State of Indian Dams - ET - 10/01/23

Context:
According to a new study by the United Nations, around 3,700 dams in India will lose 26% of their total storage by 2050 due to accumulation of sediments which can undermine water security, irrigation and power generation in future.
Relevance:
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About:
->Other Highlights of the Study:
-Trapped sediment has already robbed roughly 50,000 large dams worldwide of an estimated 13 to 19% of their combined original storage capacity.
-It shows that 6,316 billion cubic metre of initial global storage in 47,403 large dams in 150 countries will decline to 4,665 billion cubic metre, causing 26% storage loss by 2050.
-In 2022, the Asia-Pacific region, the world's most heavily dammed region, is estimated to have lost 13% of its initial dam storage capacity.

-India is ranked third in the world in terms of building large dams. Of the over 5,200 large dams built so far, about 1,100 large dams have already reached 50 years of age and some are older than 120 years.
-Significance: Dams provide multiple benefits including fresh water supply, water storage for irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, flood control, and improved navigation for transportation.

->Issues with Indian Dams:
-Built according to the Rainfall Pattern
-Decreasing Storage Capacity
-Climate change

->Impacts of Dam Construction
-Environmental Impacts
-Displacement of Communities
-Socio-economic impacts
-Cost

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