Lok Sabha Question No. 1294 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-27
Subject: Cracks in Rayalacheruvu Dam
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Maddila  Gurumoorthy, Kotagiri Sridhar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1294

ANSWERED ON 27.07.2023

## CRACKS IN RAYALACHERUVU DAM

## 1294. SHRI MADDILA GURUMOORTHY SHRI SRIDHAR KOTAGIRI:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  news  reports  of  water  leakage  from  cracks  developed  in  the Rayalacheruvu Dam in Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh;

(b) if so, the steps taken by the Government to prevent any mishaps arising out of such incidents; and

(c) the details of the other initiatives taken by the Government under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Programme (DRIP)?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU )

(a)  & (b) Government  of Andhra Pradesh has informed that leakages through the Rayala Cheruvu Dam and sliding of bund were noticed during monsoon and cyclonic rains during third week of November 2021. Temporary restoration work was taken up by the State Government on war footing and the leakages were stopped through the tank  bund  and  further  damages  were  prevented.  The  people  living  in  the  downstream  area  of  the  tank  were evacuated and rehabilitated. Since no further damage occurred to the tank bund, the people were again settled in their  own  houses  safely.  Further,  Government  of  Andhra  Pradesh  has  informed  that  to  strengthen  the  bund,  an estimate has been prepared for permanent restoration work of Rayala Cheruvu Dam with an estimated cost of Rs. 25.20 crore.

(c) In  order  to  improve  the  safety  and  operational  performance  of  select  existing  dams  in  the  country, Government  of  India  is  implementing  the  Dam  Rehabilitation  and  Improvement  Project  (DRIP)  with  external funding.  Under  the  World  Bank  funded  DRIP  Phase-I  scheme,  which  was  implemented  during  April  2012  to March 2021, 223 existing dams located in 7 States were comprehensively audited and rehabilitated at a cost of Rs. 2,567 crore. However, Andhra Pradesh was not part of the DRIP Phase-I scheme.

After completion of DRIP Phase-I scheme, Government of India has taken up DRIP Phase-II & III scheme envisaging rehabilitation and safety improvement of 736 dams located in 19 States, with a budget outlay of Rs. 10,211 crore. The scheme is of 10 years duration, being implemented in two phases, each of 6 years duration with 2 years of overlap. The outlay for Phase II is Rs 5,107 crore and outlay for Phase III is Rs 5,104 crore. Phase II of DRIP has been declared effective by the World Bank in October 2021. Phases II and III have provision for external loan of US $ 500 million each. Phase II is being co-financed by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank, with loans of US$ 250 million each.

Andhra Pradesh is one of the participating States under DRIP Phase II & III for rehabilitation of 31 dams at an estimated  cost  of  Rs.  667  crore.  However,  Rayala  Cheruvu  dam  is  not  part  of  the  list  of  dams  included  from Andhra Pradesh under DRIP-II & III.