The Central Soil and Materials Research Station (CSMRS), an attached office of the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India, is a premier institute in the country located at New Delhi, which deals with field and laboratory investigations, basic and applied research, and problems in Geotechnical engineering, construction materials and allied fields relevant to river valley projects within India and neighbouring countries viz. Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Myanmar etc.
CSMRS has been providing assistance to the Government of India, mostly through the Central Water Commission, on the development of water resources sector in the country. In addition, the central government organizations like the Central Electricity Authority, various Public Sector Undertakings, state government organizations, responsible for construction of multipurpose river valley projects form the clients; though many organizations, including private ones, dealing with major industrial complexes, multi-storied buildings, thermal and nuclear power stations etc. also receive consultancy services from CSMRS.
Broadly, the spheres of CSMRS activities cover the following:
- Soil Mechanics
- Soil Dynamics
- Rockfill Technology
- Geosynthetics for water resources sector
- Chemistry of Impervious Core Materials
- Safety Evaluation of Existing Hydraulic Structures
- Subsurface Exploration
- Rockfill Material Characterization
- Insitu Stress Measurements in Rocks
- Insitu Rock Deformability Characteristics
- Laboratory Assessment of Rocks
- Geophysical Investigations
- Construction Materials Characterization
- Design of Concrete Mixes
- Studies on Alkali Aggregate Reaction
- New Construction Techniques
- Water Quality
- Chemistry of Construction Materials
- Studies on Chemical Grouts
- Geotechnical Instrumentation for New and Existing Structures
- Instrument Fabrication, Repair and Maintenance
- Numerical Analysis
CSMRS undertakes consultancy works pertaining to the proposed projects, mostly in the area of water resources sector, in the domain of investigation with reference to laboratory and in-situ testing for foundations on soils and rocks and investigations for the construction materials, like – concrete (and its constituents), soil, geosynthetics, Rockfill etc. The consultancy work comprises suggestions, based on the recommended parameters of the investigated materials (required for the design of structures) and remedial measures to be adopted for the problems encountered at/by the project. In several instances, CSMRS is also called upon to ascertain the veracity of investigations in case of disputed/ unreliable investigations.
CSMRS also undertakes quality control works for the under construction projects. CSMRS provides assistance to the projects for setting up of the quality control laboratories at the project site and renders its expertise for the quality assurance of the projects.
The contribution of CSMRS towards the realization of the Interlinking of rivers to utilize the single drop of water for country’s development has emerged to be highly fruitful not only in the investigations but also for reducing the project cost by changing the alignment of the links based on the investigations carried out.
Though CSMRS undertakes consultancy works pertaining mainly to the projects in the water resources sector, CSMRS has rendered its consultancy services to other sectors also particularly to the organizations such as Railways, Road Sector, NTPC, NPCIL, NHAI, Coal and Copper mines etc. for works related to the fly ash characterization, foundation competency of the thermal and nuclear power stations, characterization of tailing materials, stability of tailing dams and open dump coal mines respectively to arrive at a safe and economical solution for the projects.
International Projects
- Kholongchhu Hydroelectric Project, Bhutan
- Kuri-Gongri Hydroelectric Project, Bhutan
- Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project, Bhutan
- Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project, Bhutan
- Shatoot H.E. Project, Afghanistan
Interlinking of Rivers Projects
- Ken-Betwa Link Project, Madhya Pradesh
- Burhi-Gandak-None-Baya-Ganga Link canal project, Bihar
- Kosi–Metchi Link Canal Project, Bihar
- Daman Ganga–Pinjal Link Project, Gujarat/ Maharashtra
- Ponnaiyar– Palar Intra State Link Canal Project, Tamil Nadu
- Wainganga- Nalganga Intra State Link Canal Project, Maharashtra
- Damanganga (Ekdware)-Godavari intrastate link Project, Maharashtra
- Damanganga-Vaitarna-Godavari intrastate link Project, Maharashtra
Special Problems undertook by CSMRS
- Bhakra Dam, Punjab (safety)
- Farakka Barrage Project, West Bengal (Geosynthetics)
- Gararda Dam Project, Rajasthan (Forensic Investigation and Rehabilitation)
- Hirakud Dam, Odisha (extending spillway)
- Pandoh Dam, HP (Sulphate issue)
- Phina Singh Medium Irrigation Project, HP (Dam Foundation)
- Polavaram Project, AP (all aspects)
- Punatsangchhu –II H.E. Project, Bhutan (Anisotropy of rock, u/g structures)
- Sardar Sarovar Project, Gujarat (Raising height)
- Sawalkote HEP, J&K (dolomite, ACR)
- Myntdu Leskha Stage-II HE Project, Meghalaya
- Rihand Dam Project, UP
MoU between CSMRS and other organizations
- Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Norway
- PSP Tehri Hydroelectric Project, Uttarakhand
- Vishnugad Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project, Uttarakhand
- Vyasi Hydroelectric Project, Uttarakhand
- Polavaram Irrigation Project, Andhra Pradesh
Impacts and Benefits of Consultancy Works
The consultancy works taken up by CSMRS provide:
- More reliable input parameters for design of structures.
- Data base of various parameters of different materials from India and the neighbouring countries.
- Confident and correct (conforming to latest) review of Detailed Project Reports.
- Contribution to standardization through BIS committees thereby serving wider national interests.
- Better knowledge about rocks in different parts of India can be an aid in future planning.
- Contribution to the spread of knowledge.
- Use of construction material from nearest source cutting down transportation and handling cost.
- Effective use of aggregates prone to alkali aggregate reaction in concrete structure thus saving cost involved in hauling aggregates from longer distances.
- Identification of rockfill materials for construction rockfill dam in seismic prone areas.
- Vital inputs for safe and economical repair and rehabilitation of dams.
- Use of fly ash as construction material in concrete structure thus saving use of highly energy intensive material namely various types of cement.
- Treatment measures for construction of structure in areas prone to problematic soils such as expansive soil, dispersive soils, collapsible soils, organic soils and soft soils.
- Use of new materials such as geomembranes and geotextile.
- Vital input for construction of dams in aggressive environment.
- Special mix design for spillways.
Training and Dissemination of Knowledge
Through organization of the Training Courses and otherwise, CSMRS shares her knowledge with the wider section of practicing engineers from India and also those from other countries. Many Indian students benefit from CSMRS expertise and some of them also pursue their project (a part of the curriculum) here.
CSMRS officers guide B.Tech., M.Tech and Ph.D. scholars from institutions, including IITs, beside being invited as external examiner for viva voce of B. Tech., M. Tech. and Ph.D. candidates. They are also on the Editorial Boards and Reviewer Panels of some reputed journals.