BHUBANESWAR: In a pioneering move to save water for optimal utilisation, the Centre has decided to construct bridge-cum-barrage structures on National Highways to tap surface water for drinking and irrigation needs.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has requested the State Government to submit proposals along with recommendations for construction of such bridge structures wherever feasible.
“If the State Government proposals meet the technical parameters, the Ministry will bear the entire cost of construction as well as operation and maintenance cost during first three years,” sources in National Highway wing of the Works Department said.
The proposed barrage structure will be constructed on downstream of the bridge so that water can be stored upstream during last phase of monsoon by making secondary piers between bridge piers in which gates are fixed.
The tapped water will meet the drinking and irrigation needs besides other purposes such as recycling the percolated water in irrigated areas. It may also be used for artificial recharging of the nearby bore wells as well as open well to augment groundwater.
Even if 20 per cent of the water flowing into the sea was conserved, it could help alleviate poverty as the additional water could change the economics of areas where dual-purpose bridge structures will be constructed, the sources said.
Time for fixing and removal of the gates in secondary pier system will be decided judiciously based on rainfall data and pattern in close coordination with Water Resources Department to prevent any damage to the bridge structures during floods and optimal utilisation of the stored water.
Old abandoned bridges on National Highways of the State having total length 100 metre or less will also be considered under the programme for renovation and used for the dual purposes.
On completion of three years of construction of the dual-purpose bridge, the operation and maintenance cost of the structure will be borne by the State Government for which the Public Works Department will give an undertaking.
The State Government has been asked to submit no objection certificates (NOCs) from departments like Water Resources, Environment and local administration along with proposals to avoid future complications. The proposal will be considered by the Ministry subject to its compliance with the technical details.