said it is not yet known whether it will be good

CM Siddaramaiah announces ₹32.25 cr for Kabini dam restoration work

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday offered baagina' (a traditional offering) to the Kabini River and said Rs 32.25 crore had been approved for the dam's renovation, along with a slew of irrigation and development projects for the region. Speaking to reporters, Siddaramaiah said he offers oblations to the Kabini River every year, which irrigates over 1.13 lakh acres of agricultural land. He recalled that the dam across the river was built 51 years ago and said the government has now taken up its strengthening and modernisation. "A sum of Rs 32.25 crore has been approved for the renovation work," he said, adding that there are also plans to develop a garden similar to the iconic Brindavan Gardens near the KRS dam. Proposals have also been submitted for the modernisation of the Taraka Reservoir canal and other irrigation systems around Kabini in H D Kote taluk. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who was also present, said dam repair works across the state would be ...

World's largest dam in China like water bomb for downstream nations: BJP MP

China's announcement of constructing the world's largest dam was like a 'water bomb' which would have a devastating downstream impact on northeastern India and Bangladesh, BJP Lok Sabha member from Arunachal Pradesh Tapir Gao claimed here on Tuesday. The lawmaker from Arunachal Pradesh was addressing a conference on 'Ensuring Water Security, ecological integrity and Disaster Resilience in the Sub-Himalayan Region: The Case of the Brahmaputra'. "China has already decided to construct a dam which will have the capacity to produce 60,000 MW of electricity. This is not going to be a dam, but a water bomb to be used against India and other lower riparian countries," Gao said. He claimed that the devastating floods of June 2000 caused by a similar water bomb that had washed away more than 10 bridges on the Siang river, as the Yarlung Tsangpo is known in Arunachal Pradesh before it becomes Brahmaputra upon entering Assam. 'If China decides to release water from the dam in the future, ...

Tibet earthquake caused no damage to dams, reservoirs, says Chinese govt

China on Tuesday said the 6.8-magnitude earthquake near one of Tibet's holiest cities, which claimed at least 126 lives, caused no damage to any dams or reservoirs in the country. The statement by the Ministry of Water Resources came as the earthquake highlighted concerns raised by experts about China's plan to build the world's largest dam on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet near the Indian border. According to regional disaster relief headquarters, the quake jolted Dingri County in Xigaze in Tibet Autonomous Region in China at 9:05 am local time. At least 126 people have been confirmed dead and 188 others injured, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Following the earthquake, China's Ministry of Water Resources stated that inspections found no impact on dams or reservoirs in the region, according to the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post. China in December approved the construction of the dam, stated to be the world's biggest infra project costing USD 137 billion, rais

China approves construction of world's largest hydropower dam in Tibet

The dam, which will be located in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, could produce 300 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually

India has 1,065 dams 50-100 years old, 224 are hundred plus: Govt

India has 1,065 large dams that are between 50 and 100 years old while 224 are over a century old, the Jal Shakti Ministry said on Monday. There are a total of 6,138 constructed and 143 under-construction dams in the country. Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary said the government enacted the Dam Safety Act, 2021 to address the challenges posed by ageing dams and to prevent disasters arising from dam failures. He said dams, apart from serving irrigation and power generation purposes, play a significant role in mitigating floods. According to the National Register of Large Dams (NRLD-2023 edition), compiled jointly by the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) and CWC, there are 6,138 constructed and 143 under construction dams which aggregate to a total of 6,281 large dams. Of these numbers, only 224 dams are more than 100 years old and there are 1065 large dams which are 50 to 100 years old. Choudhary said the governm

Rs 100 cr disbursed to 494 families affected by Jamrani dam in Uttarakhand

He said that work is being done to strengthen the women's self-help groups in the state economically, under the Lakhpati Didi Yojana, women are being given an amount of Rs 1 lakh, and 30 percent

Water released from Odisha's Hirakud Dam, high alert in downstream areas

With the Hirakud Dam authorities releasing the season's first flood water in the river Mahanadi, the Odisha government on Sunday asked collectors of seven downstream districts to be on high alert and tell people not to go near the riverbank, officials said. After customary puja, the dam authorities opened sluice gate number seven followed by others. A total of 20 gates will be opened in three phases 7 gates at 9.30 am, another 7 at 12.30 pm and the remaining 6 gates at 2.30 pm, to flush out excess water amid heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas and the inflow of water into the reservoir. The water level of Hirakud stood at 616.93 ft against its full reservoir capacity of 630 feet, at 6 am. While the inflow of water into the reservoir was 3,16,000 cusec, the outflow was 40,126 cusec. The state government in a release said that due to the opening of 20 gates, the Khairmal discharge would be around 4.50 lakh cusecs by 8 am on July 29 and the Mundali discharge will be around 5 .

Authorities in Russia, Kazakhstan evacuate thousands following dam burst

Authorities in Russia ordered residents to evacuate parts of the Orenburg-region city of Orsk ofter a dam burst, adding to existing flooding in the region

Tragedy in Sikkim

The catastrophe underlines big dam weaknesses

Will take action on officials for non-compliance of water release rules: HP

With heavy rains and flash floods devastating Himachal Pradesh, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena on Friday pitched for stringent action against dam authorities not following water release guidelines, saying "it is time to send notices and not letters or reminders". Chairing a meeting on safety issues regarding the discharge of water from dams, Saxena said that though a part of the devastation was natural but responsibility must also be fixed for the failure of the dam authorities in complying with relevant provisions of the Dam Safety Act (DSA) and the Central Water Commission (CWC) guidelines of 2015. Strengthening of early warning system was stressed after 24 students from Andhra Pradesh were washed away as water from the Larji Dam was discharged without prior warning in 2014, he said, adding that the Act provides for surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of all specified reservoirs. However, many dam authorities have failed in fulfilling their duties, resulting in the

Gujarat minister writes to Rajasthan govt over its plans to build two dams

Amid a row over reports suggesting that Congress-ruled Rajasthan is planning to build two dams upstream of the Dharoi dam, the Gujarat government has registered its protests saying the project would violate a water-sharing agreement. Gujarat Water Resources Minister Kunvarji Bavaliya told reporters on Friday he has written to the Rajasthan government over its plans to build dams on Sabarmati and Sei rivers near the border of both states. Concerns have been expressed that if such a plan is implemented, the Dharoi dam won't get any water. According to Bavaliya, Rajasthan should adhere to the water-sharing agreement signed when Dharoi dam on Sabarmati river was built in Mehsana district of Gujarat over 40 years ago. While Sabarmati river originates from Rajasthan, Sei river is a tributary which eventually merges with Sabarmati before it enters north Gujarat, where Dharoi dam is situated. Water should be distributed as per the water treaty signed by both states in the past, said the ..

Himachal Pradesh: Alert sounded as Malana dam gate malfunctions in Kullu

The Kullu Deputy Commissioner stated that the Power Project Authority has been instructed to operate the gate soon so that there is no loss of life or property

Cauvery life issue, won't allow construction of Mekedatu dam: TN Minister

The Cauvery water sharing is not some ordinary matter but a 'life' issue and Tamil Nadu will not allow the construction of a dam across the inter-state river at Mekedatu by Karnataka, state minister Duraimurugan said here on Thursday. He was speaking to reporters early today upon his arrival from New Delhi after meeting Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Shekhawat over the Cauvery issue. TN has flagged the lower realisation from the inter-state river with the Centre. The Tamil Nadu Water Resources Minister pointed out at his state receiving lesser quantum of water from the Cauvery river as of July 3 and said if the situation continues the short-term 'kuruvai crops' in the delta districts may be affected. To protect the crops in the Cauvery Delta districts in the state, Karnataka has to release water from the river and for this purpose, the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) "has to hold talks with Karnataka or order it to do so," he said, adding this request was conveyed to .

Over 5,800 people evacuated after Kakhovka dam collapse

As water is draining from the Kakhovka reservoir, there is a threat to the supply of drinking water to 4,000 local residents

Ukraine dam breach to have economic, ecological consequences: Expert

The breaching of a major dam in southern Ukraine and the susequent collapse of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant earlier this week, will lead to devastating economic and ecological consequences

Floodwaters engulf areas of Ukraine after dam breach as hundreds evacuated

Floodwaters from a collapsed dam kept rising in southern Ukraine on Wednesday, forcing hundreds of people to flee their homes in a major emergency operation that brought a dramatic new dimension to the war with Russia, now in its 16th month. Amid the disaster response, artillery shelling rang out as people scrambled to get out of the danger zone, climbing onto military trucks or rafts. Officials said the flood's force was expected to slacken as the day wore on, a day after Tuesday's breach of the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam and reservoir, which is one of the largest in the world. Even so, authorities said water levels were expected to rise by another metre (about 3 feet) over the following 20 hours and engulf more downriver areas along the banks of the Dnieper. Some local residents spent the night on rooftops. Others, scrambling to flee the rising waters, were evacuated by buses and trains with the belongings they could carry. The intensity of floods is slightly decreasing," Oleksa