State adopts air-filled rubber dam technology to improve water storage, groundwater recharge, and year-round irrigation for farmers across remote districts.
The Gujarat government has approved the construction of two air-filled rubber dams to strengthen irrigation infrastructure and improve water availability in remote parts of the state. The projects form part of the ‘Catch the Rain’ initiative and are designed to enhance water conservation, groundwater recharge, and agricultural productivity while introducing advanced hydraulic engineering technologies.
The two projects are being developed at Rajvasana in Chhota Udepur district and Pathakwadi in Tapi district. Together, the rubber dams will increase water storage capacity, provide reliable irrigation to thousands of hectares of farmland, and benefit farmers across more than 25 villages by ensuring water availability during both the Kharif and Rabi cropping seasons.
Unlike conventional concrete weirs, rubber dams use inflatable rubber bladders anchored to a concrete foundation. The structures can be inflated to retain water during dry periods and deflated during heavy rainfall, allowing floodwaters, sediments, and debris to pass safely downstream. This flexible operation improves flood management, reduces riverbank erosion, and minimizes silt accumulation while maintaining storage efficiency.
The Rajvasana Rubber Dam, being constructed across the Heran River, involves an investment of approximately ₹82.97 crore and is expected to irrigate around 3,420 hectares of agricultural land. The project also includes flood protection infrastructure and plans to connect canal networks with village ponds to improve groundwater recharge and long-term water security.
The Pathakwadi Rubber Dam, built across the Ambika River at a cost of about ₹79.13 crore, incorporates Japanese engineering design and South Korean rubber bladder technology. Once completed, it will supply irrigation water to nearly 650 hectares of farmland in surrounding villages where conventional dam construction was not technically feasible due to local terrain conditions.
Both projects will feature SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems, enabling operators to remotely monitor and control the inflation and deflation of the dams. This automation improves operational efficiency, enhances safety during flood events, and reduces maintenance requirements compared with traditional gated structures.
Officials believe the adoption of rubber dam technology will strengthen Gujarat’s climate-resilient water management strategy by improving irrigation reliability, increasing groundwater levels, and supporting sustainable agricultural development. The projects also demonstrate the growing use of smart infrastructure solutions to address water scarcity while protecting river ecosystems and rural communities.