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The Rajya Sabha passed the landmark Dam Safety Bill (2019), paving the way for enactment of the Dam Safety Act in the country.

Issue

• After China and USA, India is the 3rd largest dam-owning nation in the world.
• There are around 5,700 large dams in the country, of which about 80% are already over 25 years old.
• Nearly 227 dams that are over 100 years old are still functional.

The Act provides for

• Adequate surveillance, inspection, operation, and maintenance of all the large dams in the country so as to prevent dam failure related disasters.
• An institutional mechanism at both Central and State levels to address structural and non-structural measures required for ensuring the safe functioning of dams.

The provision of the Act

• A National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS) will be constituted to help evolve uniform dam safety policies, protocols, and procedures.
• A National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) as a regulatory body for ensuring the nationwide implementation of dam safety policies and standards will be established.
• At the State level, the Act prescribes for the constitution of State Committees on Dam Safety (SCDS) and the establishment of the State Dam Safety Organizations (SDSO).
• The Dam Safety Act also addresses in a comprehensive manner, critical concerns related to dam safety on account of emerging climate change related challenges.
• This Act provides for regular inspection and hazard classification of dams. It also provides for drawing up of emergency action plans and comprehensive dam safety reviews by an independent panel of experts.
• Through this Act the Dam owners are required to provide resources for timely repair and maintenance of the dam structure, along with related machinery.
• This Act looks at Dam Safety holistically and provides for not only structural aspects, but also operational and maintenance efficacy through prescription of strict O & M protocols.
• This Act has penal provisions, involving offences and penalties, for ensuring compliance of the provisions.