India is home to nearly 6,000 large dams, with a substantial percentage of them being over 25 years old and posing safety risks. The significance of dam safety cannot be overstated, especially in a country that has experienced a series of disastrous events related to dam failures. The Dam Safety Act (DSA) of 2021 was a crucial step towards addressing these concerns, but the recent events in Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh highlight the urgency of reevaluating and strengthening this legislation. This article delves into the provisions of the Dam Safety Act, the responsibilities it places on states, the implications of non-compliance, and the challenges faced in ensuring the safety of dams in India.
National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS): This committee is responsible for overseeing dam safety policies and regulations at the national level.
National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA): The NDSA is entrusted with the implementation of these policies and resolving disputes at the state level.
Chairman of the Central Water Commission (CWC): The head of the CWC is in charge of overseeing dam safety protocols at the national level.
State Committee on Dam Safety (SCDS) and State Dam Safety Organization (SDSO): At the state level, these bodies are established to ensure the implementation of dam safety measures.
Sikkim, for instance, established an SCDS with nine members, including experts in hydrology and dam design, highlighting the importance of local expertise in ensuring dam safety.
States are obligated to fulfill various responsibilities under the Dam Safety Act. These include:
Incident Reporting: For the first time, the Dam Safety Act mandates the reporting and recording of incidents related to dam failures.
The recent Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in Sikkim, which led to the devastation of the Teesta III dam at Chungthang, reveals significant challenges and blind spots in both the Dam Safety Act and its implementation. Some of the critical issues include:
Poor Compliance at All Levels: The Sikkim GLOF incident exposes poor compliance at multiple levels, from dam design to spillway capacity.
Hazard profiling and regular assessments are mandated by the Act but are often not carried out as required.
Lack of Standardization: There is a lack of standardization in the analysis and reporting of dam failures. This inconsistency makes it difficult to assess and address issues effectively.
The Himachal Pradesh government’s notices to 21 hydroelectric projects for non-compliance with the DSA during the July-August floods demonstrate that the issues of non-compliance persist.
The Dam Safety Act of 2021 was a significant step towards addressing the neglected concerns related to dam safety in India. However, the recent disasters in Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh emphasize the need for continuous evaluation and improvement of the Act’s provisions and the implementation of dam safety measures.
Risk-based decision-making, transparency, standardized reporting, and rigorous compliance are key areas that require immediate attention. Dam safety is not just a matter of policy; it is a matter of public safety, environmental protection, and sustainable development.
India must prioritize these aspects to mitigate the risks associated with its vast network of dams and ensure the safety of its citizens and the environment.
The Dam Safety Act of 2021 is legislation introduced to address the long-standing issues of inadequate surveillance and maintenance of dams in India. It establishes responsibilities at both the national and state levels to ensure the safety of dams.
The key provisions include the creation of the National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS) and National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) at the national level. States are required to establish State Committee on Dam Safety (SCDS) and State Dam Safety Organization (SDSO).
States are responsible for classifying dams based on hazard risk, conducting regular inspections, developing and maintaining emergency action plans, implementing flood warning systems, conducting safety reviews, and reporting dam-related incidents.
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