NHP e-Bulletin

National Hydrology Project (NHP) was started in the year 2016 as a Central Sector Scheme with 100% grant to Implementing agencies on pan India basis with a budget outlay of Rs 3680 Crore to be spent over a period of 8 years (2016-2024). Out of the total PIP amount of Rs 3680 Crore, allocation percentages for major heads under the National Hydrology Project are given below.

Since its inception in FY 2016-17 until 30th June 2021, a total expenditure of Rs. 576 Crore has been incurred under National Hydrology Project. The NHP expenditure for the period (Apr-June, 2021) is Rs. 28.44 Crore. Funds released to the IAs during the Apr-June,21 are Rs. 108.25 Crore, whereas, the cumulative funds released till June 2021 for NHP are Rs. 698 Crore.

A Review meeting was held on 10th June with the National Hydrology Project team by Joint Secretary

Joint Secretary (A, IC & GW) & Project Coordinator (NHP), DoWR, RD & GR, MoJS convened a meeting on 10th June 2021 to review the progress of NHP. The review meeting included interaction with the NPMU and TAMC teams on the planning procurement activities to utilize the funds, status of data sharing by the IAs, and targets for agencies in various major heads. The meeting was attended by SJCs and DC/DDs of NPMU and TAMC experts.

Release of Glacial Lake Atlas of Ganga basin and launch of NHP- Bhuvan Portal by Secretary, DoWR, RD & G R

The Glacial Lake Atlas of Ganga Basin has been released virtually by Sh. Pankaj Kumar, Secretary, DOWR, RD & GR on 29th June 2021 in the presence of Dr. K. Sivan, Secretary, Department of Space & Chairman ISRO. The senior officers of DoWR, RD & GR, Department of Space, NRSC and State Government Authorities also attended the event. Dr. K. Sivan also launched the platform of NRSC on NHP–Bhuvan during the event. The present glacial lake atlas is based on the inventoried glacial lakes in part of the Ganga River basin from its origin to the foothills of the Himalayas covering the catchment area of 2,47,109 sq. km.

Salient features of the atlas are:

• Comprehensive and systematic glacial lake database for Ganga River basin with size > 0.25 ha
• Climate change impact analysis-reference data for carrying out change analysis, both with respect to historical and future time periods
• Authentic database for regular or periodic monitoring changes in spatial extent (expansion/shrinkage), and formation of new lakes
• Glacier information for their retreat and climate impact studies.
• Information on glacial lakes like their type, hydrological, topographical, and associated glaciers in identifying the potential critical glacial lakes and consequent GLOF risk.

Central and State Disaster Management Authorities can make use of the atlas for disaster mitigation planning and related program.

The Atlas is made available on the Bhuvan portal of NRSC, ISRO (bhuvan.nrsc.gov.in), India WRIS Portal (www.indiawris.gov.in), and NHP website of DoWR, RD & GR (nhp.mowr.gov.in).

The TAMC team has developed a reservoir optimization pilot study for Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) that demonstrates the possible improvements resulting in a drastic reduction of flood damages, increased water supply to industry and irrigation, while simultaneously increasing generated hydropower by 63% on average over the tested period of 35 historic years, assuming only a short term runoff forecast is available. This study was presented via video conference to the DVC and CWC officials on June 28, 2021, causing a strong positive reaction and requests for additional refinements to be undertaken in the near future. Given that there are currently multiple efforts to develop short term runoff forecasting for DVC, this may be the first known opportunity to use the new WEB.BM river basin management model with sophisticated mathematical optimization algorithms to determine reservoir releases on all five dams in the Damodar River Basin. Dr. Nesa Ilich, River Basin Modelling Expert who led this study on behalf of NHP, believes that there are multiple benefits from using this technology, both for optimizing the operation of existing dams in India, as well as for optimizing future design (size and operating regimes) of the dams that are yet to be built.

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a system that creates, manages, analyses, and maps all types of data. GIS connects data to a map, integrating location data (where things are) with all types of descriptive information. During this month GIS team contributed to the NHP project- Prepared GIS data & Maps for SCADA, updated the GIS database RTDAS & Piezometer stations, organized a training for development for State Dashboard, Supported agencies for procurement of GIS data, Satellite Images & GIS Software, provided GIS data required for Rajasthan WRD, Reviewed the BID related to RTDAS of HP and DWLR of Telengana for locational accuracy and Prepared the Inputs (Maps/ Analysis) based on GIS data for Technical Teams.

Agency wise status of the progress under Awarded, Installation and Commissioning of hydro-met stations for the month of June’21.

Uttar Pradesh GW

Uttar Pradesh, Ground Water Department organized an online webinar under the National Hydrology Project on 9th June 2021 on the topic of “Atmanirbhar Bharat through Atmanirbhar Ground Water “Atma Nirbhar Bhujal" as part of India 75 celebrations by the Government of India. The workshop content was interactive, useful & knowledgeable for the management of groundwater resourcesand connected the NGOs & agencies. The main objective was how to face challenges, roles, current situations related to Groundwater issues in Uttar Pradesh.

Kerala

DSS (P&M) meeting with DHI consultancy and DSS team of agency on data collection for model development of Chittoor basin, a sub-basin of Bharathapuzha was conducted on 3rd June 2021. Sri. A. G. Gopakumar, Superintending Hydrogeologist & Nodal Officer welcomed all to the meeting. Dr. G. Bindu, Senior Hydrogeologist briefly described the DSS (Planning) completed under HP II and the requirement of data to be collected for modelling of the Chittoor basin under DSS (Planning &Management). Detailed discussion conducted with DHI and finalized the basic data requirements for DSS (P&M).

Telangana GW

Telangana, Groundwater Department is monitoring Groundwater levels through a network of 1024 piezometers. Department procured water sampling bailers for collecting water samples from piezometers/observation wells (Purpose-built Bore wells). The Bailer is of 3 feet height and 2 inches’ diameter hollow tube. It has siphoning facility to collect the sample when it is immersed in the water of the piezometer. It is useful to collect samples from small-diameter wells i.e., bore wells, etc.

Rajasthan

In the state, WRD Rajasthan is one of the leading Implementing agencies who initiated largely no. of SCADA & RTDAS work under the National Hydrology Project. The Bisalpur Dam has been successfully installed the SCADA system of the Automatic Gate Operation, gallery automation, real-time monitoring, and surveillance system for the unauthorized person’s interruption. Five more SCADA works are also in progress for the installation of PLC/RTU, VFD, Cameras, Level Transmitter, Gate sensors, etc. for the automatic gate operation for the Dam and Canal system at various locations. Rajasthan had successfully installed 254 RTDAS stations which include ARG, AWLR, and AWS. The Installation of Instruments and SCADA system at Jawai dam for the automatic gate operation & Real-time monitoring of water level, discharge from the canals & rivers are under progress. It shall complete and commissioned in the month of August 2021 or earliest. The Installation of Instruments and SCADA system at Gudha dam and Narmada Canal Project for the automatic gate operation & Real-time monitoring of water level, direct discharge from the rivers and canals respectively are under progress. Chief Engineer Kota Zone, Sh. Rajeev Chaudhary Ji visited along with Executive Engineer Sh. R. K. Patni Ji and their Assistant Engineer sh. Jambu Jain Ji at Gudha dam for the progress of installation work of SCADA system and construction of New SCADA control room.

A consultative workshop under National Hydrology Project with stakeholders on ‘Real-Time Operational Spatial Flood Early Warning in Godavari and Tapi Basins’

A Consultative Workshop with Stakeholders on ‘Real-Time Operational Spatial Flood Early Warning in Godavari and Tapi Basins’ was organized on 22nd June 2021 in virtual mode to appraise the activity and to take suggestions from all the stakeholders. In this workshop, 127 officers from different departments viz. NRSC, CWC, Water Resources Departments of Basin States, State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs), IMD, NCMRWF, and NIH participated. The main objectives of the study under NHP are the development of medium-range flood early warning models using space-based inputs, spatial flood inundation simulation models using high-resolution DTM, integration, and customization in MIKE software environment to develop web-enabled real-time spatial flood early warning systems.

One-day workshop organized under the NHP with Water Professionals,” on India Australia Policy and Technical Exchange program in Water”

National Hydrology Project (NHP) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, has organized on 24th June 2021, a workshop with water professionals on India Australia Policy and Technical Exchange program in Water”. This workshop was presided over by Shri. Rakesh Kashyap, Sr. Joint Commissioner, NPMU, NHP, MoJS RD, GR. This consultative workshop included representation from diverse agencies like CWC, NPMU, NRSC, NIH, CGWB, RGI, NWA, NWIC, CWPRS, CPHEEO, and some of Implementing Agencies of National Hydrology Project i.e. Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Kerala, Karnataka, and Telangana. Participants from India were Senior Joint Commissioners, Dy Commissioners, Chief Engineers, Superintending Engineers, Directors, NHP Nodal Officers, WRDs officials. There were 80 participants in the workshop and discussed various challenges and water issues of India and Australia.

Online awareness workshop on Hydrological Information System and Hydrological data users group

An Online awareness workshop on “Hydrological Information system (HIS) and Hydrological data users group" was conducted for the junior level officers of Kerala GW on 11th June 2021 under NHP. Sri. A. G. Gopakumar, Superintending Hydrogeologist (NHP) presided over the workshop and Smt. Ancy Joseph, Superintending Hydrogeologist (General) inaugurated the program. Dr. G. Bindu, Senior Hydrogeologist presented the features of HIS and the data user group.

Training on "Data Entry, Data Validation & Data View

On 17th June 2021, NWIC conducted a one-day training on "Data Entry, Data Validation & Data View". There were 73 participants who attended the training. It was facilitated by Mr. Meet Kumar Agarwal. The hands-on sessions were organized by the active participation of 73 officials.

Training on "Groundwater Modelling using Visual MODFLOW

The National Institute of Hydrology has organized a training program on "Groundwater Modelling using Visual MODFLOW" from 14th- 18th June'21.. There were 24 participants in the program. The sessions were facilitated by the NIH team interactively thus creating interest among the participants.

India-WRIS "System Overview" organized by NWIC

On 23rd June 2021, NWIC completed the training on "India WRIS-System Review", which was facilitated by Ms. Sneha. There were 20 participants. Hands-on sessions were organized and conducted for the active participation of officials.

One week training on Remote Sensing & GIS Technologies by NRSC

A week-long virtual training on “Remote Sensing & GIS Technologies” was organized by NRSC during 21-25 June 2021. The sessions of the event were well-designed with effective presentations, interactions, and Q&As facilitated by a team of NRSC faculty/Scientists under the guidance of Shri. V.V. Rao ji, NHP Project Director, Group Director, NRSC, and other Senior teams of NRSC. The Course Director, Dr. Harish moderated the program under National Hydrology Project.

Training for NHP operational Agencies by World Bank

On 23rd June 2021, World Bank organized training for NHP Agencies, and other concerned organizations. Mrs. Anju Gaur from WB, Mr. Tom Hopson and Mrs. Emily Riddle from NCAR facilitated the program. The WB's objective is to capacitate the IAs to improve and handle various forecast systems by using adequate technologies. Mrs. Anil Vyas from BBMB made a presentation on the basic framework and, the real-time forecast system. The session had a plethora of questions and answers dwelling on the forecast systems and how to scale up the learning and application of the knowledge across the country. There were 15 participants from BBMB, CWC, NPMU and others. The session had in-depth learning and interactions.