The Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) Pune is the major research organisation in the field of hydraulic and allied research as a subordinate office of the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejunevation, Government of India and deals with planning, organising and undertaking specific research and development studies related to optimising designs of river, coastal, water storage and conveyance hydraulic structures.
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CWPRS was established in 1916 and as a “Special Irrigation Cell” with a limited mandate to modify irrigation practice to meet agricultural requirements. 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. It is the largest laboratory of its kind in the world devoted to water and energy resource development. CWPRS carries out basic and fundamental research pertaining to water resources and related sciences. The research includes river engineering which mainly deals with river training and bank protection works, hydraulic design of barrages and bridges and location and design of water intakes, river and reservoir systems modelling to estimate values of various parameters such as rainfall, temperature and humidity.
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 resources, energy development, and coastal engineering. CWPRS advises on various problems pertaining to projects not only in India, but also in neighbouring countries. CWPRS as a subordinate office of the Union Ministry of Water Resources is one of the foremost organizations in the field of hydraulics and allied research. CWPRS provides specialized services through physical and mathematical model studies and field investigations in the following major areas:
- River Engineering
- River and Reservoir system modelling
- Reservoir and Appurtenant Structures
- Coastal and Offshore Engineering
- Foundation and Structures Engineering
- Applied Earth Sciences
- Instrumentation, Calibration and Testing Services
The other areas of research include coastal and offshore engineering, foundation and structures, applied earth sciences which deal with seismic surveillance of river valley projects assessment of site specific design, instrumentation, calibration and testing facilities are some of the areas of research of the organisation. CWPRS has offered its service to neighbouring countries such as Asia, Middle East and Africa. Recently, they have offered their services to Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Functions
Major functions of CWPRS can be summarized as follows:
- Undertaking project specific applied research supported by necessary basic research in hydraulics and allied disciplines to provide comprehensive R&D inputs for evolving safe and optimum design of projects dealing with water resources, river engineering, power and coastal developments.
- Disseminating research findings amongst hydraulic research fraternity by way of publications and training programmes.
- Offering advisory services to various ministries and departments within the sphere of its activities.
- Facilitating BIS and ISO for evolving and updating standards and advising the apex regulatory agencies in setting standards.