India’s Dam Safety Framework
Why in News?
India’s Dam Safety Framework is currently in the news due to the International Conference on Dam Safety (ICDS) 2026, held in Bengaluru. During the event, the government released new technical guidelines and digital platforms to strengthen the oversight of India's 6,600+ specified dams.
Key Information on the Framework
- Legal Basis: Governed by the Dam Safety Act, 2021, which provides a legal mandate for the surveillance, inspection, and maintenance of all specified dams in India.
- Institutional Structure:
- National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS): Formulates safety policies and recommends regulations.
- National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA): A regulatory body that implements policies and resolves interstate disputes.
- State-Level Bodies: Each state must maintain a State Committee on Dam Safety (SCDS) and a State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO) for direct oversight.
- Mandatory Obligations for Dam Owners:
- Emergency Action Plans (EAPs): Must be updated within five years of the Act's commencement.
- Safety Evaluations: Regular pre-monsoon and post-monsoon inspections are required, along with checks after earthquakes or floods.
- Comprehensive Evaluation: An independent expert panel must evaluate each dam every 10 years.
- Rehabilitation Programme (DRIP): The Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) Phase II & III is currently modernising 736 dams across 19 states with a total outlay of ₹10,211 crore.
- Strategic Priority: With over 25% of India's dams being older than 50 years, the framework treats dam safety as a "national security imperative" to prevent disasters caused by ageing or climate-driven hydrological extremes.
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