Japan to compensate for dam water release into prefectural rivers

The land ministry will set up a system of compensating for losses stemming from water launch from dams in rivers managed by prefectural governments as a pre-emptive measure to reduce harm from torrential rains, sources have stated.

The plan, much like an present one for water techniques managed by the central authorities, is aimed toward avoiding flood harm triggered by more and more intense rains, the sources stated.

There are some 2,700 Class B rivers, or water techniques managed by prefectures, across the nation. Dams have been constructed in round 350 of such rivers.

Many of the rivers have a smaller basin space than nationally managed Class A rivers, however current torrential rains have brought about a few of them to overflow and flood residential areas.

The brand new system is meant for so-called water utilization dams, that are constructed for functions apart from flood management. Such dams are used for energy era or for channeling water from rivers for industrial, agricultural or faucet use.

If water utilization dams launch water forward of torrential rains, the quantity of generated electrical energy or water provide for human use might be low till the dams’ water degree rises again after the torrential rains. This danger has prompted the ministry to plan a system to compensate for losses on the facet of energy utilities and others affected by the pre-emptive water launch.

The compensation is predicted to be paid for by the central and prefectural governments, and the ministry plans to hammer out the main points sooner or later, the sources stated.

The central authorities determined final December to signal agreements with the operators of water utilization dams and associated events to permit for the discharge of water earlier than extreme rains.

A compensation system for drops in energy era and water provide was launched by the ministry for dams in Class A rivers in April, and agreements with all 99 water techniques within the class with dams have been signed by June.

Chief Cupboard Secretary Yoshihide Suga stated that comparable measures might be adopted for Class B rivers, throughout a go to to the Sudagai dam within the city of Minakami in Gunma Prefecture, japanese Japan, on Aug. 12.