The Supreme Court noted that the Union government has not fully implemented the Dam Safety Act, 2021, which was enacted nearly five years ago.
- A three-judge Bench criticized the Act for being “existing on paper,” following Kerala’s argument that no substantial actions, including the constitution of a National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS), have been taken.
About Dam Safety Act 2021
- Purpose: The Dam Safety Act, 2021, aims to ensure the proper surveillance, operation, and maintenance of specified dams to prevent dam failures.
- Obligation of Dam Owners: Dam owners are responsible for the safe construction, operation, maintenance, and supervision of dams.
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- Each dam must have a dam safety unit to inspect:
- Before and after the monsoon season.
- During and after earthquakes, floods, calamities, or any signs of distress.
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4-Tiered Institutional Mechanism for Dam Safety
- National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS)
- Constituted by: Central Government.
- Headed by: Chairman of the Central Water Commission (Ex-officio Chairman).
- Mandate: Formulates policies and recommends regulations to enhance dam safety standards.
- National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA)
- Constituted by: Central Government.
- Headed by: An officer not below the rank of Additional Secretary to the Government of India.
- Mandate: Acts as a regulatory authority to implement policies, guidelines, and standards devised by the NCDS.
- State Committee on Dam Safety (SCDS)
- Constituted by: State Governments.
- Mandate: Supervises state-level dam rehabilitation programs, reviews the work of the SDSO, and oversees progress on dam safety measures.
- State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSO)
- Constituted by: State Governments.
- Mandate: Conduct perpetual surveillance, inspections, and monitoring of dams.
Major Dams in India
| Dam |
Location |
Purpose |
| Bhakra Nangal Dam |
Himachal Pradesh, Sutlej River |
Power generation and irrigation |
| Hirakud Dam |
Odisha, Mahanadi River |
Flood control, irrigation, and power |
| Tehri Dam |
Uttarakhand, Bhagirathi River |
Power generation and water supply |
| Sardar Sarovar Dam |
Gujarat, Narmada River |
Irrigation, drinking water, and power |
| Nagarjuna Sagar Dam |
Telangana/Andhra Pradesh, Krishna River |
Irrigation and drinking water |
| Indira Sagar Dam |
Madhya Pradesh, Narmada River |
Power generation and irrigation |
| Mullaperiyar Dam |
Kerala, Mullayar and Periyar Rivers |
Water diversion for irrigation |
Need Of Dam Safety
- Large dams are high-risk structures, as their structural and/or operational failure has the potential of uncontrolled and sudden release of impounded water, and in turn, this will have catastrophic consequences on life, property, and the ecology, particularly on the downstream of the dam.
- During the recent years, there has been a growing concern about the structural and earthquake safety of the aging dams in India.
- To ensure the high standards and uniform policy in the implementation of dam safety measures across the country, the Union Parliament has enacted The Dam Safety Act, 2021.
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Provision to Regulate Dams in India
- Dam Regulation: India has various regulations and guidelines for dam safety, including those issued by the Central Water Commission and individual state governments. These cover aspects like design, construction, operation, and maintenance
- Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP): Aimed to improve the safety and operational performance of existing dams in India. Focuses on structural upgrades, instrumentation, and institutional strengthening.
- National Centre for Earthquake Safety of Dams:It is an Initiative of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, GoI, Towards Effective Implementation of The Dam Safety Act, 2021.
- Established to conduct research and provide technical expertise on earthquake-resistant design, construction, and maintenance of dams in seismic zones.
January 9, 2025
