Assessment of The Structure and Condition of Dams

The responsibility to ensure the safety of dams, including their operation and maintenance, rests primarily with dam owners which are mostly the State Governments and Central/State Public Sector Units. Dam owners generally carry out the safety inspection (in terms of periodical pre-monsoon and post- monsoon inspections) of the dams under their jurisdiction. Some States have also constituted the Dam Safety Review Panel for comprehensive audit of their dams.

Further, as per section 31 of the Dam Safety Act 2021, every owner of a specified dam has been mandated to undertake annually, through their dam safety unit, a pre-monsoon and post- monsoon inspection in respect of each specified dam and to forward the inspection report to the concerned State Dam Safety Organization, which shall analyze the report and provide comments on safety, deficiency and remedial measures, if any, to the owner of the specified dam. As per the information provided by the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), during 2023-24, pre-monsoon and post-monsoon inspections of 6414 and 897 specified dams respectively have been carried out across the country as on 11.12.2023.

As an outcome of pre-monsoon and post monsoon inspections, dams are being categorized into three categories on the basis of urgency of repairs/maintenance. Category-III requires minor remedial measures which are rectifiable during the year. Category-II indicates major deficiencies requiring prompt remedial measures and Category-I indicate the most serious deficiencies, which if left unattended, may lead to their failure.

As reported by States and other dam owners, at present 2 specified dams across the country have been categorized under Category- I (both are in Uttar Pradesh) and have been taken up for rehabilitation under the externally funded Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP), Phase-II. Further, 183 dams have been reported under Category- II by the dam owners on the basis of pre-monsoon inspections carried out during 2023-24. Necessary directions have been issued from NDSA to all the dam owners to rehabilitate these 183 dams on priority basis.

Central Water Commission has published several guidelines for dam safety. Under the World Bank funded Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) Phase-I (2012-2021), guidelines/manuals relevant for various areas of dam safety have been prepared and published. These documents are intended to ensure uniformity and standardization of various procedures dealing with dam safety across the country. These guidelines/manuals can be accessed through the following link:

https://damsafety.cwc.gov.in/index.php? lang=&page=Downloads&origin=front-end&tp=1&rn=1

Further, the Union Government has enacted the Dam Safety Act, 2021 for proper surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of the specified dams for prevention of dam failure related disasters and to provide for an institutional mechanism to ensure their safe functioning. Pursuant to the provisions of the Dam Safety Act 2021, the Central Government has constituted the National Committee on Dam Safety and established the National Dam Safety Authority for overseeing dam safety activities across the country and to evolve dam safety policies and recommend necessary regulations regarding dam safety standards in the country. Also, 28 States and 3 UTs having specified dams have constituted State Committee on Dam Safety and established State Dam Safety Organisation.

As the dams are owned, operated and maintained by State Governments Departments/Boards/CPSUs/Private Agencies, etc.; funds for the operation and maintenance of dams are allocated by the respective agencies.

Further, section 21 of the Dam Safety Act, 2021 stipulates that: “Every owner of the specified dam shall earmark sufficient and specific funds for maintenance and repairs of the specified dam and to implement the recommendations of the State Dam Safety Organisation”.

Necessary directions have been issued by the National Dam Safety Authority and the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India to the various dam owners to allocate dedicated annual dam safety budget/ funds to ensure repair/renovation of the dams.

Moreover, in order to improve the safety and operational performance of selected existing dams in the country, Government of India is implementing the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) with external funding. Under the World Bank funded DRIP Phase-I programme, which was implemented during April 2012 to March 2021, 223 existing dams located in 7 States have been comprehensively audited and rehabilitated at a cost of Rs. 2,567 crore.

After completion of DRIP Phase I programme, Government of India has taken up DRIP Phase-II & III. The scheme envisages rehabilitation and safety improvement of 736 dams located in 19 States, with a budget outlay of Rs. 10,211 crore. The scheme is of 10 years duration. DRIP Phase-Il has become operational from 12th October 2021, and is being co-financed by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank. State/Agency-wise number of proposed dams and the financial outlay under DRIP, Phase-II & III Scheme is given at Annexure.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Bishweswar Tudu in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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ANNEXURE

State/Agency-wise list of proposed dams and cost under DRIP –II & III

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