Sansad TV: Concerns over Dam Safety | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Introduction

The safety of aging dams in India has become a concern raised by a parliamentary panel. In its 20th report, the Standing Committee on Water Resources highlighted the safety risks associated with over 200 dams in the country. According to the National Register of Large Dams 2019, there are 234 large dams in India that are still functional despite being over 100 years old. Typically, dams are designed to have a useful lifespan of around 100 years, but sedimentation in reservoirs and other factors can decrease their functionality and project benefits.

Dam Safety Act, 2021

• Scope of the Bill: The Bill is applicable to all designated dams in the country, which include dams with:
  • a height exceeding 15 meters,
  • a height ranging from 10 to 15 meters, subject to specific additional design and structural conditions.
• National Committee on Dam Safety: The establishment of the National Committee on Dam Safety is proposed, with the Chairperson of the Central Water Commission serving as its chair. Other members of the committee will be nominated by the central government and will include:
  • up to 10 representatives from the central government,
  • up to seven representatives from state governments (on a rotational basis),
  • up to three dam safety experts.

Functions of the Committee will involve:

• developing policies and regulations related to dam safety standards and the prevention of dam failures,
• analyzing the causes of significant dam failures and recommending changes in dam safety practices.

National Dam Safety Authority

The responsibility of heading the National Dam Safety Authority will be assigned to an officer with a rank not lower than Additional Secretary, who will be appointed by the central government.

Functions of the Authority include:

• implementing the policies formulated by the National Committee on Dam Safety,
• resolving disputes between State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs), or between a SDSO and any dam owner within the state,
• establishing regulations for the inspection and investigation of dams,
• accrediting agencies involved in the construction, design, and modification of dams.

Changes in functions of the bodies: The functions of the:

• National Committee on Dam Safety,
• National Dam Safety Authority,
• State Committees on Dam Safety are outlined in the Schedules of the Bill. The Bill also grants the central government the authority to amend these Schedules through a notification if necessary.

Obligations of dam owners: Owners of designated dams are required to establish a dam safety unit for each dam. This unit will conduct inspections:

• before and after the monsoon season,
• during and after earthquakes, floods, or any other emergencies or signs of distress.

Dam owners will be obligated to prepare an emergency action plan and conduct risk assessment studies for each dam at specified regular intervals. Additionally, dam owners must conduct comprehensive dam safety evaluations of each dam at regular intervals, involving a panel of experts. In certain cases, such as significant modifications to the original structure or extreme hydrological or seismic events, the evaluation will be mandatory.

Significance

• Since water is a subject under state jurisdiction, the bill provides general guidelines.
• The Bill will assist all states and union territories in India in implementing standardized dam safety procedures, ensuring the safety of dams and protecting the benefits derived from them. This will also help safeguard human life, livestock, and property.
• It addresses various aspects of dam safety, including regular dam inspections, Emergency Action Plans, comprehensive dam safety reviews, adequate funding for dam maintenance and repairs, instrumentation, and safety manuals. The responsibility for dam safety lies with the dam owner, and the bill includes provisions for penalties for non-compliance.

Need

• Until now, dams have been managed by state governments, and private players are also expressing interest.
• India has made significant investments in dams and related infrastructure over the past fifty years and ranks third globally, after the USA and China, in terms of the number of large dams. There are currently 5,256 large dams in operation in the country, with another 448 under construction. Additionally, there are thousands of medium and small dams.
• While dams have played a crucial role in promoting rapid and sustainable agricultural growth and development in India, there has long been a need for a uniform law and administrative structure to ensure dam safety.
• The Central Water Commission, through the National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS), Central Dam Safety Organization (CDSO), and State Dam Safety Organizations (SDSO), has been actively working towards this goal. However, these organizations currently lack statutory powers and serve only in an advisory capacity.
• This is a matter of concern, particularly considering that approximately 75 percent of large dams in India are over 25 years old, and around 164 dams are over 100 years old. Poorly maintained and unsafe dams can pose hazards to human life, flora and fauna, public and private assets, and the environment.
• India has witnessed 36 dam failures in the past, further emphasizing the need for robust dam safety measures.

Concerns

• The primary concern is the age of the dams, which should have been given more attention.
• The bill places excessive emphasis on structural safety and overlooks operational safety aspects.
• Insufficient provisions are made for compensating those affected by dams.
• There is a need for an independent regulatory body, as well as a clear definition of stakeholders.
• Several states argue that the bill infringes upon their sovereignty to manage their own dams and violates the principles of federalism enshrined in the Constitution. They perceive it as an attempt by the central government to consolidate power under the guise of safety concerns.