Gujarat to build rubber dams in Chhota Udepur, Tapi at Rs 161 crore

Gandhinagar: The Gujarat govt will construct its first air-filled rubber dams on the Heran river at Rajvasana in Chhota Udepur district and on the Ambika river at Pathakwadi in Tapi district.

The projects, estimated to cost Rs 161 crore, are expected to enhance irrigation and water management in the two regions.According to an official statement issued on Monday, the Rajvasana rubber dam will directly benefit 25 villages by providing irrigation to 3,420 hectares. With a storage capacity of 3.5 million cubic metres (MCM), the project is also expected to address flooding and silt accumulation in the Heran river.

Govt said 75% of the work has been completed, and the dam is expected to be ready within 30 months at a cost of Rs 82 crore.The Pathakwadi rubber dam will supply irrigation water to 650 hectares and is designed to operate efficiently even at temperatures exceeding 50°C. The statement said about 90% of the construction work has been completed and the structure is expected to have a lifespan of around 30 years.Under the Rajvasana project, a rubber bladder measuring 180 metres in length and 3.5 metres in height will be installed on the Heran river.

The technology will enhance the storage capacity of an existing weir, enabling the reservoir to hold 3.5 MCM of water. During periods of heavy rainfall, the bladder can be deflated to allow the rapid discharge of floodwaters, reducing the risk of damage to nearby villages.Govt said the rubber bladders, imported from South Korea, have a thickness ranging from 18mm to 32mm and are built to withstand high temperatures while offering long-term durability.A key feature of the dams is that the rubber bladder can be inflated and deflated through a computer-operated SCADA automation system, eliminating the need for manual operation, the statement added.