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INFORMATION
The World Bank has released the Global Economic Prospects report 2019 titled “Darkening Skies”.
WHAT HAPPENED RECENTLY?
The World Bank has accepted a proposal to provide Rs 11,000 crore to India to improve safety and operational performance of its 733 large dams across 18 states over the next 10 years.
WHY DAM SAFETY IS IMPORTANT?
The money will be utilised under the ongoing Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Programme (DRIP) for its subsequent phases beginning 2020. Besides operation, maintenance and emergency action plans, the programme will also focus on revenue generation at dams through tourism, fisheries, water recreations and solar and hydro power.
DAM REHABILITATION & IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (DRIP)
DRIP is a state sector scheme with central component to improve safety and operational performance of selected dams, along with institutional strengthening with system wide management approach. The project was launched in 2012 by Central Water Commission (CWC) under Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation with assistance from World Bank.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
5th International Dam Safety Conference 2019 was held in Bhubaneswar The two-day conference was held under the aegis of the ongoing World Bank-assisted Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) as a part of institutional strengthening.
DAMS IN INDIA
India has currently 5,264 operational large dams, but 80% of them are over 25 years old and in need of maintenance and safety upgradation. As many as 213 large dams in India are over 100 years old.
PHASE-II & III OF THE DRIP
The major dams which are to be covered under Phase-II & III of the DRIP include Bhakra dam (Himachal Pradesh), Srisailam (Telangana), Koyna and Jayakwadi (Maharashtra), Matatila, Ramganga and Raj Ghat (UP), Pong dam (HP), Ukai (Gujarat), Rana Pratap Sagar and Mahi (Rajasthan), Hirakud and Rengali (Odisha) and Umiam (Meghalaya) .
INDIA’S WORLD BANK LOANS
India is the largest recipient of loans from the World Bank, amounting to $102.1 billion, between 1945 and 2015 (as on July 21, 2015), according to the Bank’s lending report. India is followed by Brazil ($58.8 billion), China ($55.6 billion), Mexico ($54 billion) and Indonesia ($50.5 billion). The World Bank has been lending funds to India for rural and urban development projects related to transport, water and irrigation, health, power and agriculture.
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