Guideline for Tank Rehabilitation

Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP)

1.0 Introduction
The main objective of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP) is to improve the
productivity and climate resilience of smallholder agriculture through long-term sustainability
of irrigation infrastructure development. The infrastructure supported under the project will be
identified and designed based on projections of climate change including the frequency of
drought and flood events both to maximize the availability of water to farmers and also to
protect land and assets from potential flooding.

2.0 Hydrology study

Design cell established under the PMU will be carried out hydrological studies assessing the
availability of total utilizable surface water resources in the selected basins and examine both
the need for and the scope of augmenting the surface water storage in these
basins/watersheds, based on the likely scenario with respect to water supplies and demands
(water balance) and the current degree of utilization of surface water resources through
cascade tanks, anicuts.
Modeling exercise will be carried out using SWAT model to estimate seasonal and annual runoff
for the sub-watersheds in the basin for all the years for which rainfall data are available for
ungauged basins and estimate rainfall-runoff relationship for annual, monthly and seasonal
rainfalls for the sub-watersheds and the basin as a whole, using statistical methods.
Water balance model of the river basin (WEAP) will be use to estimate the current water supply-
demand balance, considering all competitive uses of water.

3.0 Design of tank embankment

Flood routing will be carried out for the maximum probable rainfall of 50-year return period
and check the suitability of existing bund section & spillway for flood management. Design of
tank embankment will be carried out by the design cell and relevant data such as type and the
length of the spillway and the typical cross section (FSL, HFL & BTL) will be submitted to the
implementing agency to prepare estimates. Preparing cost estimates for various type of
irrigation infrastructure that are planned to be done by PID or DAD.

Typical cross section for embankment- Homogeneous Material (SC type soil)

With road Without road

Bund Top Width (BTW) 4m 2.5 - 3 m
Side slopes height up to 6m 1:2 (U/S & D/S) 1:2 (U/S & D/S)
For height between 6 m to 10 m 1:2.5 (U/S & D/S) 1:2.5 (U/S & D/S)
4.0 Preparation of Estimates

Rehabilitation of an irrigation system refers to rectification of defects of existing and

functioning schemes by repairing damaged, eroded or worn-out structures, embankments,
canals and roads etc. to improve the performance of the system. Therefore, rehabilitation
requirement listed in the PRA report, PIR and the Inception report submitted by survey
consultants to be included in the estimates and it should be discussed at the ratification
meeting and before finalizing the proposal.

4.1 Rates

As agreed at the review meeting on 14 th July 2021, approved rates of Provincial Irrigation
Department could be used to avoid discrepancies. If the rate is not available for any work item,
analysis for that particular item to be submitted with the estimates.

4.2 Preliminary Items

Items and the limits for the preliminary items as a percentage of the civil cost is given below.
1. Provisional sum for providing Performance security 0.10 %
2. Provisional sum for providing Advance Payment security 0.42 %
3. Provisional sum for Insurance of work, Machinery & equipment, Plant,
materials, third- party persons & property and employer’s personals &
property at site as per the contract. 0.25 %

4. Provisional sum for Insurance against accidents & injury to contractor's

personals as per the contract - 0.15 %

5. Allow lump sum for constructing, maintaining, dismantling and removal

on completion of the works, temporary site office & other facilities for
contractor's site management staff 0.50 %

6. Allow lump sum for employing suitably qualified and experienced

technical personnel on full time basis for construction management at the site. 3.50 %
7. Providing & maintaining a Name board to specifications 0.20 %
8. For quality controlling works, for all cost in connection with preparing
samples for testing, making arrangements for testing of material, goods etc.
as stipulated in the specification, obtaining test reports and submitting
as directed by Engineer. 0.40 %

9. Allow lump sum for provision of 2 sets of as-build drawings

 (hard copies & soft copies) for engineer’s approval. 0.20 %

10. Allow lump sum for providing and maintaining Health, Safety & Environment
throughout the period of construction (depends on the situation,
items listed on the following table have to be considered under this item. 2.00 %

  Environmental and social safeguard mitigation measures

1 Information, boards, leaflets, GRM implementation

2 Safety equipment (hard hats, dust masks, gloves, boots/ jackets)
3 Site delineation and barricading material and equipment (barricading tape, amano,
aluminium sheets)
4 On site first aid facilities
5 Waste removal from site
6 Vegetation clearing tree removal
7 Dust suppression
8 Tree planting as directed by the Environment specialist
9 Erosion control (turfing, other)
10 Installation of silt traps
11 Soil conservation structures
12 Improvement of drainage in the area
13 Reforestation of areas (if areas are damaged due to sub-project activities)
14 Development of tree belts
15 Rehabilitation of local borrow pits
16 Any other activities to improve the physical/social environment in the area

4.3 General Items

1. Physical Contingency - 10% of the civil cost (without preliminaries)

2. Price Contingency - 5% of the civil cost (without preliminaries)
3. Engineering & Administration cost- 5% of the total cost (civil cost without
preliminaries + 1 & 2 above)
4. VAT - 8% of the total cost as

5.0 Improvements to tank bed

5.1 Tank Desilting (Below Sluice sill level)
The aim of this activity is to increase the dead storage capacity of the tank to use farmers,
Animals etc. during dry spell of the area.
Removing silt at about 2ft below sluice sill level and area is limited to sill level contour area or 1-
acre whichever lower is recommended. Silted materials may not be suitable to use as fill
material of the tank bund. Hence, d isposal of the excavated material re-uses the onsite as much as
possible for natural habitat enhancement, agricultural land enrichment, aquaculture land preparation,
rehabilitation of local borrow sites.

5.2 Partial desilting of the tank bed

• Aim of this activity is to increase storage capacity of the tank. Hence, every effort to be
taken to select suitable borrow areas for bund filling materials within the tank bed area.
Designated borrow areas shall be stripped carefully and top soil stripped from borrow
areas may suitable for surface dressing for turfing shall be selected and stockpiled.
Excess quantity excavated (if any) could be placed within the project area wherever possible
places such as downstream places of the tank bund (developing Kattakaduwa) or upstream
above FSL without blocking the natural drainage paths forming soil mounts developing
forest strip upstream (Gas Gommana). And also, can be used for rehabilitation of minor flood
defense structures and road construction.

• Partial desilting to be done as per the recommendation of hydrology study only.

Spending more money for excavation may not be feasible if there is no sufficient inflow
to the tank.
• Partial desilting for selected area of the tank bed, including removing aquatic plant, silt
and other organic materials deposited limited to 2 ft depth.
• If these materials are mostly consisted of organic materials, allow farmers to take it out
to use their fields as organic fertilizer as directed.
• On completion of borrowing or partial desilting, entire bed area to be prepared sloping
towards the sluice and heap of loose soil (silt) should not remain in the bed area.
• When selected borrow areas outside the tank bed, attention should be directed to the area
surrounding the pit including the access paths of the machinery as the vegetation in these
areas will also be disturbed. These areas should also be properly rehabilitated (by levelling
and revegetating) so that it does not give rise to erosion issues and water stagnation.

6.0 Installation of Water level gauges & measuring structures

Item to be included for Installation of Water level gauges & measuring structures to install at
the spill structure, at the sluice & along the canal. Action has to be taken to measure spillage (if
any), water quantity release through sluice and the distribution through canals, after
completion of the project and should be recorded for future use.

7.0 Construction of Recharge well

Item to be included to construct a recharge well as per the given details within the tank bed
area or near the tank.

8.0 Rehabilitation of Canals (IFF)

(i) The command area survey plans for most of the schemes are providing by the DPD
office to implementing agencies to proceed for estimations. If not provided,
implementing agencies can prepare survey estimates and carryout the survey works.
Expenses can be reimbursed by the project.
(ii) Design of canals to deliver water for whole irrigable area (existing and proposed) is
recommended. Sizes of bed width, heights and top width of ridges are depending on
the discharge of canals. Hence the design officers are requested to plan for water
management practices and drainage facilities.
Design parameters for field canals:
Side slopes is 1 on 1.5, Canal Bed Width (CBW) is 0.3 m and Full Supply Depth (FSD) – Vary
according to the discharge, 0.225 m for 1 cusec (28 lts/sec) canal discharge.
Bund Top Width is 0.3 m (1 ft) for both sides.
(iii) Some recommendations
a. If the existing canal beds are not eroded and facilitate to deliver water without
problems, providing FTOs, Division box and other structure except drop structures are
recommended for IFF in natural gradient
b. If the existing canals have been eroded drop structures are recommended and manage
the design gradient including other necessary structures.
c. The issue tree and the water distribution time table should be attached with the
rehabilitation proposal.

9.0 Sluice Structure

Repairs to sluice or new sluice structure could be included depends on the situation. Type of
sluice and the size can be decided according to the requirement.
10.0 Water Balance Study & Economic analysis

Paddy cultivation is the main economic crop of the people during Maha season. But no
cultivation done in many small tanks during Yala season due to shortage of water. Therefore,
new cropping system must be introduced under small tank systems to grow cash crops that
need comparatively low crop water requirements such as Maize, Cowpea, Mungbean, Chilli,
Groundnuts, Big Onion and Water Melon, Vegetables, Papaw, Banana etc. with supplementary
irrigation using agro-wells and solar water pumps.

Considering suitable Other Field Crops, Water balance study for each tank to be carried out and
find out the probable cropping pattern of the scheme before and after implementation of the
project.
Accordingly, cost benefit analysis to be done for the cascade and submit with the estimate for
world bank approval. Benefit – Cost Ratio should be more than 1 and Internal Rate of Return
(IRR) should be more than 10%.
For rehabilitation works pro-rate cost is not specific. But the total cost is to be satisfied with the
IRR calculation. The propose cultivation pattern and climate smart water and agriculture
practices should be included in scheme proposals.

11.0 Documents to be submitted with estimates for approval

After completion of the estimates, following documents to be submitted for financial approval
of the project.
1. Preliminary Investigation Report
2. Estimate and quantity sheets
3. Earth work calculation sheet (cutting sheet)
4. Data plan with completed data cage
5. Completed Bund L/S and C/SS cad drawing
6. Drawings of other proposed structures
7. Type plan and relevant type estimates
8. Cost Benefits Ratio (C/B Ratio) and Internal Return Ration (IRR)
9. Scheme Proposal (scheme wise)
10. Sub Project proposals (cascade wise)
 11. Environmental, Social Screening Report (ESSR) -cascade wise

12.0 Construction activities of Tank Rehabilitation

Design & estimation of individual work items have been carried out based on the levels in m
MSL as per the data plan and other details submitted by survey consultants. Ground Control
Points for each & every tank have been established in the field and Tie measurements and the list
of control points indicating co-ordinates and the Elevation in m MSL are given in the drawing.
Therefore, those control points to be identify at the field and Construction works to be carried
out based on the control points in m MSL
12.1 Steps to be followed

1. Before Start the Construction,

a. Identifying the established Ground Control Points at the field
(Follow the tie measurement and list of ground control points submitted by the survey
consultants.)
b. Establish Bund Top Level, Full Supply level, Crest level of the spill and the sill
levels of the sluices accordingly.
2. Refer the set of drawings (Data Plan, LS & CSS etc.) submitted for each Tanks.
3. Study the Estimate, sub-Estimates & structural Drawings with Design levels.
4. Prepare the list of material, machineries, labor and advise to contractor or F.O
5. Prepare the action (activity) plan with F.O / contractor regarding the construction process
& ready to start the works.
6. Appoint a work Supervisor for written advice.
7. Maintain Log Book at the site for written advises during construction.
8. For the purpose of partial desilting and selected contour boundary and the deepening
height.
9. Re-check the levels during constructions & confirm.
10. Maintain the quality control for concrete work and earth work. Lab test reports should be
attached with final payment.
11. Check the foundation depth and the measurements before start the concrete works and
enter in the log book.
12. Get the prior approval for the variations if any and inform PMU.
13. While the construction going on, project staff, social audit committee and audit offices
may inspect and report.
12.2 Other Requirements

Each Construction site should have a

• Site Office
 • Work supervisor
• Record book –include daily records
• Starting time
• No. of labors
• Any machine working
• Any Rainfall
• Closing time
• Regular progress review should be done at site.
• Records of any test results should be available at the hut for inspection.
• Labors should be health insured
• COVID 19 safety instructions should be displayed at site office