A Handbook on Waterbody Conservation

New Delhi [India], April 01: K Malhotra, a foremost architect of India’s hydropower and Irrigation Infrastructure, with over 70 years of experience in leading implementation of iconic projects like the Bhakra Dam, Beas Sutlej Link and Lok Tak Hydroelectric projects, later serving as a Mission Member of The World Bank,  launches “ A Handbook on Waterbody Conservation”, his legacy for future generations.

This  book, representing a culmination of a lifetime devoted to hands-on engineering, knowledge sharing, and the stewardship of one of our planet’s most vital resources—water, is designed as a practical reference guide for engineering students in IITs and engineering colleges, practicing engineers, contractors, NGOs, teaching faculty and agricultural engineers. It presents real-world and field proven  solutions for the construction, rehabilitation, maintenance, and conservation of water bodies and water infrastructure, along with soil and water conservation practices.

Released by the august hands of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, an internationally renowned spiritual leader, humanitarian, peace ambassador and founder of the Art of Living Foundation across 180 countries, the book couldn’t have found a better platform  in Bengaluru on 28^th March 26, than the 6^th edition of “ Jal Yodha Samman 2025”(Honoring national and international Water Warriors), a unique ongoing Niti Aayog, Ministry of Jal Shakti, backed initiative to promote  water conservation and save environment and graced by 6 Padma Shree awardees, 35 Jal Yodha awardees besides knowledge partners comprising Wheels Global Foundation, USA, ASSOCHAM, Ministry of Jal Shakti, IIT Roorkee, and a host of eminent speakers and dignitaries for excellence in water conservation stewardship and sustainability.

In an era of growing water scarcity, climate uncertainty, and increasing pressure on natural resources, A Handbook on Waterbody Conservation, designed as a foundational guide, aims to support professionals and institutions working to protect and sustain water resources through practical engineering approaches, community participation, and effective project implementation. The book will hopefully serve as a beacon for engineers, policymakers, and practitioners. After all, water is life and engineering it well is survival!

To quote Mr. Vibhu Nair, Additional Chief Secretary and Project Head, Irrigated Agriculture Modernization and Water Bodies Restoration and Management, Government of Tamil Nadu, “the construction procedures, sequence to be followed, fulfillment of quality control requirements during rehabilitation and modernization of various components of 5,000+ tank systems duly illustrated, helped not only in the successful conclusion of this project encompassing earthen tank bund, irrigation sluices, surplus weirs and irrigation channels in 2016 but also passed the acid test of unprecedented , once in a century, heavy floods in Tamil Nadu in 2018, with no damage whatsoever occurring to rehabilitated concrete lined canals or any other rehabilitated anicuts or other structures”.

The handbook will help engineers formulate job specific technical specifications of all works along with quality control requirements and methodology, to achieve, amongst other things, the following:

• Effective and enduring bond between the old and the new earth fill
• New techniques encompassing device for ensuring compaction of earth fill on side slopes of tank bunds or canals
• Mechanized placement through pavers for concrete lining in bigger section canals and slip form steel gantry in in small section channels
• Deployment of an “O K Card System” on all works with due participation of all stakeholders – local community, water user’s associations etc.
• Modernization through use of flow measuring devices, concrete model sections and building a Mobile Quality Control Laboratory (MOQL) System
• Control of corrosion in reinforced concrete structures – a serious and recurring problem the world over
• Introduction of sand grouting behind cement concrete lined canals to plug cavities for long term durability of canal lining

Very often, well-meaning waterbody restoration interventions revert back to their old state within a year or two, thus not achieving their life expectancy of 15+ years, primarily because of engineering flaws and lack of desired community participation. A Handbook of Waterbody Conservation is the effective antidote to ensure getting a full ROI from the invariably scarce budgets available!

A Handbook on Waterbody Conservation is published by Manipal Universal Press and edited by Madhur Khanna, a Board Member and Co-Chair Water Council @ Wheels Global Foundation, USA.

The book is available at Amazon @ https://amzn.in/d/01Z03Eaw 

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