Parliament has enacted the Dam Safety Act, 2021 for regulation of safety of dams.
Status of dam safety before Dam Safety Act, 2021
- Central Dam Safety Organisation, under the Central Water Commission (CWC), provides technical assistance to dam owners and maintains data on dams.
- National Committee on Dam Safety devices dam safety policies and regulations.
- Currently, 18 states and four dam-owning organisations have their own Dam Safety Organisations.
- CWC provides that each dam owner should conduct pre and post-monsoon inspections (covering site conditions, and dam operations) every year.
KEY FEATURES OF DAM SAFETY ACT, 2021
Act applies to all specified dams in the country: These are dams with: (i) a height of 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. Conducting risk assessment studies at specified regular intervals.
iii. Preparing a comprehensive dam safety evaluation through a panel of experts.
Dam safety authorities:
The Act provides for dam safety regulations and monitoring authorities at the national and state level. The functions of the national bodies and the State Committees on Dam Safety have been provided in Schedules to the Act. The central government can amend these Schedules through a notification.
At the national level, it constitutes:
1. National Committee on Dam Safety, whose functions include evolving policies and recommending regulations regarding dam safety,
2. National Dam Safety Authority, whose functions include implementing policies of the National Committee, and resolving matters between State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs), or between SDSO and any dam owner in that state. 3. Central government may notify the qualifications, and functions of the officers of the National Dam Safety Authority.
At the state level, it constitutes the:
1. State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs), whose functions include keeping perpetual surveillance, inspecting, and monitoring dams.
2. State Committee on Dam Safety which 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.
3. They may also notify dam safety measures to be undertaken by owners of non-specified dams.
Offences and penalties under the Dam Safety Act, 2021:
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. In case of loss of life, the person may be imprisoned for two years.