A Chinese state-run firm is all set to become the first from the country to build a dam in India, which aims to ease the drinking water shortage in the country's financial capital Mumbai. Despite some critics raising the bogey of the security implications of such a project, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has selected a joint venture between China International Water and Electric Engineering (CWE) and India's Soma Enterprises for constructing the Middle Vaitarna dam across the Vaitarna river, about 145 km from Mumbai, sources told The Indian Express.

Even as the Narmada Control Authority is looking at rehabilitation claims of States affected by the Narmada dam in Gujarat, the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People has said that there was no case for raising the height of the Sardar Sarovar Project and that it should be frozen at the current height of 121.92 metres. Several thousand people being displaced by the dam in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat are seeking proper rehabilitation and resettlement.

The Supreme Court today did not allow a plea of Haryana to "lift' water from the Bhakra main line (BML)canal and pump it into the Hansi-Butana. The stay on puncturing the BML to connect the Hansi-Butana canal will continue and the matter will be now heard on July 18. Notably Haryana had submitted a proposal in the apex court to lift 500 cusecs of water through pumping and send it down the Hansi-Butana canal. This is a significant move as by-elections are due in Haryana on May 22.

Non-functioning of the Sonahat

To tied-over energy shortfall, the government is planning 40,000 mw of hydroelectric power generation capacity during the 12th (2012-17) and 13th Plan (2017-22). "We are making preparations for power projects in the 12th and 13th Plan, and are planning to add 40,000 mw capacity in the hydro sector,' Central Electricity Authority (CEA) chairman Rakesh Nath said here. Project sites in states with hydro potential are being identified.

The government has decided to formally launch a campaign for constructing major dams as the concerned authorities have agreed to go slow on "controversial" Kalabagh dam, sources told Business Recorder on Thursday. "The formal launch of the campaign will help the government in procuring foreign and local funding for the dams, whose construction is must to save the country from becoming water-scarce country," the sources said.

Even after more than a decade of its launching, the multi-crore costing Gangadhar Irrigation Project is lying abandoned causing severe hardship to thousands of poor farmers of the Greater area. Located at Unjan Petla village of Asom-Bengal was launched under the supervision of the Dhubri district branch of the State Irrigation Department.

China mobilized 30,000 additional soldiers to the earthquake-shattered expanses of the nation's southwestern regions on Wednesday

The delay in commissioning of the Kandula Obula Reddy Gundlakamma project has irked people of Prakasam district as they were hoping to get irrigation and potable water from the reservoir. It was one of the three irrigation projects started in Prakasam district under Jalayagnam and was constructed by spending Rs 453.86 crore. It is slated to give irrigation water to 80,060 acres of land.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to announce a fairly large grant to Bhutan when he travels there on Friday on a two-day visit, which is aimed at further consolidation of the bilateral energy cooperation. The Prime Minister will hold wide-ranging talks with his Bhutanese counterpart Jigme Y. Thinley on issues of mutual interest, including India's development cooperation with the Himalayan kingdom. The PM will also meet 28-year-old King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and his father, the former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck.