Bihar Engineers Trained on Dam Safety and Sedimentation Control to Strengthen Flood Protection

Patna  :In an effort to enhance the safety and maintenance of Bihar’s major dams, the Water Resources Department, Government of Bihar, recently organised a two-day training programme for its engineers. The training, held at the Jal Evam Bhumi Prabandhan Sansthan (WALMI) in Patna, focused on equipping engineers with detailed knowledge of the provisions and compliance requirements of the Dam Safety Act, 2021.

The programme aimed to improve flood management by addressing the challenges posed by sedimentation and the gradual reduction in water storage capacity of reservoirs. Special discussions were held on five key dams in Bihar — Upper Kiul, Durgavati, Kohira, Phulwaria, and Badua — with a focus on strategies to mitigate the declining storage capacity caused by continuous sedimentation over time.

The training was conducted jointly by the State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO), Bihar, and WALMI, Patna, under the guidance of E. Awadhesh Kumar, Chairman of SDSO, Bihar. During the sessions, E. Vijay Kumar, Director of SDSO, provided comprehensive insights into the critical provisions of the Dam Safety Act, 2021, including penalties for non-compliance.

Senior officials of the department, including E. Mahmood Alam, Chief In-charge of SDSO, Bihar, and E. Seema Kumari, Director of WALMI, were present at the inauguration. The event saw participation from Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineers, and Assistant Engineers from various dam and barrage zones across the state. Prominent attendees included E. Kumar Manoj Gupta, Superintending Engineer of Durgawati Nirman Zone; E. Manoj Kumar, Superintending Engineer of Irrigation Zone, Nawada; and E. Dhananjay Kumar Sinha, Superintending Engineer of Son Barrage Zone, Dehri.