Investigation of Water Resources

Projects – Preparation of DPR

By
Sri.A.Venkateswara Rao,
Superintending Engineer (Retd.)
GNSS - WRD - A.P
 Water Resources Projects
Planning, Investigation & Formulation
Investigation :

• Investigations are required in order to formulate a scheme.

• The importance of correct investigations cannot be over –

emphasized as the sanction and performance of the scheme
entirely depend on it.

• At the same time, the more detailed the investigations are, more
is the expense.

• Therefore, one should foresee that after spending a lot of

money, time and energy, one may not end up with an unfeasible
scheme, either technically, socially or economically.
• It is essential to know the various stages and types of
investigations, equipments used and the importance of
data bank for planning purposes

• The quantum of investigations would depend upon the

stage of investigations, or the purpose for which they
are required.

• A preliminary survey will be necessary to examine

whether the scheme would be technically and
economically feasible.

• Having ascertained the feasibility of the scheme, its

realistic cost would have to be determined along with
its benefits.
• After the scheme is approved by the concerned
authority (administratively and technically), it can be
taken up for implementation / execution, when
sufficient data are available for preparing detailed
construction drawings.

• Three stages of investigation :

1. Preliminary Investigations

2. Detailed Investigations &

3. Pre – Construction Investigations

 Preliminary Investigations
• There are several instances which indicate avoidable
expenditure on detailed investigation for a scheme
whose non – feasibility could have been known, had a
report based on preliminary investigation been
prepared.

• It is, therefore, advisable that Preliminary Feasibility

Report (PFR) or Appraisal Report be prepared before
detailed investigations for the scheme are taken up.
Preliminary investigations may be on the following lines.

 Water Availability – Quantity & Quality

Hydrological studies made from rain-gauges and discharge
data should be thorough
 Topographical Surveys
Survey of India maps may also be used.
 Geological & Foundation Investigations
Existing maps of GSI.
 Other Surveys : A Reconnaissance of such conditions
having a direct influence on the economics of the scheme
like ecological and sociological effects should be made.
 The PFR so compiled should include all possible
alternatives for developing the same water resources
or benefiting the same area.
• It should also give directions about the most
economical alternative and the course of action
to be taken for future detailed investigations.
 Detailed Investigations
• Detailed Investigations need to be taken up only after
techno – economic feasibility of the scheme has been
established from PFR.
• The main purpose of such investigations is to prepare
Detailed Project Report (DPR) in which costs and
benefits are worked out in such detail and accuracy
that their variations from actuals after implementation
of the scheme are least.
• The extent of investigations should also be sufficient
to give the construction time and sequence, and only
those investigations should be left out which would be
required to prepare detailed construction drawings.
 Pre – Construction Investigations

• Detailed structural design of various Engineering

works would require field data for which further
investigations become inevitable
• The extent of such investigations would depend
upon the construction requirements and would
vary from site to site.
 Types of Investigations
• Types of investigations and data required
for formulating a Water Resource Project
may be broadly classified into 3 groups.
1. Water
2. Land
3. Base condition
• Both types of data regarding availability of
water and its peak flow would be required,
as well as its existing uses from surface
and ground water depending upon the
scheme envisaged.
•Thus data from
Stream flow
(a)Glacier and snow cover
(b)Meteorological water
(c)Groundwater
(d)Water withdrawals etc.,
would be needed pertaining to the geographical
or basin boundaries depending upon the type of
interest.
• For land, such investigations as
topographical and geological would be
required for the design and construction of
structures and engineering of the scheme
• Those pertaining to its use and the quality of
soil would be needed for assessing the extent
to which water could be used.
• Investigations regarding base conditions
would pertain to (a) Social (b) Political (c)
Economical, (d) Ecological aspect and (e)
Relevant water programme conditions etc.
• It would determine the need of the project and
future projections of the benefits and what
difficulties would arise in its implementation
and operation.
 WATER
Stream Flow Data

• The following data need be collected for all discharge

sites established by different organisations.

1. Nomenclature of discharge sites, the location, year

and date of starting observations should be recorded.

2. Record whether discharge has been assessed or

actually observed.

3. Daily discharge data during non – monsoon period

for all sites.

4. Hourly discharge data during monsoon period from

all sites.
5. Quality of water should be assessed monthly at
selected sites.

6. Sediment data

a. For rivers, to be observed monthly during non –

monsoon period and frequently during floods when
the silt in the river is very high ; and

b. For reservoirs , detailed hydrographic survey initially

and thereafter biennial surveys for sediment deposits
along silt ranges and analysis of deposits which
should be recorded.
7. Automatic gauge recorders should be established at
different sites so that the data is available.

8. Stream flow gauging should be established at points

where glaciers start melting.
 Glacier & Snow Cover Data
• The importance of collecting the following data in
order to assess the balance and in order to explore
the possibility of getting water from snow and ice in
times of dry periods is acknowledged.

• Data required to be collected.

a. Snow Cover :

i. Snow cover expanse after every 18 days from Earth

Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS) imagery.

ii. Ground snow survey for finding the thickness of

accumulation
iii. Density profile of snow cover

iv. Snow accumulation gauge

v. Meteorological data : Snow gauge, temperature,

humidity, radiation, albedo (the proportion of the
incident light or radiation that is reflected by
surface), wind velocity, cloud cover, and hours of
sunshine.

b. Glaciers :

i. Inventory of glacier including orientation, size,

surface area, thickness accumulation / oblation, area
covered under the debris phase, location, source of
information.
ii. Annual mass plans on representative glaciers giving
total melting and total input.

iii. Water discharge data from station below glaciers

iv. Automatic weather gauge data

Meteorological
• Data to be collected :

a. Precipitation : Number of rain gauge stations should

be sufficient to prepare water resource plan.

Hence it is necessary that the network of RG stations

be so made that such stations are located atleast at
all sites and in the catchment area of future important
schemes in sufficient number to give a correct
rainfall of the catchment area.

Automatic rain gauge station may be proposed where

feasible and possible to replace graph atleast once in
24 hours.
b. Evaporation on 10 day and monthly basis.

c. Evapo- Transpiration
This data is of great practical use in irrigation
schemes for calculating water requirements of crops
and in fixing the cropping pattern. Establishment of
sites for such lysimeters is essential.

d. Snow gauge
A network of snow gauge stations is required.
At all these Snow gauge stations, Hydromet stations
are necessary, and automatic weather gauge stations
should be located where facilities are available.
Ground water and allied data
• In order to ascertain groundwater potential, major
geo – hydrological investigations will have to be
undertaken.

• Help may also be taken of satellite imageries

• In an alluvium where wells already exist, the

following data would be useful.

a. Open wells

b. State tube wells

c. Private tube wells

• Inventory of lakes and Reservoirs

• Infiltration data
It will include the phreatic lines of rivers and canals
and the data would show location, readings and the
percentage.

• Surface drainage data

While data on subsidiary, tertiary and farm drains
may not be available at all, but data on specific
locations on main drains need be recorded.
 Water withdrawals
• In order to find the virgin flow at a number of
locations of a stream which has been largely tapped,
following data would be required.

1. Actual daily withdrawal from the stream at various

locations upstream of the point of interest.

2. Time which elapses when the effect of withdrawal is

observed at the point of interest.

3. Return back to river

 LAND
Topographical Surveys

• Detailed surveys would be required for various

Engineering structures required for tapping and utilization
of water resources.

• These include (1) River (2) Reservoir (3) Head works like
dams, dykes, barrages, weirs etc., pump houses (4) Plant
and colony layout (5) Water Conductor systems including
canal structures (6) Power house switch yard, surge shaft,
tail race etc., (7) Tunnel, Adits and Penstocks (8) Command
Area (9) Soil conservation (10) Reserved area (11)
Construction materials.
• General guidance for Topographic Surveys
Table A : General Guidance for Topographical Surveys
S.No. Particulars Scale 1: Contour Distance
interval of leveling
Hor. Ver. in m
1 River Surveys
a. L – Section 10000 100 50

b. X- Section 2500 100 50

2 Reservoir contour 2500 - 1- 3m
plan
3 Dam & Dyke 2500 - 0.5-1 m 10 m
4 Barrage / Weir 2500 - 0.05-1 m 50 m

5 Canal / Water

Conductor System
a. L – Section 2500 100 - 50 m

b. Plan 1500 - 0.5 -

S.No. Particulars Scale 1: Contour Distance
Hor. Ver. interval of
leveling
in m
6 Canal Structure 2500 - 0.5 -
7 Drain
a. Plan 10000 - - -
b. Section 2500 100 - -

8 Power House 2500 - 0.5 – 3 m -

9 Plant & Colony 2500 - 0.5 m -
10 Tunnel / Adit/ 2500 100 to 1-3 m 500 m
Penstock 1000
11 Soil conservation 10000 - 10
50000
12 Foundation 2500 100 As for
Investigations structures
13 Borrow area 2500 100 0.5 to 1

14 Soil survey 10000 - -

15000
S.No. Particulars Scale 1: Contour Distance
Hor. Ver. interval of
leveling
in m
15 Command Area 2500 0.5
16 O.F.D Works
a. Plains 2000 - 0.15 50
0.25
b. Hilly 1250 0.25 50
625 0.5

1
• Depending upon the scheme, it would be expedient
to take the help of other Agencies which might have
done the survey of the area and may have the aerial
photo mosaics or satellite imageries.
• Some of the organizations are listed below :
1. Surveyor General of India, Dehradun
2. Indian Photo Interpretation Institute, Dehradun.
3. EROS Data Centre, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
4. National Remote Sensing Agency, Balanagar, Hyderabad
• Geological and Foundation studies : Details
regarding exploratory holes for different structures
Table B. Details regarding Exploratory Holes for Different
Structures
Sl.no Structure Spacing of holes etc Depth of holes
1 Earth / Rockfill 150 m h/2 (h= ht of dam)
dam 5 holes in gorge h (2 holes)
2 holes each in abutment h ( 1 hole)
2 Masonry / Drift @ 60 m on each Extend upto 5 m in
Concrete dam abutment sound strata
100 m Upto 10 m in fresh
rock
3 – 5 hole in gorge h (2 holes)
2 in each abutment h (1 hole)
Drifts @ 60 m in each Upto 10 m in fresh
abutment rock
Sl.no Structure Spacing of holes etc Depth of holes
3 Tunnel 1 – 5 km 1 each at portals 5 -10 m below
and adit tunnel grade of
max. possible
depth
Drift in each portal and Upto 10 m in fresh
adit rock
4 Barrage / Weir 150 m – 2 in each 1.5 – 2 h
abutment
5 Power house 2- 4 holes or drift 1 – 2 times the
width of structure
or 5 – 10 m in
fresh rock
• Construction material
•In order that a scheme may be feasible, it will be
necessary to investigate whether sufficient quantity of
desired materials is available at reasonable distance
from the work site.
The search for the available material will depend upon
the design and type of engineering structure, while the
type and design of structure would depend upon the
quality and quantity of material available.
• Command Surveys
•In most of the irrigation and drainage schemes, land
use statistics and soil surveys would be needed in the
command.
•After marking the GCA on the topographical map, the
CCA should be determined and shown on the map after
investigating the land use statistics which include the
following
Forests; barren and unculturable land; land put to non-
agricultural use; culturable waster; permanent pasture and
gazing land; land under miscellaneous tree crops and
groves not included in net area sown; current fallows;
other fallow land; net area sown; net area sown more than
once; total cropped area; net area irrigated; gross area
irrigated; percentage of net area irrigated to net area sown;
and percentage of gross area irrigated to gross area sown.
The soil data should include (i) soil depth, (ii) soil texture classification,
(iii) pH values, (iv) TSS permeability, (v) water infiltration rates,
(vi) available moisture holding capacity (upto m), (vii) salinity and
alkalinity, (viii) calcium carbonate content, and (ix) base exchange and
fertility.

Soil sampling data should be collected upto a depth of about 3 m and

test pit method of sampling may cover upto 5 – 10% of the common
area.

Soil map of the command area and a table giving area of each soil
group in ha be prepared. Area falling under each land irrigability class
(Standard land classification system) be shown.
Areas requiring drainage system be identified in the command area
and investigations made to find out as to which portions would require
one or more of the following operations. Necessary levelling and
other topographical surveys be made thereafter.
1. Training of existing natural drains by –
(a) deepening and realigning, (b) widening, (c ) regrading
(d) removing obstructions and clearing vegetations, and
(e) checking retrogression.
2. Exacavating new drains or regrading existing drains by the sides
of irrigation channels and roads
3. Land levelling and construction of field drains with proper slopes
properly turfed to avoid erosion.
 BASE LINE SURVEYS
• Investigations are required for establishing the state
of the region which exists at the time of envisaging
the new scheme.
• It is necessary to investigate all the factors relating to
socio – politico – economic influences before
planning in detail.
• All these and the investigations required to establish
the need for the scheme may be called as Base Line
Surveys
• Condition both before the scheme as well as its
impact
• Comprehensive list
• Important points for irrigation and power schemes
 Irrigation Scheme
1. Cropping pattern survey to find out the different crops
sown with or without irrigation under each soil group.

2. Prevalent irrigation practices and the criteria for

supplying water to fields.

3. Types and conditions of outlets

4. Nature and length of field water courses

5. Existing farm drainage system

6. Irrigation water requirements

 Power Schemes

1. Existing position of power supply in the region :

System load, Load factor, KWH generated for KW
installed.

2. Extent of available firm power

3. Extent of secondary power available in the region.

4. Details of major loads to be served, future peak and

energy demands, anticipated system load factor

5. Maximum / minimum monthly & daily temperatures

6. Socio – economic condition and habits of the populace

to be served.
• Data Collection : The data to be collected for finding
the environmental impact is given below. This
information is from CBIP (“Guidelines for collection of
data to study environmental impact of water resources
projects”, misc.report no.9, CBIP 1986)
• Existing Environment
• Climate : The location of the recording station (s) and
the period (s) of operation should be noted in respect
of : Precipitation (type, amount, duration, frequency),
winds (velocity, frequency, direction and duration of
critical wind – speeds);
• Spring break-up and winter freeze-up dates;
• Insolation rate with seasonal variation.
2. Terrain : A description should be given of :
Geological conditions on site or within the area of
influence and possible seismic hazards;
mineral resources or unique geological / land
features;
bank stability, permafrost, etc.

3. Water : The locations of recording stations and the

period (s) of operation should be noted with respect
to:
hydrological regime of rivers, water resources and
flood control projects;

water quality immediately upstream of the proposed

project and in the downstream reaches in which
impact is to be expected.
• Known sources of pollution :

a. Industry
b. Thermal Power House
c. Mining operation etc.
d. Municipal / domestic effluents

• Industrial development in Project Area

a. Present Status : Measurement of water quality
parameters for average and seasonal conditions
(temperature, dissolved oxygen, suspended solids /
turbidity, TDS, Ca, Mg, Na, K, HCO3, CO3, SO4, Cl,
NO3, Mn, Fe, Plankton, benthos, BOD, COD, heavy
metals, chlorinated hydrocarbons, iodide, flouride,
oil, grease, phenols, etc.
• Ground water
data to be collected include ;
depth and seasonal variation;
quality – potable, fit for irrigation / industry;
present use.
i. Area under irrigation.
ii. Extent of industrial use

• Interaction between the altered surface and under

ground water, recharge etc;
water logging of wells;
leakage from reservoir;
alterations in the infiltration rates in the watershed;
changes in groundwater quality / quantity.
4. Flora
The following should be described :
highly productive habitats for fish and wildlife
species;
relatively undisturbed or unique vegetation;
plant life of special historic or scenic value.
5. Fauna
Information should be obtained on :
relative seasonal abundance and distribution of the
species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and
mammals within the area of development;
migration patterns and timing;
rare or endangered species on site or in close
proximity to the site;
critical periods within the life – cycles of selected
species (eg., spawning and nursery periods of fish).
6. People
Knowledge of the following should be gained:
characteristics of the population including life
patterns, communities, employment, public facilities,
and housing;
cultural, social and economic setting of the general
area;
historical archaeological, and paleontological sites;
food habits and addictions.
7. Land , Water and Resource use

A description should be made of:

use of existing and projected resources including land
and water for industry, agriculture, forestry, trapping,
hunting, fishing and recreation, particularly in the area
where growth or population shifts would be induced
by the project ownership (public, private or special
status) of adjacent land; regional development plans.
• Environmental Impacts

The following data should be collected for the

assessment of environmental impacts.

1. Climate
Precipitation Rates
Fog and ice formation
Evaporation Rates
Local winds
Humidity
2. Terrain
Geological stability
Bank stability and erosion
Removal of earth material
Historical archaeological sites
Mineral Resources
3. Water
Water Quality during construction
Water quality during operation & maintenance
Drainage patterns and runoff rates
Ground-water hydrology
Unique physical features, such as rapids or falls
Sedimentation rates
Special water problems
Hydraulic & Hydrological regime changes
Trans-frontier water pollution problems
Benefits of water resources projects & flood
control projects.
4. Flora
Species distribution and abundance
Plant Vigour
Destruction of unique associations
Increased exploitation through improved access
The loss or gain of key habitats for fish, wildlife

5. Fauna
Changes in diversity and numbers
The loss or reduction of rare or endangered species
The disruption of food chains
Increased exploitation
6. People
Population numbers
Life- style characteristics
Employment

7. Land, Water and Resource use

Consideration should be given to some of the more
important factors such as:
Present and projected land use, having due regard
to agricultural lands, forests (reserved/ unreserved),
barren land, fallow wet lands, area under ponds,
tanks etc;
Present and Projected resources exploitation
Industrial activity
Recreational activity
Area development plans, municipal, regional etc
Details of submerged area covering various land uses
mentioned above.
• Health

Effect of water body in enhancement of water borne

diseases;
Initial and periodic appraisals of the prevalence of
diseases as well as of causes of death, and
maintenance of constant system of data control of
surveillance;
Identification of control of vectors and infections and
parasitic diseases, such as mosquitoes, flies and other
insects, snails etc;
Waste disposal system and water supply;
Health and sanitary conditions.
 Equipment & Instruments

1. As compared to instruments of past years, new

equipment / instruments with the help of laser, chip
and satellite have considerably facilitated and
improved the quality of investigations in recent years
in the following surveys :
- Topographical surveys.
- Hydrographic and Hydrological surveys.
- Geological and Geophysical investigations.
• Starting from simple pacing, tape and chain
measurement or use of crinoline chain with all
corrections to pull, sag, temperature etc., we had
tools to carry out DISTANCE MEASUREMENT to
different degrees of accuracies and reliability. Pacing
properly done can yield accuracy of +/-1 yd.in 25yds.
Taping will give 1:50 to 1:100 accuracy and is meant
for 30 to 50 metres lengths while chaining may yield
to 1:100 to 1:200 accuracy as long as limited to 100 to
1000 meters of length to be measured. Invar tape and
crinoline chains with proper callibration and
temperature, pull and sag corrections can lead to
1:40,000 or more accuracy of measurement. Of
course, these need more of field efforts.
• ANGLES and DIRECTIONS are measured using
sextants and compasses, accurate to few degrees or
fraction of a degree. One may use very precise
theodolites for more precise angular measurement. In
older days vernier theodolites could at best offer 20
seconds reading accuracy while a glass –one
theodolite can measure a direction accurate to
decimal of a second. With electronic theodolites and
Total stations having come in, not only the time
spent in such measurements in the field has been
reduced substantially, but also transmission of such
field measured data into computers for further
processing.
• Large construction companies are these days
employing TOTAL STATIONS instead of Theodolites
and EDMs to measure slope distances, horizontal
and vertical angles, to also get horizontal and vertical
distances. These instruments are basically electronic
tacheometers made out of electronic theodolite and
EDM, together coupled with micro – processors
provide for display as well as recording of slope
distance, horizontal and vertical angles, can compute
and display horizontal distances and elevation
differences. It may also have the capacity to display
coordinates. Along with suitable CAD package, plans
and maps can be plotted.
• True Directions are fixed on ground through
astronomical observations to celestrial bodies like
observation to the Sun to give upto 10 to 20 seconds
accuracy, observation to Polaris to 2 to 3 seconds
and to very faint and distant starts may lead to more
improved measurement of directions.

• Earlier, COORDINATES of a set of positions in a

project site could be obtained through physical
measurement of distances, angles and directions in
the form of a series of traverse lines or triangulation
and then computing the coordinates of each position.
Not only that EDM and Total Stations have made
simplification of such field observations and
computations, GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM
(GPS) today provide, in a way, instant observation of
coordinates.
• While pseudo – range point position method with a
single hand-held GPS, horizontal and altitude of any
ground position can be measured to a positional
accuracy of about 100 feet in horizontal direction and
200 feet vertically, differential and kinematic GPS
positioning methods with a pair of Geodetic accuracy
GPS instruments supported by necessary computer
H/W and S/W would lead to sub-metre or even
centimeter accuracy of a position on ground.

• Very long distances between two continents can be

measured accurately to millimetre accuracy by help
of Satellite Laser Ranging System (SLRS). Radio
interferrometry Techniques with accurate time and
high circular radio wave radiations received from
Quartz Starts at two different antena positions could
make it possible to precise measurement between
two distant continents.
• ALTITUDE and ELEVATION DIFFERENCES can
simply be derived through measurement of horizontal
distances between two points and observing their
vertical angles using principles of plain geometry.
With the Earth’s curvature correction one can further
extend the technique of measurement to points
separated by longer distances. In any case, these
yield lower height accuracy varying from 0.33 to 0.5
metre over a 20 km. distance even after taking
various precautions.

• The other method of SPIRIT LEVELLING provides

better altitude measurements, because such
measurements refer to geoidal heights as compared
to ellipsoidal heights obtained by deducing from
horizontal distances and vertical angles.
• While we accept height accuracy of 0.5 metre in a km.
distance for topographic survey, for engineering
purpose accuracy to be achieved, for say canal
works, is K cm., where k is the distance in km. For
tunnel alignment the accuracy requirement is still
higher i.e, 0.5 cm in over 10 km. distance. To achieve
such accuracy, one needs to carry out high precision
geodetic levelling. Today auto – reduction level
instruments are common instruments available in the
market for precision spirit leveling work reducing
field efforts.

2. Latest instruments under the major groups.

 For Topographical Surveys

1. Optical Leveling Instrument, with panafocal telescope and

spirit bubble levelling. Shortest focusing distance is about 0.5 m and
magnification is upto 40 times and overall deviation is not more than 1
mm per km of double levelling
2. Auto Leveling instrument incorporates the automatic vertical
facility also.
3. Optical Theodolite, with electronic distance measuring device as
an Accessory
4. Electronic Theodolite with electronic data storage and retrieval
system
5. Electronic field book (Intelligent Total Station)
6. Electronic Plotter, which can reproduce maps, sketches,
drawings, etc. with enlargement / reduction as per instructions from
central computing unit.
7. Electronic Planimeter having digital display with an accuracy of
± 0.01%
 For Hydrographic & Hydrological Surveys

1. Current meters with electronic digital displays, with an

accuracy of ± 0.1% for velocity rangers of 0.05 –1.2m/sec and 0.3 – 5 msec
2. Echo sounders with electronic theodolite for self
determination of location of Echo-sounder
3. Portable electronic instruments for determining water quality
data like pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and temperature
by digital display
4. Satellite telemetry comes handy for real time monitoring during
flood warning control of spillway and irrigation gates etc.
 For Geological & Geophysical Surveys
• The bore hole cameras requiring large holes have
now been substituted by video cameras which can be
lowered in smaller holes to take video film of the
strata down below.
• Tilt meters measuring rotation are now used for
continuous monitoring of groundwater. They can
also be used as a continuous record of structural
performance. They reveal earthquake induced
structural deformation as well as long term structural
movements.

• Sub- surface Interface Radar (SIR) systems are being

used to solve a variety of geo – technical &
engineering sub – surface detection problems. They
are said to be most effective non – destructive
testing and exploration tool for high resolution.
 Data Bank

• The data to be collected as above would be generally

required for planning, operation and management of
water resources schemes as well for design and
construction of Engineering Structures.

• Huge data are to be stored for the purposes stated

and it would be worthwhile for any organization to
establish Data Banks on scientific lines.
 Methodology of Storing

• The cardinal points in evolving a Data Storage

System are :

a. Accuracy of the data stored

b. High speed in its retrieval and
c. Rapidity in supplying to the user.

• The format in which data is obtained from field has to

be standardized. Softwares for retrieval and supply
and data processing system are to be evolved.
• Different types of data be stored in the form of
magnetic tapes or floppies. Optical discs or Compact
discs (CDs) are also now being used for storing
hydrological data. They have tremendous storage
capacity of several hundred times greater than that of
a conventional floppy disc. A possible drawback is
that the writing in process on to optical discs is
irreversible. Once entered, data cannot be erased.
• U.S. Geological Surveys National Water Data Storage
and Retrieval System (WATSTORE) is the principal
federal water data agency which collects and
disseminates about 70% of water data used by
numerous State, local, private and other federal
agencies to develop and manage their water
resources.
• New Zealand Land Resource Inventory (NZLRI)
 PLANNING
Preparation of Project Reports
• Preparation of a Project Report is an important stage
in the decision making process.

• The Report should contain sufficient techno –

economic details to enable a critical evaluation of the
scheme.

• All the alternatives either for the scheme or its major

structures should be studied and discussed so that
the final form of the scheme is based on the best
alternative.
• The main object in the presentation of the Report is
enabling the highest Authority to appreciate the
salient features of the Project, its cost and benefits
there from.

• The Detailed Project Report (DPR) should include the

preliminary planning for complete working of the
scheme and is to be presented for taking the final
approval of the highest Authority.

• The format for the DPR would depend upon the type
of development envisaged.
• However, the following sections would remain
common.

i. Synopsis of the Report and Salient features of the

scheme.

ii. General Planning

iii. Design of Engineering Structures

iv. Construction aspects

v. Costs & Benefits : Financial & Economical returns

vi. Maps & Drawings

• Synopsis should be prepared by condensing the
description of the scheme and its salient features in
such an effective manner that one gets overall
picture for decision – making.

• General Planning : The need of the project should be

described in the background of climate,
physiography, population, socio – economic needs,
natural resources, present and future uses,
aspirations of the people as well as how the scheme
fits in the overall development of the Region, or the
Master Plan.

• The total Water Resources available and the

allocation to the specific programme be also
discussed.
• One of the cardinal points of planning for Water
Resources is : “Max benefit for Max number of
people”.

• It is said that a successful scheme requires

integration of technical aspects with those of LIFE
(Legal, Institutional, Financial & Environmental) to
minimize conflict and maximize mutual benefits.

• For water development, the availability and peak flow

of water (i.e, FLOOD) is very important and the same
be determined and described.

• The quantity and quality of water required would

depend upon the particular programme of water
development
• Surveys and Investigations made along with the
geological and foundation studies be well described.
Prevalent and proposed practices and the baseline
condition should also be described.

• All alternatives studied for the scheme for the

engineering structures be fully described and the
reasons for final selection in the background of socio
–politico-economic reasons should be fully
described along with the operation and maintenance
aspects.
• General Engineering of the scheme affecting the size
of structures like Dam, Tunnels, Coffer dams etc.,
should be described along with the Reservoir
Operation studies and the nature of diversion
scheme.

• It may be appropriate to describe the river diversion

scheme since it is likely to affect the type and size of
major structures like diversion tunnels and coffer
dams which may or may not form part of the main
structures like dams, power tunnel, intake etc.,
 Design of Engineering Structures

• Outline design of important structures should be

worked out and fully described so as to provide the
basis for estimating purposes at the time of actual
execution of the scheme.

• The type of diversion structure and its size be

determined.

• In case it is a Dam, its height and the type of spillway

gates are to be found out.

• The type of intake system and outlet works are to be

fixed.
• The design of the distribution system is to be worked
out after fixing its type and size.

• It would be a good practice to describe the design

criteria adopted while detailed calculations be
appended in a supplementary report.
 Construction Aspects

• The scheme for construction be described in detail

giving the construction schedule.

• It may be worthwhile to give alternative schedules

depending upon the cash flow.

• Equipment required for construction be worked out

and described.

• Construction facilities, roads and communications,

personnel organization for construction and later on
for O &M, requirement for buildings and colonies be
worked out and described.
 Costs & Benefits

• Detailed Estimates of costs and benefits are to be

worked out in this section and described.

• Both the Financial and Economic aspects have to be

worked out.

• Full economic justification of the project should be

given.
 Maps & Drawings

• Detailed maps and drawings to facilitate construction

planning and cost estimates should be furnished in
this section.
 PLANNING PROCESS
• The process and stages involved in the
Investigation, Planning, Preparation of Project Report
(Project Formulation), its final clearance and the
allocation of funds would vary from country to
country, as well as from one development
programme to another.

• The right process should be put into practice after

seeing that, in certain cases, infructuous expenditure
was incurred on detailed investigations of a scheme
which was found to be unfeasible later on.

• It is also thought necessary to prepare a shelf of

projects so that, one after another, new projects
could be undertaken according to prioritization of
needs and availability of funds.
 Indian Experience
• Irrigation Commission Report 1972, World Bank
Review of Indian Irrigation Sector of 1991.

• National Water Policy of India 2002

Extract from “Irrigation Commission Report – 1972” (India)

“Planned Development of Water Resources

• A comprehensive strategy to ensure the success of

agriculture should aim at meeting the water
requirements of crops through the economic and
judicious use of water.

• A river basin and, in the case of large rivers, a sub –

basin is the natural unit for planning water resources.
This planning should be based on an assessment of
the surface and sub-surface water resources of the
basin, and their utilization.
• The Commission recommends the following policy
for formulating river basin plans, on the basis of the
feasibility status of individual projects:

(a) The basin plan should present a comprehensive

outline of development possibilities of land and water
resources to meet the anticipated regional and local
needs.

(b) The plan should,

i. Indicate a broad frame-work of various engineering

works to be taken up in the basin giving reasons for
their choice from the alternatives considered and
inter- relationship between those works
ii. Establish priorities in respect of water use for various
purposes;

iii. Indicate inter se priority of projects ; and

iv. Indicate the need for earmarking water for any

specific future purposes.

(c) The basin plan should be periodically reviewed and

revised to take into account changes in storage
capacity and the extent and pattern of water use.
• Domestic requirements should have the highest
priority in the allocation of water, followed by
industry and then by irrigation. As between irrigation
and power generation, the Commission recommends
that priority be given to irrigation.

• The Commission recommends that instead of the

Irrigation Department determining the cropping
pattern in consultation with the Agriculture
Department, as is done at present, the latter
Department should determine the pattern in
consultation with the Irrigation Department.

• While designing future canals, the results of research

on soil – plant relationships, the contribution of
rainfall in the growth period of crops and the
interaction of other inputs like fertilizers, should be
taken into account , and duties, deltas and water
allowances fixed accordingly”.
• There is a large scope for the conjunctive use of
surface and sub-surface water, particularly in the
Indo – Gangetic Plain, the Coastal areas of Orissa
and Andhra Pradesh, the Cauvery Delta and part of
the Narmada basin. It can also be applied to a lesser
extent elsewhere in the country, where canal
supplies can be supplemented by open wells or tube
wells.

• The Commission recommends that areas where

conjunctive use is feasible, should be identified,
particularly in the commands of existing canal
systems.
• There should be a number of fully investigated
schemes kept ready for choice, so that financial
resources may not get deployed on relatively
uneconomic schemes. The quality of investigations
should not be sacrificed to speed up project
formulation.

• The investigation of irrigation projects and their

ayacut development should be undertaken
simultaneously. Also, studies of soil conservation
measures, particularly for the more critical areas in
the catchment should be taken in hand at the same
time”.
 WORLD BANK REPORT
Extract from World Bank Report dt. December 20, 1991 on
India – Irrigation Sector Review
• Actions to improve Water Policy & Planning

a. Reaffirm and apply the National Water Policy

b. Establish River Basin Planning Commissions for
major river basins
c. Establish autonomous implementation authorities for
specific projects requiring coordinated water use
between States or uses.
d. Improve data collection, resource analysis and data
sharing.
e. Use pricing to allocate water
f. Improve central coordination
g. Effectively use tribunal awards
 NATIONAL WATER POLICY 2002
Extract from National Water Policy 2002
Project Planning
• “Water Resource Development Projects should as far
as possible be planned and developed as
multipurpose projects. Provision for drinking water
should be a primary consideration.

• The study of the likely impact of a project during

construction and later on human lives, settlements,
occupations, socio – economic, environment and
other aspects shall form an essential component of
project planning.
• In the planning, implementation and operation of a
project, the preservation of the quality of
environment and the ecological balance should be a
primary consideration. The adverse impact on the
environment, if any, should be minimized and should
be offset by adequate compensatory measures. The
project should, nevertheless be sustainable.

• There should be an integrated and multi –

disciplinary approach to the planning, formulation,
clearance and implementation of projects, including
catchment area treatment and management,
environmental and ecological aspects, the
rehabilitation of affected people and command area
development.
• The planning of projects in hilly areas should take
into account the need to provide assured drinking
water, possibilities of hydro – power development
and the proper approach to irrigation in such areas,
in the context of physical features and constraints of
the basin such as steep slopes, rapid run-off and the
incidence of soil erosion. The economic evaluation of
projects in such areas should also take these factors
into account.
• Special efforts should be made to investigate and
formulate projects either in, or for the benefit of
areas inhabited by tribal or other specially
disadvantaged groups such as socially weak,
scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. In other
areas also, project planning should pay special
attention to the needs of scheduled castes and
scheduled tribes and other weaker sections of the
society. The economic evaluation of projects
benefiting such disadvantaged sections should also
take these factors in account.
• The drainage system should form an integral part of
any irrigation project right from the planning stage.
• Time and cost overruns and deficient realization of
benefits characterizing most water related projects
should be overcome by upgrading the quality of
project preparation and management. The inadequate
funding of projects should be obviated by an optimal
allocation of resources on the basis of prioritization,
having regard to the early completion of on – going
projects as well as the need to reduce regional
imbalances.

• The involvement and participation of beneficiaries

and other stakeholders should be encouraged right
from the project planning stage itself.”
 TOTAL WATER PLANNING

• General practice in developing countries has been to

check water availability for one or two programmes
of WRD and then to sanction and implement the
schemes.

• With the growing demand for water due to population

increase and economic development, it has been
found that adhoc releases of water for various uses
at different times have resulted in confusion worse
confounded.

• It is, therefore, considered advisable to have a

TOTAL WATER PLANNING in a region for allocating
water to different sectors for future also.
• The total and utilizable surface and ground water
resources of the region are determined and
requirement of water for different uses found out.

• Generally, total requirements would exceed the

availability.

• In such circumstances, water has to be allocated to

different sectors after prioritization and optimization.

• Population growth and economic development have

generated conflicting demands for different water
uses in a region.
• Out of about 21 programmes identified for WRD, the
competitive consumptive users are for (1) Drinking
(2) Irrigation (3) Thermal Generation (including
atomic power) (4) Industrial (5) Domestic (6) Urban
and (7) Population abatement and Environment.

• This list doesn’t cover other programmes which may

not be consumptive, but which may mean
competition with the other users like navigation,
recreation, wild life etc.

• Recognizing the conflicts between various users, the

National Water Councils in some countries have laid
down principles for fixing priorities.
• However, there is no fixed mathematical universal
principle by which priorities can be set up in
particular location.

• Compromises and modifications in priorities are

always made considering the requirements.

• Normally Water Resources Planning is done for

about 50 years in advance.

• The priority which any water use should be given

would depend upon the local conditions like climate,
soil, habits of people, status of agricultural and
industrial and tourist requirements etc.
 Overcoming Hurdles in WRD

• While formulating schemes for hydro development, a

good planner has to foresee much in advance the
hurdles to be overcome before the scheme sees the
light of the day.

• These hurdles may be on account of environmental

issues, social problems, religious biases, cultural
heritage, wild life, political influence, competing
users, sharing of waters, financial resources and non
– availability of personnel.
 DEVELOPMENT IN STAGES

• It would be unwise on the part of a planner to

propose for the complete development of a water
source in a single phase, whether it is for Irrigation,
Power for any other programme.

• Either the funds required would not be available, or

the demand would not justify.

• If development is taken in stages, then it is also

possible to generate financial resources from the
revenue of the first phase to fund the second one.
• Technology also improves with time and it would be
possible to take up difficult schemes later on.

• In certain cases, it may be necessary to take up

easily accessible scheme at first and then remote
schemes later on.

• Stages may be made up either in a basin

development or in one project itself, to obtain
benefits earlier.

• If it is possible, outlining of all possible schemes in a

Basin be drawn up first and then details of easier and
economical schemes be drawn up for execution.

• Development of irrigation in Uttar Pradesh, India from

River Ganga is a good example of development in
stages.
 Water Resources Development & Planning

•
• In the beginning, there was need for providing
protective irrigation to the Rabi crops. Simple
Diversion schemes were taken up to utilize winter
discharges by construction of temporary bunds in
the first part of 19th Century.

• As the demand increased, weirs were constructed to

increase the head discharges in the later part of the
19th century. The protective irrigated area increased
gradually and the farmers became used to irrigation
as provided.

• From the 1930s, they became conscious of irrigation

by pumping water, energy being available from hydro
– electric development from the canal itself.
• As the economic condition of the farmers improved,
and as they became aware of the benefits of
irrigation through a century, the cultivators began
using their own pumping sets from 1960s to
supplement canal irrigation for productive irrigation.

• Weirs were also converted into Barrages for

stabilizing the flow into canals.

• Those farmers who could not get water from the

canal began asking for state Tubewells.

• In satisfying farmers’ demands, indiscriminate

withdrawals resulted in alarming depletion of
groundwater table in the 1970s.
• In the meantime, paddy irrigation picked up with the
conversion of weirs into Barrages, as the diversion of
monsoon water could be controlled.

• Since monsoon water was surplus in the river and

there was increasing demand for paddy irrigation, a
number of Kharif schemes were proposed in the
1970s. They were in the nature of Barrage diversion
schemes which are cheaper and simpler as
compared to dam reservoir schemes.

• It was also argued that heavy dosage of Paddy

irrigation would help in restoring the largely depleted
water tables.
• On the downstream side, surplus water was available
in the river for Kharif irrigation and a few waterings
for Rabi, but the level of the cultivated land was
higher, and therefore large Lift Schemes with
permanent pump houses were constructed in 1970s
and 1980s.

• The Lift Schemes also come in the category of

Diversion Schemes.

• Later on, water left in the river, after utilizing in winter

and stable summer irrigations, is being stored in
reservoirs being built for the purpose of providing
for productive Rabi irrigation.
 HYDRO POWER
• Hydel Power Development should also be in stages.

• As the economic status of people improves, more

and more Power is demanded per capita. Gradual
development may be related to a Basin or to a single
scheme.

• Strategy suggested for adoption in developing the

vast hydel potential in Uttar Pradesh

i. Preparation of integrated and overall development

programme of the Ganga and Yamuna Valleys and
preparation of PFRs of all feasible schemes.
Development of one individual scheme in isolation
may interfere at a later date with the more economical
storage scheme and reduce the latter’s benefits.
ii. Fixing of priorities of individual schemes for their
implementation, with the following governing factors.

a. Benefits other than energy

b. Environmental issues
c. Accessibility of scheme : Distance from rail head etc.
d. Time of completion
e. Capital cost of the scheme
f. Generation cost per unit (KWh)
iii. Normally when the development of any mountainous
river is contemplated, then schemes on the
downstream side which are simpler, cheaper and
easily accessible are taken up first and then the
adjoining upstream one. This would require a gradual
development of roads, which facilitates construction
work as the infrastructure of one completed scheme is
available for the next one.
 As one scheme comes into operation, generated
electricity and gets revenue, the next upstream
scheme is already under way.

iv. It may be worthwhile to start at first those schemes

which generate electricity at a cheaper rate, provided
they are simpler, easily accessible and have lesser
geological and environmental problems.

v. Simultaneously, small schemes be taken up in local

regions where power could be generated from small
perennial schemes, the completion of which is
possible within a couple of years.

These could be a good solutions for improving the

economic condition of the local people as these small
hydros (mini-hydels) could develop cottage industries
and irrigation.
vi. Power from small hydros would act as construction
facility for bigger schemes. Prior to that, they would
also act as incentives to investigation personnel in
remote areas.

vii. Large schemes may be so planned that interim

benefits may start accruing earlier before completion
of the whole scheme.

• The above strategy found application in development

of Rivers Bhagirathi and Alaknanda.
- Figure showing series development as proposed on
River Bhagirathi.
• There are several examples of stage Development in
USA, Iran, Venezuela, Pakistan, Jordan, Canada, Egypt
and India.

• E.F Carter and K.E, Sorensen cited several examples

and reasons for staging WRD for USA in particular as
well as elsewhere, in their paper in Journal of Energy
Engineering of April 1989, ASCE.

• Economic justification is also stated to support

staging of development.

• Interim Partial Benefits also accrue in staged

Development in several projects like Kotli Bhel Dam
on River Ganga. In the case of Tehri Dam Project of
U.P, it turned out to be a missed opportunity for
realizing interim benefits.
 SYSTEM ANALYSIS
• In the context of the conflicts arising between
various competing users and the need for Total
Water Planning including allocation of water to
different uses, formulation of a Project in isolation is
not enough.

• The system as a whole is to be considered. System

Analysis is of great help in integrated and
comprehensive planning of limited Water Resources
for maximizing benefits and minimizing
environmental degradation.

• Development of OPTIMISING TECHNIQUES and fast

digital computers in recent years has made it
possible to use SYSTEMS APPROACH in Water
Resources Planning and Management.
• It has been found useful in planning the operation of
a research or a system of resources for a variety of
uses.

• SYSTEMS ANALYSIS and OPERATION RESEARCH

mean the same for all practical purposes.

• However, Operations Research is primarily

concerned with the normative (or prescriptive) aspect
of the study of the system, while SYSTEMS
ANALYSIS deals with the normative or descriptive
aspects of study.

• SYSTEMS approach has been practised for long and

its development can be traced to World War –II.
 Concept of System & System Analysis

• SYSTEM is an aggregation or assemblage of objects

(or components) united by some form of interaction
or inter- dependence.

• SYSTEM is thus a set of interacting components.

• A system receives inputs. These inputs affect the

interaction of system components. Outputs are
produced which in a dynamic system may affect the
inputs. The inputs are thus modified to achieve the
objective of maximising desirable outputs.
• The procedures and Techniques used to analyze the
system under consideration as a whole instead of
each component separately so as to improve the
performance of the entire system are called “Systems
Analysis”

• The principal interacting components of interest in a

study are referred to a system and those not included
in the system constitute the environment of the
system and are considered in the form of inputs and
outputs which respectively arise from and impact
upon the environment.
• The concept of a SYSTEM is graphically illustrated in
figure.
• The system is characterized by application of the
relevant criteria to define

i. The system boundary

ii. The inputs and outputs and
iii. The inter- relationship between the system elements,
inputs and outputs including external interaction
between outputs and inputs (feed-back)

• From the view point of Systems Analyst, an ideal

problem would have the following characteristics.

i. The objectives of the study should be clearly defined.

ii. The problem should be describable through a

resonable mathematical model
iii. Parameter of the model should be identifiable
(quantifiable) from the available data.

iv. There should be scope of improvement in the system

through optimization.

• These ideal conditions are generally not met with in

practice and especially with Water Resources
Planning problems.

• In such situations, assumptions and simplifications

are made to carry out systems analysis.
• Every WR Planning problem, whether a project or a
region / basin, has its own characteristics.

• These are classified under four heads of : objectives,

scopes, extent and planning horizon. Any particular
problem may have a few or all these characteristics.
• Sketch of WATER Resources Planning Model.
 Systems Analysis Techniques

• Important steps involved :

i. Defining system boundary

ii. Defining the problem

iii. Defining objectives

iv. Structuring a mathematical model for the problem

and to analyse it.
 Classes of Models generally used in System Analysis

i. Analytical optimization models: Common

mathematical model in this class is “Linear
Programme Model”.

ii. Probabilistic models.

iii. Statistical models

iv. Simulation
 Applications

• In the last 3 decades, Systems Analysis has been

employed for analyzing practically all aspects of
Water Resources Planning and Development. The
surveys have shown that System Analysis has not
been favored by real life planners due to its inherent
limitations.

i. It is practically not possible to model all the aspects

of a physical system.
ii. It is not possible to include all the parameters
relevant to consider multi – uses and multi –
objectives which are often not quantifiable, but
important for decision making.
iii. The available data is generally not sufficient, nor
reasonably reliable.
• In view of the above limitations, a number of
assumptions and simplifications are made to carry
out System Analysis. These generally vitiate results
which become far removed from reality. To avoid this
situation, a large scale system is dealt through
suitable Decomposition Techniques.

• Besides the above mentioned limitations, use of

complicated mathematical models is one of the
reasons for not adopting System Analysis as a Tool
for real life problems.

• Such models provide interesting mathematical

insights, but often do not develop useful information
to assist the decision maker.
• Other reasons for slow adoption of System Analysis
in Water Resources problems are :

a. Lack of skilled professionals.

b. Lack of appreciation at decision-making level.
c. Ineffective communications between the systems
analyst and the decision maker and
d. Structuring the model in isolation resulting in non –
response to the issues of concern for the decision
maker.

• It is thus evident that System Analysis could improve

the planning and operation of Water Resources
because it permits the study of systems behavior
under varying conditions.
• It also provides a rational basis for selecting an
Action Plan out of several alternatives.

• But, the Systems Analyst and the Decision – maker

should clearly understand the limitation of the
technique.

• Systems Analysis is a Tool for the Decision-maker

and not a replacement of professional experience.
 GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSION APPRAISAL &
CLEARANCE OF IRRIGATION & MULTIPURPOSE
PROJECTS 2002

CENTRAL WATER COMMISSION

MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES, GOVT. OF INDIA
 INTRODUCTION

• The Guidelines for Submission, Appraisal and Clearance

of Irrigation & Multipurpose Project, 1989 had been
prepared by the Project Appraisal Organisation (PAO),
Central Water Commission on the basis of the
recommendations of the National Conference of
irrigation and Water Resources Ministers held in July
1986 (Annexure 1),subsequent report on “Abridgement
of Scope of Project Scrutiny in Central Water
Commission”.
• The existing procedure for scrutiny examination of
irrigation and multipurpose projects by Central Water
Commission and acceptance by Planning Commission
for inclusion in the State Development Plan was drawing
attention of the Ministry of Water Resources due to
pendency of many projects cleared by the Advisory
Committee but awaiting investment clearance from
Planning Commission in absence of clearance from
Ministry of Environment & Forests, Ministry of Tribal
Affairs, State Finance Desk and other Agencies.
• Meanwhile the Planning Commission also simplified
procedure of investment clearance to the projects other
than those on Inter- State river vide their letter nos. 16
(12)/96-I&CAD dt. 17th November 1997 (Annexure -2),
16(12)/96-I&CAD dt. 7th January 1998 (Annexure-3) and
16(12)/99-WR dt. 30th November 2000 (Annexure -4).
Hence modifications in the existing appraisal procedure
for inter – state projects in the CWC had become
essential.
• The existing procedure of project appraisal of Irrigation,
Flood Control & Multipurpose projects for both major
and medium projects, which are having inter –state
ramification, has been now revised. In the revised
procedure the concerned State Govt., in the initial stage
will first submit preliminary report covering surveys and
investigations, international / inter- state aspects,
hydrology, irrigation planning, brief environmental
aspects, intended benefits, etc., which are required to
establish soundness of the project proposal.
• The project proposal will be examined and if found
acceptable, the CWC shall convey “in principle” consent
for preparation of Detailed Project Report.

•Thereafter Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be prepared

with upto date cost and simultaneously the project
authorities will process and obtain necessary clearances of
Ministry of Environment & Forests in respect of
Environment Impact Assessment and Forest area being
diverted.

•If Scheduled Tribe Population is diverted, the clearance of

R & R Plans shall be obtained from the Ministry of Tribal
affairs.

•The DPR thus prepared will be examined in CWC.

• In States where central design and planning organizations
don’t exist, the CWC will check the designs also. The CWC
will finalize the cost, B.C Ratio, Internal Rate of Return etc.,
and the State Govt. will obtain concurrence of the State
Finance Department for this finalized cost.

•The project proposal will, thereafter, be put up to the

Advisory Committee for clearance, which would be, by and
large, like single window clearance.

•The revised procedure of appraisal was discussed and

accepted in the 77th meeting of the Advisory Committee on
Irrigation, Flood Control and Multipurpose Project
Proposals held on 3rd August 2001
•The Guidelines for Submission, Appraisal and Clearance
of Irrigation and Multipurpose Projects have now been
modified accordingly. The Guidelines are applicable to
major and medium projects on Inter-State rivers or their
tributaries.

Procedure for submission, appraisal and clearance outlines

in these guidelines shall now be followed by the State
Governments and revision in the methodology of economic
analysis will come into effect from July, 2002
 Preliminary Report
• On the basis of collection of requisite informations as well
as Surveys and Investigations, the preliminary report shall
be prepared to contain brief and to the point chapters on
General data, General Planning, Inter – State and
International aspects, Surveys & Investigations including
Geological investigations, Seismic investigation,
Foundation investigation, Construction material survey,
Hydrological and meteorological investigations etc.,
Hydrology, Drinking water requirements, Irrigation
Planning, Planning for other intended benefits,
Environmental and Ecological aspects etc., required for
initial assessment of soundness of the basic planning of
the project proposal. Applicable checklist shall also be
attached to ensure that all the desired information's are
contained
•Eight sets of Reports in respect of Major Projects shallbe
submitted to the Chief Engineer, Project Appraisal
Organizaion, CWC, 510(S), Sewa Bhavan, R.K. Puram, New
Delhi.
•Reports in respect of Medium Projects shall be submitted to
respective regional offices of CWC under intimation to the
Chief Engineer, PAO, CWC.
•The submission and clarifications / compliance of the
observations shall be attended by the concerned Chief
Engineer of the State.
•The preliminary reports shall be quickly scrutinized in the
office they are submitted. However, once a report is found
acceptable, “In Principle” consent of CWC for DPR
preparation shall be communicated from the Office of the
Chief Engineer, PAO, CWC after examination and clearance
by a Screening Committee.
• While communicating the said consent, the Project
Authorities will be advised for preparation / submission of
DPR in accordance with CWC guidelines. They will also be
advised to submit Environment Impact Assessment Report
together with R&R Plan, Environment and Disasters
Management Plans along with broad cost estimate.
•An application for forest clearance, if required, may be sent
to the Ministry of Environment and Forest with a copy to the
Chief Engineer, EMO, CWC.
•In case Schedule Tribe population is likely to be affected,
the R&R Plan will also be submitted to the Ministry of Tribal
Affairs.
•The Project Authorities shall ensure that all necessary
actions are taken to obtain clearances from the above
mentioned Ministries well in time after due appraisal and
DPR is submitted along with these clearances, whenever
required.
• The submission and clearance of Environment Impact
Assessment, R&R Plans and Forest clearance shall be
governed by the prevailing norms and regulations of the
related Ministries.

•The ‘In Principle’ consent of CWC, for DPR preparation for a

project shall have a validity period of 3 (three years). In case
Investment clearance is not accorded to this project within
validity period, the ‘In Principle’ consent will suo – moto
lapse.
 DETAILED PROJECT REPORT
•Detailed Project Report (DPR) shall be prepared in
accordance with applicable Indian Standards and guidelines
issued by Govt. of India, Ministry of Water Resources
(erstwhile Ministry of Irrigation) and / or Central Water
Commission (CWC) after detailed Surveys and
Investigations.
• It must be ensured that duly completed check-list, salient
features and all relevant details as well as maps, annexures
etc. are contained in the report and estimates are
comprehensive as well as up-to-date and are based on the
guidelines issued / updated in this regard.
•The clearances obtained in respect of Environment Impact
Assessment, Forest, R&R Plans etc., shall also be appended
with DPRs and implied costs shall be duly accounted in the
estimates.
• Twelve sets of DPRs in respect of Major Projects shall be
submitted to the Chief Engineer, PAO, CWC for examination.
•In case of medium projects, proforma reports shall be
prepared giving salient features, notes in respect of basic
planning, International / inter-state aspects, hydrology,
irrigation planning, storage planning, spillway capacity,
rates of important items, abstract of cost estimates, benefit
cost ratio etc., and sufficient copies of the same shall be
submitted to the respective regional offices of CWC for
examination under intimation to the Chief Engineer, PAO,
CWC.
• In case Design and Planning Organizations are existing in the
concerned State, or the State certifies that it has sufficient
competency to design such projects and a certificate is furnished
by them in prescribed proforma (Annexure-5) in respect of their
detailed examination / clearance of the project proposal and
appraisal / clearance of the State level project Appraisal / Technical
Advisory and Environmental Appraisal Committees, examination
of the project by CWC will be generally restricted to inter-state
aspects, basic planning, hydrology and economic viability. In such
cases only 8 sets of DPR for Major projects and 4 sets of pro-forma
report in case of Medium projects may be sent to respective
offices of CWC for examination.
 In case CDO certificates are not appended with DPRs /
Proforma Reports, they shall be scrutinized in detail. Major
Project proposals shall be examined in concerned
Directorates of CWC, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry
of Agriculture, Central Ground Water Board and other
Central agencies in respect of items pertaining to their area
of specialization / area of concern.

During techno – economic appraisal, State compliance to

CWC observations will be required to be submitted by an
officer not below the rank of Chief Engineer / Equivalent
Competent Authority.
• All projects in the Ganga – Brahmaputra – Meghna and
Indus Basins would be examined from International angle
in the Ministry of Water Resources. The State
Governments, which have borders with neighboring
countries, should in particular keep this in view while
considering any project close to International borders
right from the initial stage of investigation and planning.

•This applies to major as well as medium projects

irrespective of the fact that a Central Design and Planning
Organization exists in that State or not. Similarly inter-
state aspects and implications shall be duly verified in ISM
Directorate of CWC even in case of Medium projects.
• The final estimate shall be based on finalized designs
and details of civil and hydraulic structures and economic
analysis will be carried out by the Project Authorities /
CWC adopting standard / accepted procedures
considering recommendations in Nitin Desai Committee
Report. The Project Authorities will also submit
concurrence of the State Finance for finalized cost.
•Once techno – economic viability of a Project Proposal is
established, a comprehensive note and check list, duly
finalized by PAO, CWC shall be circulated among Members
of the Advisory Committee of MOWR (composition at
Annexure – 6) for consideration and clearance of Irrigation,
Flood Control and Multipurpose Project Proposals.
•The State Engineers of the level of Chief Engineer /
Superintending Engineer associated with the project
formulation/ design will be invited to attend the
Advisory Committee meeting so as to furnish
informations / clarifications, if any, sought by the
Members of the Advisory Committee.

•On the basis of examination conducted by the

Advisory Committee, decision on Techno –
Economic viability of th project is taken in the
meeting of this Committee.
• The projects found acceptable by the Advisory
Committee shall be recommended for investment
clearance by the Planning Commission and inclusion in
the Five Year Plan / Annual Plan.

•Normally for project proposals submitted with CDO

certificates, appraisal will be completed within six months
and for other proposals it would be completed within 12
months. However, the time taken would also depend upon
the response time of the concerned State in respect of
compliance of the observations of CWC / Advisory
Committee.
 4. REVISED PROJECT / ESTIMATE

• In case of major and medium projects which have been

approved by the Planning Commission and where the revised
estimates of the project have increased by more than 15 % of
the original estimates, excluding escalation due to Price-rise, or
where there is change in scope I.e. change in project
parameters resulting in change in nature and benefits such as
CCA, installed capacity, energy generation etc. Revised
Project Reports including Estimates will be furnished to CWC
for examination as new major/medium schemes and the
procedure for scrutiny for such revised project/estimates shall
be same as outlined in the proceeding chapters. Statement of
excess costs, as detailed in Para 4.2 shall also be appended
with the revised estimates.
In respect of revised project estimate where there is no change I
the scope and where the costs excluding escalation due to price
rise have not changed by more than 15 % the concerned State
Government a need not forward detailed estimates for
examination at Centre. For such projects/estimates the State
Government should send project wise-statements of excess costs
to CWC giving the abstract of costs under major sub-heads
indicating the excess costs over the sanctioned costs and reasons
thereof after obtaining concurrence of the State Finance
Department. The covering note will include the salient features of
the project contemplated in original proposal and that being
executed at site. The CWC will examine such estimates broadly
and send its views to the Advisory Committee for consideration
and recommendation of the Planning Commission.
• When revised estimates are prepared during construction, the
quantities of items completed should be indicted separately and
the cost thereof assessed on the basis of actual expenditure.
Any liability arising out of the contract for the completed work
and effecting the cost should also be considered in the
estimate.

• For works in progress the estimates should be based on

contract rates. If the contract document contains any clause for
escalation on the prices of materials and labour wages
subsequent to the award of contract, the amount involved
should be assessed and include in the estimate.
For works, not covered in any contract, prevailing local rates may
be taken for items covered in the Schedule of Rates and for
remaining item may be adopted on the basis of analysis of rates,
prepared in accordance with the guidelines issued by CWC

In case of any doubt on the viability of rate of any item, a

certificate from the State / Project Chief Engineer, duly justifying
reasonability of the rate, shall generally be taken as final and
acceptable.
 Extract of “Summary Record of
National Conference of Irrigation and
Water Resources Ministers of States
and Union Territories Held in New
Delhi, July 86”

Project Clearance

The Conference felt that improvement in project preparation at the

State level would be an essential step to reduce the time taken for
the techno-economic examination of projects at the Centre. For
speedy clearance it recommended the following steps :
i)The projects should not be sent to the Centre for techno-
economic examination unless these have be thoroughly and
comprehensively prepared on an integrated basis by a multi-
disciplinary Cell in conformity with the guidelines lid down for the
purpose.
ii) The State Government should indicate their priorities for
examination of projects in CWC at the time of Annual Plan
discussions.

iii) Medium irrigation projects should be examined in the State’s

Design Organisations wherever existing and only thereafter
these may be sent to the Central Water Commission for
information with regard to water accounting. Where state
design organisations do not exist the present procedure will
continue. Inter-state aspects of medium projects are,
however, required to be cleared by the Centre
iv) In case there is a Central Design Organisation in the State
Irrigation Department and the major projects Are examined in
such Organisation before these are sent to the CWC, the
examination of such projects in the Central Water
Commission may be restricted to the scrutiny of Inter-state
aspects, hydrology, water accounting and economic viability.
In case, there is no Central Design Organisation in the State
Irrigation Department, the major project reports will continue
to be examined in the Central Water Commission as per
existing procedure.

v) Central agencies in turn should review the procedures for

techno-economic and other scrutinizes in consultation with
the States and Union Territories and try to ensure that
examination by diverse agencies run parallel and not in
sequence and are completed within prescribed time-limits.