The Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), 

Pune

 

 

Introduction

The Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune, as it is known today, was  established in 1916 by the then Bombay Presidency as a "Special Irrigation Cell" with a limited mandate to modify irrigation practice to meet agricultural requirements and alter the agricultural methods to meet irrigation limitations. Recognizing its role in the systematic study of various phases of water flow including floods, the institution was taken over by the Government of India in 1936.

After independence and launching of planned development of the nation's water resources, CWPRS became the principal central agency to cater to the R&D needs of projects in the fields of water and energy resources development and water-borne transport.

 

 Today, CWPRS, a part of the Union Ministry of Water Resources, is increasingly called upon to advise on projects in fields as diverse as river training and flood control, design of stable channels, irrigation and hydroelectric structures, harbours, waterways and coastal protection, structural design, integrity of structures, foundation engineering, utilization of soils, concrete and other construction materials, pumps and turbines, ship hydrodynamics, hydraulic design of bridges, earth sciences, reservoir competence, cooling water intakes, cooling pond efficiency, and discharge of industrial effluents. Thanks to the Government of India's financial support and munificence of the United Nations Agencies, CWPRS has been able to keep pace with the rapid advancements in hydraulic research by way of updating its facilities and expertise. As the Regional Laboratory of ESCAP since 1971, CWPRS has offered its services to a number of projects in the neighbourhood as well as countries in Middle East and Africa.

The current mandate of the institution encompasses undertaking specific research studies supported by necessary basic research to comprehensively offer R&D support to a variety of projects dealing with irrigation, power and water- borne transport, offering consultancy and advisory services to the government within the sphere of its activities, disseminating expertise and research findings amongst hydraulic research fraternity, aiding and promoting research activities at various institutions and carrying out training of research manpower. As the premier research institution and the national apex body, CWPRS is responsible for coordinating government sponsored hydraulic research at the national level.

Having completed eighty-three years of service to the nation, CWPRS reaffirms its motto Service through Research' and looks forward to provide continued service to its valued clientele.

PROFILE

The R&D activities of the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune, predominantly encompass three vital sectors of national economy, viz. Irrigation, Power and Surface Transport. It was founded in 1916 as the Special Irrigation Division of the then Bombay Presidency and subsequently taken over by Government of India in 1936.

With the advent of independence and launching of planned development, CWPRS became the premier central agency to cater to R&D needs of the projects in water and energy resources development and water borne transport. Today, as a part of the Ministry of Water Resources, CWPRS offers R&D support to numerous projects in the fields of river engineering, irrigation and hydroelectric projects, harbours, waterways and coastal protection, structural designs, integrity and evaluation of structures, foundation engineering, construction materials, pumps and turbines, ship hydrodynamics and navigation of ships, earth sciences, discharge of thermal, industrial and municipal effluents to water bodies, etc. The Institute not only provides necessary R&D support to these projects but also contributes significant savings in project cost by effecting improvements to the designs by modifying the same, suggesting alternative designs and thus optimizing the cost.

The institute is mandated to undertake specific research studies including basic research, offer consultancy and advisory services, disseminate the research findings and promote research in State and other Institutions in the broad area of water resources development and surface transport.

UN Association

The Institution has received, over the years, UN contributions of over US $ 21 million for setting up facilities and updating expertise in areas of experimental stress analysis, cavitation research, coastal engineering, water and power information system, instrumentation, hydraulic structures, earth sciences and mathematical modelling, automation of irrigation canal system.

UN Recognition

In recognition of its services and the technical expertise available with it, the Research Station was recognized as Regional Laboratory for ESCAP region in 1971 by the UN Sub-committee. Since then, the Research Station is being called upon to advise on projects in the neighbouring countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka etc. The Research Station has also carried out a number of R&D assignments relating to projects in Far east and Middle east and African countries.

Status and Clientele

As a subordinate office of the Union Ministry of Water Resources, CWPRS serves a multitude of clients prominent amongst whom are Central and State Government Departments and Undertakings, Specialized Agencies such as Port Trusts, Nuclear Power Corporation, Oil and Natural Gas Commission, Atomic Energy Commission, Hydroelectric and Thermal Power Corporations, Municipal Corporations, Undertakings dealing with Irrigation, Power Generation and Transmission, Industries relating to Ship Building, Steel and Petrochemicals, Consulting Engineering Companies, etc.

Manpower

The Institution has a staff strength of 1857 personnel of which over 600 are technical staff.

Technical Tools

The technical advice offered by the Institute is based on :

Physical modeling
Mathematical modeling
Field visits/Desk studies
Field investigations
or a combination of these

Typical contributions

Protection of Dibrugarh town (Assam) against the ravages of Brahmaputra, design of Trisuli barrage (Nepal), flood protection measures for Kosi river (Bihar), protective measures for prevention of flooding of Utterlai airfield (Rajasthan), repairs to Jawaharsagar dam (Rajasthan), Rajasthan Atomic Power Project, design of Farakka Barrage project (West Bengal), navigation lock at Haldia (West Bengal), design of  barrage and canal offtakes for the river Yamuna at Tajewala (UP-Haryana) and Okhla (Delhi), design of bridges and channelisation, works for River Yamuna at Delhi, design of Mahanadi Barrage (Orissa), training of Khowai river bordering Bangladesh, Beas Sutlej Link (Himachal Pradesh) and Pong dam projects (Punjab), comprehensive studies for Sardar Sarovar project (Gujarat), cooling pond studies for thermal power stations at Korba (UP), Satpura (MP), Obra (UP) and Birsingpur (MP); sizing of reservoirs and operational planning for multipurpose hydroelectric projects.

CWPRS has rendered advice to almost all river valley projects in India, some of which are Bhakra dam, Tenughat dam, Kota barrage, Ranapratapsagar dam, Gandhisagar dam, Tawa dam, Ukai dam, Kadana dam, Koyana project, Mula dam, Sharavathy and Tungabhadra projects, Varahi, Kali hydel project, Mahi Bajajsagar dam, Salauli project, Idukki and Cheruthoni dams, Kadamparai project, Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar dams, Narmadasagar, Subansiri and Dehang projects, Bodhghat dam, Chamera and Thein dam, Chandil project and Upper Kolab and Loktak project.

In the areas of coastal and offshore engineering, the Research Station has carried out studies for the development of all the eleven major ports (Cochin, Mangalore, Goa, Mumbai, Nhava Sheva, Kandla, Calcutta, Paradip, Visakhapatnam, Chennai and Tuticorin) and most of the intermediate and minor ports, besides fishing harbours and has designed a number of coastal protection and reclamation measures. In the area of inland water transport, studies were carried out for Buckingham canal, Thane-Ulhas waterway and Camburjua canal.

A number of instruments and interfaces have been developed for data acquisition in models and prototypes.

The Research Station has been assisting several other developing countries such as Afghanistan, Burma, Zambia, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Egypt, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, in examining their problems in water and energy resources projects, river training, flood control, harbour engineering etc.

Finances

The Research Station receives a budgetary support of about Rs. 16 crores per annum under Non-Plan and Rs. 2.05 crores under Plan. About 50% of the Non-Plan budgetary support received by the Institute is recovered from client-sponsored works. On an average, the Research Station is studying over 300 problems of which about half are fresh problems received during the year. Over the last two years, CWPRS has received fresh references with a total approved outlay of over Rs. 15 crores by its clients.

 

Dissemination

In keeping with the premier role of the Institution, CWPRS disseminates knowledge and expertise by way of holding technical events in the form of national conferences, workshops and seminars, participation in the technical bodies of other institutions, publication of technical memoranda, training of personnel from other institutions, etc. The Research Station has made significant contributions through bodies such as Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), International Standards Organization (ISO).  

Services

The scope and magnitude of the services offered in the different areas of activities by CWPRS cater to the R and D needs of the country. It has helped to lead the country to self-reliance in hydraulic research. At any one time, over 300 studies pertaining to nearly 200 projects from home and abroad engage the services of the Research Station. 

 

 

The recommendations are based on the findings of one or more of the following :

 

  • Physical modeling

  • Mathematical modeling

  • Desk studies

  • Field investigations

  • Design, fabrication and supply of instruments

     

    As the regional laboratory of ESCAP since 1971, CWPRS has offered its services to a number of projects in the neighbouring countries in Asia, Middle East and Africa.

     COMPUTER BASED INFORMATION SYSTEM

    Water and Power Information System caters to collection, storage, analysis and retrieval of information in the broad areas of Water and Power. 

                             

    • Computer readable bibliographic information from 1,56,000 records relating to CWPRS holdings, journal articles and reports 

    • Current Awareness and Selective Dissemination of Information Services (CAS & SDI)

    • Retrospective searches 

    INFORMATION SERVICES USING CD-ROMS

    • International Civil Engineering Abstracts (ICEA) : references from Civil Engineering journals

    • COMPENDEX PLUS : bibliographic references from engineering journals and conferences

    • National Technical Information Service (NTIS) : bibliographic references from technical reports

    • Selected Water Resources Abstracts (SWRA) : references from journals on water resources management

    ON-LINE ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL

    • Access to over 1,000 International databases in various fields using EASYNET for current and retrospective exhaustive information 

    LIBRARY

    • Books and Reports : 48,705

    • Bound volumes : 15,867

    • Journals subscribed : 317

    • Services : Reference, Referral, Lending, Current contents, Bibliographic 

    NETWORKING

    • Link to National Informatics Centre NETwork (NICNET) having seven hundred nodes spread all over the country

    • Centralised electronic mail facility

    • On-line connection to EASYNET through Indian NETwork (I-NET)

    • Participation in PUNENET - A network of technical libraries in Pune

    • Centre for Indian Network on Research in Irrigation and Drainage (INRID) in collaboration with ICID and INCID

    • Internet access

    Contact 

     

    Director :                        V.M. Bendre (Mrs)
    Director's Telephones:     +91 (20) 438 0652; 438 0552

    E-Mail :                            director_cwprs@vsnl.in

    General Telephones :        +91 (20) 438 1801-12; 438  0511;  438 0825  Fax :+91 (20) 438 1004

    Postal Address :

    The Director

    Central Water and Power Research Station
    Khadakwasla, Pune-411 024
    Maharashtra, India

     

     

     

    General E-Mail Address : wapis@mah.nic.in

    ADDITIONAL DIRECTORs

    • L.K. Ghosh (Dr)
      B.E.(Civil), M.Tech.(IIT), M.S.(USA), Ph.D.(IIT)
      Numerical Modelling of Coastal Flows
      Phones : +91 20 438 1801, Extn. 3235 (O); 581 4201 (R)

    • N. Ghosh (Dr)
      M.Sc.(IIT), M.S.(USA), Ph.D.(USA)
      Engineering and Environmental Geophysics
      Phones : +91 20 438 1801, Extn. 3215 (O); 669 4914 (R)

    The Future

    In the years to come, CWPRS plans to develop expertise for application of remote sensing and geographical information system in the study of water resources projects, assessment of environmental impact, evaluating prototype performances, collection of extensive field data on various hydraulic and engineering parameters, development of earthquake resistance, water resources structures, design of flood forecasting systems and better management of command area of irrigation projects.