The World Bank Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved additional financing of $137 million for the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) that will help rehabilitate and modernize over selected large dams in the states of Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand.
In 2010, the Bank’s Board approved $350 million to finance the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project to improve the safety and sustainable performance of over 220 selected dams in India. This ongoing project has so far benefitted 25 million primary beneficiaries from urban and rural communities providing them water and livelihood opportunities.
The additional funding of $137 million approved will be used for the construction of an additional spillway for Hirakud Dam in Odisha state as well as continue to help in rehabilitation and improvement of other dams including strengthening the institutional, legal and technical framework for dam safety assurance within the Government of India and in the participating states.
“Infrastructure management often falls prey to a costly ‘build-decay-rebuild’ cycle. Breaking this pattern by ensuring that dams are well managed, properly maintained and efficiently operated is essential. This will ensure the welfare and safety of communities and sustain economic growth. DRIP is delivering these important objectives,” said Junaid Ahmad, Country Director World Bank.
The dams play a key role in fostering rapid and sustained agricultural and rural growth and development – a key priority for the Government of India since independence.
These dams benefit millions of people who rely on their waters for livelihood and therefore need to be strengthened with more investment in their operations and maintenance. Flood protection measures in many dams need to be supported as well, as their failure could pose serious risks to downstream communities.
The World Bank has so far invested $280 million in the project that acts as a “lighthouse”, showcasing how best to make dams fully operational and safe in a technically sound and sustainable manner.
Original source: IFC
Published on 01 March 2019
