DRIP has picked up substantial pace: Government

NEW DELHI: DRIP, a project which targets rehabilitation of 225 dams across the country, has "picked up substantial pace" but Tamil Nadu is "holding down" its overall DRIP progress, the government said today.

The Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP), involving nine implementing agencies (IAs) across seven states - Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, and Jharkhand - targets rehabilitation of dams.

The progress of the project was reviewed by Water Resources Secretary Shashi Shekhar on February 10, an official release said.

"The project has picked up substantial pace after a slow start which was on account of complex preparatory phase of the project," it said.

"Preparatory activities have been completed for 207 dams. Tender documents have been completed for 177 dams. Notices inviting tenders have been issued for 173 dams and in case of 83 dams, works have been awarded," the release said.

Shekhar, however, observed that Tamil Nadu is "holding down the overall DRIP progress", and the implementation agencies of the state need to "improve upon their performance".