Announcement of India Dam Safety Project on May 16, 1991

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20433, U.S.A. *Telephone: (202) 477-1234 BANK NEWS RELEASE NO. 91/73 Contact: Pastor B. Sison IDA NEWS RELEASE NO. 91/81 Tel: (202) 458-0344 INDIA: DAM SAFETY PROJECT The following is information on a project approved by the World Bank's Board. DATE: May 16, 1991 WORLD BANK GROUP SUPPORT: World Bank loan: $23 million; International Development Association (IDA) credit: SDR 96.2 million ($130 million). The loan is for 20 years, including five years of grace, with a variable interest rate, currently 7.73 percent, linked to the cost of the Bank's borrowings. It also carries an annual commitment charge of 0.25 percent on the undisbursed balance. The IDA credit is for 35 years, including 10 years of grace; it carries no interest but has an annual charge of 0.75 percent on the disbursed balance and a variable charge of up to 0.5 percent (currently zero percent) on the undisbursed balance. TOTAL COST: $196.8 million OTHER FINANCING: Government of India, $5.5 million; Participating states, $38.3 million IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES: Central Water Commission; State governments of Madya Pradesh, Orissa and Rajasthan ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 1998 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The objectives of the Dam Safety Project are to: (a) strengthen the institutional framework for assuring dam safety in the Central Water Commission (CWC) and in the four participating states; and (b) upgrade the physical features in and around selected dams to enhance their safety status through remedial works, basic facilities additions, and flood forecasting systems. The project includes strengthening the existing central Dam Safety Organization, the Hydrology Organization, and the River Management Wing of the CWC through assignment of staff, training, technical assistance, provision of equipment, and consultant support, as required. The project will support evaluation and construction of a network of flood forecasting facilities in one or more interstate river basins. In each of the participating states the project will support: (a) technical assistance to the State Dam Safety Committee, which has overall responsibility for the State's program, determining priorities for studies, investigations, and remedial works; (b) a strengthened Dam Safety Organization responsible for inspection of dams, analysis of information, and making reports and recommendations to the State Dam Safety Committee; (c) upgraded safety facilities (power backup systems, communications, all-weather access roads, monitoring instrumentation, etc) at priority sites; (d) investigations and rehabilitation works at dams where potential safety-related deficiencies have already been identified and at dams which will be identified.