Strengthening and Safeguarding Dams in India

Syllabus: GS3/Infrastructure; Disaster Management

Context

• Recently, the Supreme Court of India issued notices to various stakeholders calling for urgent directions to reinforce the aging structure of the 130-year-old Mullaperiyar dam.

India’s Dam Landscape

• According to the National Register of Large Dams (NRLD) maintained by the Central Water Commission (CWC), India ranks third globally — after China and the United States — in the number of large dams, with over 6,000 operational dams and hundreds more under construction.
• These dams serve critical functions in irrigation (supporting agriculture across vast regions); hydropower generation; flood control; and drinking water supply.
• There are concrete gravity dams (e.g., Bhakra Dam), earthen dams (e.g., Banasura Sagar Dam), rock-fill dams, and arch dams (rare in India), based on topography, geology, and hydrological needs.

Why Dam Safety Is Urgent?

• Aging Infrastructure: Nearly 80% of these dams are over 25 years old, over 1,000 dams are between 50–100 years old, and more than 230 are over a century old.
  • Many were built using outdated engineering standards and are now vulnerable to structural fatigue, sedimentation, and climate-induced stress.
  • It poses serious risks to lives, property, and ecosystems, especially in the face of climate change and extreme weather events.
• Inconsistent Safety Practices: Dam safety protocols vary across states and agencies, leading to gaps in surveillance, inspection, and maintenance.
  • The Central Government has been working to unify these practices through the Dam Safety Act, 2021, and the creation of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA).
• Risk of Catastrophic Failure: Events like dam collapse due to a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) underscore the urgency of robust safety protocols.
  • The Supreme Court has repeatedly flagged concerns over dams like Mullaperiyar, warning that a breach could endanger lakhs of lives.

Legal and Institutional Framework

• Dam Safety Act, 2021: Enacted to ensure surveillance, inspection, operation, and maintenance of dams. It mandates:
  • Hazard classification of dams;
  • Emergency action plans;
  • Periodic safety reviews by independent panels;
  • It mandates the formation of State Committees and National Authority to oversee dam safety.
• National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA): It coordinates dam safety efforts across states.
  • It maintains the National Register of Large Dams and promotes capacity building, technical standards, and public awareness.
• State-Level Implementation: States have formed Dam Safety Review Panels and conducted pre- and post-monsoon inspections of thousands of dams.
• Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP): It was launched by the CWC with World Bank support. It focuses on rehabilitation of aging dams; improved safety monitoring; and capacity building for dam operators and engineers;
  • DRIP Phase II & III are currently underway, covering over 700 dams across 19 states.
• Digital Monitoring and Reservoir Management: The Dam Safety Organisation of CWC has launched:
  • Web-based Reservoir Storage Monitoring System;
  • FloodWatch India App for real-time flood alerts and reservoir data.

Strengthening Measures

• Retrofitting and Rehabilitation: Prioritize structural upgrades for high-risk dams.
• Use AI & Analytics: Use sensors and real-time data systems to track dam health.
• Climate Resilience: Update safety norms to account for changing hydrological patterns.
• Public Awareness and Transparency: Publish safety audits and emergency plans for public scrutiny.

Source: TH