ICAR Flexi Check Dam(Rubber dam)for watershed

Dr. Susanta Kumar JenaPrincipal Scientist, ICAR -IIWM, Bhubaneswar

(email: skjena_icar@yahoo.co.in, mob: 9437221616)

ICAR Flexi Check Dam

(Rubber dam)

Deflated

Inflated �

ICAR Flexi Check Dam at Ootty (TN)

Technology Description

ICAR flexible check dam is an inflatable structure build across a stream used for water conservation, flood control and regulating flow of water in the stream.

Components:

� A concrete foundation with HW extension, side wall and wing wall of a normal check dam; and wing wall of a normal check dam;

� The head wall replaced by a textile reinforced rubber composite dam body;

� Anchoring mechanism;

� An inlet/ out let pipe system for inflation and deflation of the dam by water; and

� A pump for filling water for inflation.

Technology Description

� When it is inflated, it serves as a check dam/weir & when it is deflated, it functions as a flood mitigation device and sediment flushing.

� Adjustable head

� This variable head regulates the depth of flow in the irrigation diversion channel present in the upstream side of the check dam or in irrigation canals and distributaries.

Application & Use of the Technology

� This technology has a potential to benefit farmers in rainfed agro-ecosystems as well as in coastal areas susceptible for sea water ingress, natural calamities like cyclone, flood, high tide, tsunami etc.

� This can also be used in coastal creeks, � This can also be used in coastal creeks, estuaries, streams and channels to restrict the inflow of sea water into land mass.

� During tsunami and high tide it can also prevent the high tides to enter in to the fresh water system. Comparatively, the rubber check dam has high flexibility and durability.

Limitations of traditional check dam

Advantages of Rubber dam

1. The traditional check dams become silted due to continuous sediment inflow to the structure.

Whereas in case of rubber dam, it can be occasionally deflated during flood/high runoff to flush out all the sediment to the downstream side.

2. During dry period/ lean season the head wall cannot be increased to store more water.

During dry period/ lean season the head wall can be easily inflated to store more water.

3. Due to rigidity of the head wall, during extreme events of high intensity rainfall and extreme flood, the structure is damaged

Due to flexibility of the head wall, during extreme events of high intensity rainfall and extreme flood situation, the structure can be easily deflated, so there is no damage to the flood, the structure is damaged

or there is a breaching of stream banks and scouring of stream bed.

easily deflated, so there is no damage to the structure and there is no breaching of stream bank/ levees and no scouring or erosion of stream bed.

4. In earth quake zones, cracks develop in the head wall during small tremor or earth quake thus damaging the structure.

Earth quake cannot damage the head wall as it is made of rubber and repair to the side and wing walls can be easily done without dismantling the structure.

5. There will be conflict of interest of farmers and other beneficiaries if more water is stored in the check dams located in upstream side.

There will be no conflict of interest of farmers and other beneficiaries as desirable amount of water can be easily delivered to downstream side by storing desirable quantity in the upstream side and maintaining environmental flow in the downstream side.

Rubber Dams installed in Odisha

by IIWM, Bhubaneswar for

field Validation

Sl.

No.

Sites Dimensions(m)

Crest

length

(≈width

of

stream)

Spacing

between

anchorin

g bolts

Height

of

head

wall

1. Baghamari 5.00 1.20 1.00

2. Badapokharia 2.00 1.50 1.00

3. Mendhasal 2.00 0.50 0.50

4. Chandeswar-1 4.15 1.50 1.50

5. Chandeswar-2 4.15 1.50 1.35

Dimension of different components of

installed rubber dams

Technology Dissemination1.Uttarakhand (Himalyan, Tarai): 4

2.Himachal Pradesh (Dhauladhar hill range): 2

3.Meghalaya (Khasi & Jayantia hills, high rainfall region): 2

4.Gujarat (Western hilly terrain, high rainfall): 44.Gujarat (Western hilly terrain, high rainfall): 4

5.Maharashtra (Konkan region & Central plateau) : 6

6.Tamil Nadu (Nilgiri Hills): 2

7.Jharkhand (Hazaribagh, Flash flood): 2

8.Odisha (Coastal region, Eastern Ghat region, High GW exploration region): 13

� The water stored in the upstream side of the dam to a length of 800 m to 1.70 km at various locations.

� The additional volume of water stored in the upstream side due to installation of rubber dam varies between 4800 m3 to 10000 m3 at any point of time during monsoon. Incase this

Outcomes/Impacts

any point of time during monsoon. Incase this water is used for irrigation, it gets filled up by the water coming from the upper catchment during monsoon.

� During post-monsoon, depending upon the rainfall after cessation of monsoon water is available for irrigation in a range of additional two to three months in comparison to the scenario where there is no rubber dam.

Outcomes/ Impacts

� Uneven rainfall in the Kharif season results in lower rice productivity in Odisha. Rubber dams helped in providing irrigation in critical stage of paddy i.e. in flowering stage and hence it has saved the crop.

� The stored water in rubber dam could irrigate 12 ha of rice fields during critical stages at Chandeswar-I of rice fields during critical stages at Chandeswar-I and around 16 ha at Chandeswar-II .

� The rainfall occurred after south-west monsoon period during mid-October till end December was stored in rubber dam and used by the farmers for rabi pulses and vegetables.

� The rubber dam are also instrumental in augmenting groundwater recharge.

Outcomes/Impacts� Additional storage of water to the tune of 4970 m3 at any

point of time during kharif

� Total volume of 80000 m3 could have been diverted for irrigation which was helping in irrigating an area of 13-15 ha during kharif and an additional area of 5 ha during post monsoon season.

� Enhanced average productivity:

� Rice in kharif: 2.87 t/ha to 4.67 t/ha; � Rice in kharif: 2.87 t/ha to 4.67 t/ha;

� green gram in rabi: 0.63 t/ha to 0.92 t/ha

� Area of the green gram in rabi season increased by 22 %

� Increase in cropping intensity is 31%

� Enhancing gross return by 62 %

� Net returns of the farmers increased from Rs. 12,400 ha-1

under sole rice cropping to Rs. 27,600 ha-1, Rs. 44,000 ha-1, Rs. 43,200 ha-1 and Rs. 47,900 ha-1 under rice-green gram, rice-cucumber and rice-sunflower cropping systems respectively.

� ICAR outstanding Team Research Award-2013-14

�NAIP APPRECIATION AWARD -2012

�Patents (Title of the patent application and Date of filing ): 02

1. “A Novel Adhesive Activated Polyester Fabric Subst rate for Rubber Composites and the Process for Producing the Adhesi on”. Application no.- 493/MUM/2010, Date of filling- 24th February, 2010.

Awards & Recognition

Application no.- 493/MUM/2010, Date of filling- 24th February, 2010.

2. “A Novel Flexi Check Dam for Efficient Use of Water in Agriculture”. Application no.- 1461/MUM/2011, Date of filling-12th May, 2011, C.B.R. No.: 5824 .

� Publications: 2(IJ)+4(NJ)+3LL+3B+27S+2P

� Recognized among ICAR Technologies under NRM

� Technology commercialized to Zenith Rubber Industries Ltd, Mumbai

Sl. No Properties of the Composite Specification

1. Tensile Breaking strength (kg/cm) >300

2. Shore hardness (A0) >60

3 Tear Strength (kg/cm) >80

4 Minimum Peel strength (kg/cm)

(a) Top cover to ply >4.50

(b) Bottom cover to ply >3.00

C) Ply to ply >5.00

5 Jointing strength over original (%) >80.00

6 Overlapping of rubber sheets at joints on both sides

≥15 cm