[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

DAM-L LS: Many Dams Suffer Quake Damage in Kutch (fwd)



----- Forwarded message from owner-irn-narmada@netvista.net -----

Return-path: <owner-irn-narmada@netvista.net>
Received: from DaVinci.NetVista.net (mjdomo@mail.netvista.net [206.170.46.10])
	by lox.sandelman.ottawa.on.ca (8.8.7/8.8.8) with ESMTP id TAA04292
	for <dianne@sandelman.ottawa.on.ca>; Mon, 19 Mar 2001 19:46:44 -0500 (EST)
From: owner-irn-narmada@netvista.net
Received: [(from mjdomo@localhost)
	by DaVinci.NetVista.net (8.10.0/8.8.8) id f2K0VHT23412
	for irn-narmada-list; Mon, 19 Mar 2001 16:31:17 -0800 (PST)
	(envelope-from owner-irn-narmada@netvista.net)]
Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 16:31:17 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <200103200031.f2K0VHT23412@DaVinci.NetVista.net>
Subject: LS: Many Dams Suffer Quake Damage in Kutch
Sender: owner-irn-narmada@netvista.net
Precedence: bulk

>
>Translation of excerpts from a long editorial that appeared in Kutch Mitra
>dated 1-3-2001.
>
>Earthquake year for dams in Drought year ( Title)
>
>We are getting more and more information as time passes about the deadly
>devastation caused to the lives and economy of Kutch by the earth quake of
>January 26. earlier it was believed that agricultural sector has not been
>damaged but reports coming in after a month clearly indicate that fields
>have been damaged too. Lining of bore wells have been damaged also. In
>midst of all these reports, the report that 5 medium size dams of Kutch
>have been damaged has caused the farming community a lot of worry….. The
>mitthi dam of Abadasa is broken in any case. There are in any case ony 19
>medium size dams in Kutch. There was less rain this year and scarcity. Most
>of the dams had received very little water and now out of the 19 dams, 5
>have been seriously damaged due to the earthquake. Rudramata is the largest
>dam in Kutch. The people who witnessed the waves and turbulence of water in
>this dam on the 26th will never forget the sight. Like water overflowing
>from a vessel, a lot of water from this dam spilled over to the near by
>farms. This was due to the nature but later it was found that cracks have
>developed in the bed of these dams and in many cases walls have been
>broken. On survey, it was found that over and above 5 middle size dams, out
>of the165 reservoirs   in five talukas affected more by the earthquake,
>innumerable reservoirs have been  damaged. In many cases salty water has
>entered from the cracks into the reservoirs and in many cases sweat waters
>of the dam have gone away into the ground through the cracks. In many cases
>water seeped out of the broken walls. The State Government has asked for an
>opinion from the Centre that what should be done in such a situation. The
>members of dam safety panel of the Centre had visited Kutch for three days
>and had seen for themselves the condition of dams.  On 5th March, engineers
>will meet at Delhi and the engineers from Kutch too will remain present.
>The discussion will be how the reservoirs will withstand earthquakes in
>future and what should be the design. The biggest fear is that if the
>repairs are not completed before monsoon and if there will be heavy rains
>than there will be flood like situation…..
>
>State Government is worried about repairing of these dams is note worthy.
>It is important that repair works should be carried out according to the
>directions and recommendations of the central Panel. Actually while the
>survey of the middle size dams is being carried out today, it is also
>necessary to survey the quality of the works too. The irrigation capacity
>through 20 medium size dams is 41122 Ha and that of small schemes is 37,400
>Ha. But this capacity is only in numbers. Due to siltation in the dams and
>due to poor quality canals, water is wasted  and only 43% of the water is
>only being used. This means that 57% of the water is being wasted. There
>are no big dams in Kutch and the condition of medium dams is such poor
>state.These dams are under the State irrigation department and the small
>irrigation dams are under the district panchayat and the condition of these
>is even worse. Truly speaking whether it is medium or small irrigation
>scheme in Kutch, the works of most of these is below the standard.
>Corruption has taken place in the irrigation and canal works but there has
>been no inquiry into the matter or if there is any inquiry at all, it has
>been suppressed. But now when the central Government has taken the task of
>improving the condition of the dams of Kutch, it is necessary to take care
>that the quality is maintained. Kutch is the largest district of Gujarat
>and second largest in the country. Only 32.23 % land of Kutch is
>cultivable……82% of this is dependent only on monsoon…..it can be concluded
>that only 18% of the land of Kutch is irrigated through dams, bore wells,
>small dams, wells…. Compared to other parts of Gujarat the irrigation
>felicity in Kutch is very negligible and out of whatever is there, there is
>huge wastage of water. Therefore it is expected in the interest of Kutch
>that when there will be discussion with the central team on the 5th, our
>politicians remain aware and check that the quality of the works is
>maintained and that they should also think about the canal construction and
>removal of silt from the dams.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from this list, send a message to majordomo@netvista.net
with no subject and the following text in the body of the message
"unsubscribe irn-narmada".

----- End of forwarded message from owner-irn-narmada@netvista.net -----