Gujarat Constructs First Air-Filled Rubber Dams with South Korean Technology to Boost Water Storage
Gujarat is constructing its first two air-filled rubber dams using South Korean technology to improve water storage, irrigation and flood management, the state government said on Monday.
The two projects are being built across the Heran River at Rajvasana village in Chhota Udepur district and the Ambika River at Pathakwadi village in Tapi district at a combined cost of more than ₹162 crore.
The Rajvasana Rubber Dam, costing ₹82.97 crore, is 75% complete and expected to be commissioned by September 2027. It will directly benefit 25 villages by providing irrigation to 3,420 hectares of farmland. The 180-metre-long rubber dam will increase the existing weir's storage capacity to 3.5 million cubic metres, improving groundwater recharge and the availability of irrigation and drinking water.
Officials said the inflatable rubber structure can be deflated during heavy monsoon flows, allowing floodwaters and silt to pass through while reducing flood risk. The project also includes flood protection walls along both banks of the Heran River and a 10-year operation and maintenance plan.
The Pathakwadi Rubber Dam in Tapi district, costing ₹79.13 crore, is 90% complete. Once operational, it will provide assured irrigation to about 650 hectares of agricultural land in Pathakwadi and nearby villages. The dam has been designed to Japanese engineering standards and will use an air-filled rubber bladder imported from South Korea. The bladder, measuring 18-32 mm in thickness, is designed to withstand temperatures above 50°C and has an estimated service life of 30 years.
The Pathakwadi project will also feature a SCADA-based automation system that automatically inflates and deflates the rubber bladder based on operating requirements. The rubber dam will store 3.5 million cubic metres of water, improve groundwater levels, support irrigation for Kharif and summer crops, and help reduce soil erosion and flooding during the monsoon by allowing floodwaters and silt to pass downstream when deflated.
Officials said the projects are part of the state's efforts to strengthen water conservation and irrigation infrastructure under the central government's 'Catch the Rain' campaign.
