On dams, take the China way, Pg11.

Key Highlights:

• In the 1950s, both India and China initiated large dam construction, with India's Hirakud and Bhakra dams proving successful, while China's Sanmenxia Dam faced sedimentation issues.
• Post-1990, China regained momentum in dam building, surpassing India and other nations through pragmatic policies and advancements in planning and construction.
• By the end of 2024, China's installed hydropower capacity reached 435.95 GW, over 10 times India's 42.72 GW.
• India's slow dam construction since 1980 has led to water scarcity, emphasizing the urgent need for restructuring water infrastructure policies to meet future demands.

Detailed Insights:

• China adopted a pragmatic approach, learning from past dam construction experiences and modifying policies to enhance water and energy security.
• India's focus shifted towards rainwater harvesting and check dams in the 1990s, leading to a slowdown in large dam construction and a widening gap in hydropower capacity compared to China.
• Intense rainfall patterns in India, with most annual rainfall occurring in short periods, necessitate the construction of diverse water storage structures, including large dams, to ensure year-round water availability.
• With India's population projected to reach 1.7 billion by 2050 and ambitious GDP targets, expanding water storage capacity is crucial for socioeconomic development and mitigating climate change impacts.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Water Security: The availability of a reliable and sustainable supply of water to meet the needs of people, agriculture, industry, and the environment.
• Hydropower: Electricity generated from the energy of moving water, often through the use of dams and turbines.
• Rainwater Harvesting: The collection and storage of rainwater for later use, typically involving rooftop collection or surface runoff capture.