OdishaPlus Bureau
Odisha is going to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the proposed 500 million dollar loan of the World Bank for 13 states towards strengthening their dams on reservoirs and rivers. It now appears that State is all set to take up the massive improvement of 36 dam projects with nearly Rs.1000 crore World Bank support. Under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) Phase II and III, Odisha will be implementing this huge Dam Improvement Project.
While Odisha tops in the investment of funds in the water resources sector, it will be benefitted from the proposed funding by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). This will be the second Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) which is being implemented in Odisha and some other states with World Bank support. Odisha is one of the biggest recipients of the World Bank loan, will revamp the State’s dam structure—major, medium and minor dams.
According to officials, World Bank Country Director Junaid Kamal Ahmed has been very positive towards Odisha which organized the fifth International Dam Safety Conference last year that deliberated intensely the issues and challenges of dam safety in the changed scenario.
The second Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project will benefit, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Gujarat Punjab, Maharashtra, and several other States. State Government has been increasing its investment in the water resources sector and it has touched Rs.10,000 crore annual investment and benefitting the agriculture sector in a big way. Detailed discussion in this regard will take place on May 20, where e-Conference will be held between the recipient States Union Government and World Bank.
The Ministry of Finance is coordinating the entire exercise and State Government concerned will be presenting their cases, said sources. While the Department of Water Resources (DoWR) has taken up various measures in this regard, more is needed to be done as per the stipulations of the World Bank.
Odisha implemented DRIP Phase I and rehabilitated 26 dams out of which 6 major, 14 medium, and 6 are minor dams. The Major dams included Balimela, Hirakud, Rengali, Salandi and Upper Kolab, and Satiguda. While Odisha, which has 163 large dams is taking up all sorts of preparatory arrangements, the Union Government has advised Odisha to take up the required criteria needed for clearance of the projects.