Dam Safety Act

Why in news?

• The Dam Safety Bill was passed by Parliament amid strong objections from the Opposition. While it was passed by the Lok Sabha in August 2019, it was cleared by Rajya Sabha on Dec 3, 2021.

About Dam Safety Act:

• The act proposes to help all states and Union Territories adopt uniform dam safety procedures.
• It aims to provide for surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of the specified dam for prevention of dam failure-related disasters and to provide for institutional mechanism to ensure their safe functioning and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Key Features:

• Applicability:
  • The Bill applies to all specified dams in the country.
  • These are dams with: (i) height more than 15 metres, or (ii) height between 10 metres to 15 metres and satisfying certain additional design conditions such as, reservoir capacity of at least one million cubic meter, and length of top of the dam at least 500 metres.
• Obligation of dam owners
  • Dam owners will be responsible for the safe construction, operation, maintenance and supervision of a dam.
  • They must provide a dam safety unit in each dam.
  • This unit will inspect the dams:
    • (i) before and after monsoon season
    • (ii) during and after every earthquake, flood, calamity, or any sign of distress.
  • Functions of dam owners include:
    • (i) preparing an emergency action plan
    • (ii) carrying out risk assessment studies at specified regular intervals
    • (iii) preparing a comprehensive dam safety evaluation through a panel of experts.
• Offences and penalties
  • Anyone obstructing a person in the discharge of his functions under the Act or refusing to comply with directions may be imprisoned for a year

Dam safety authorities

• The Act provides for dam safety regulatory and monitoring authorities at the national and state level.
• At the national level, it constitutes:
  • National Committee on Dam Safety
    • It’s functions include evolving policies and recommending regulations regarding dam safety.
    • It comprises of the chairman of the Central Water Commission, a maximum of 10 representatives of the central government in the ranks of joint secretary, a maximum of seven representatives of the state governments, and three experts.
    • Members has three-year tenure
  • National Dam Safety Authority
    • It’s whose functions include implementing policies of the National Committee, and resolving matters between State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs), or between a SDSO and any dam owner in that state.
    • The central government may notify the qualifications, and functions of the officers of the National Dam Safety Authority.  
• At the state level, it constitutes :
  • State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs)
    • It’s functions include keeping perpetual surveillance, inspecting, and monitoring dams
  • State Committee on Dam Safety
    • It will supervise state dam rehabilitation programs, review the work of the SDSO, and review the progress on measures recommended in relation to dam safety, among others.
  • State governments may notify the qualifications, and functions of officers of the State Dam Safety Organisations.
  • They may also notify dam safety measures to be undertaken by owners of non-specified dams. 

Need of such an Act:

• As of 2019, India has 5,745 large dams (includes dams under construction). Of these, 5,675 large dams are operated by states, 40 by central public sector undertakings, and five by private agencies.
• Over 75% of these dams are more than 20 years old and about 220 dams are more than 100 years old.
• As a large amount of water may be stored in a dam’s reservoir, its failure can cause large scale damage to life and property.  Therefore, monitoring dam safety is essential.
• Central Water Commission (CWC) provides that each dam owner should carry out pre and post monsoon inspections (covering site conditions, dam operations) every year. However, as per a CAG report on flood forecasting, from 2008 to 2016, of the 17 states studied, only two had carried out such inspections.
• Also a CWC Committee on Dam Safety (1986) had recommended unified safety procedures for all dams and suggested a legislative framework for dam safety.

PRELIMS QUESTION

Which of the following statements are correct regarding Dam Safety Act:

1. The Act provides for dam safety regulatory and monitoring authorities at district level

2. The Act is applicable only to dams with height more than 50 metres

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer