38.6c New Delhi, India, Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Top Stories Supreme Court
Political NEWS Legislative Corner Celebstreet International Videos
Subscribe Contact Us
close
Legislative Corner

Dam Safety Bill to provide preventive measures for dam failures in the country

By LawStreet News Network      03 August, 2018 12:00 AM      0 Comments
Dam Safety Bill to provide preventive measures for dam failures in the country

The Dam Safety Bill, 2018 drafted by Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR, RD&GR) has been approved by the Union Cabinet on June 13, 2018, for introduction in the Parliament.

Union Minister of State for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal in a written reply in Lok Sabha on August 2nd, 2018 has said that Central Water Commission (CWC) maintains the National Register of Large Dams (NRLD) based on information received from the State Governments. As per NRLD, there are 5264 large dams completed and 437 large dams under construction in India. Number of dam failures reported in India is 36. The State-wise details of completed large dams, under construction large dams and dam failures reported, is at Annexure.

Putting forth The Dam Safety Bill, 2018, Arjun Ram Meghwal said that the Bill aims to provide robust legal and institutional framework under Central & State Governments for safety of dams. The Bill envisages prevention and mitigation of dam failure related disasters through proper surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of all dams in the country.

The Bill provides for constitution of a National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS) to evolve dam safety policies and recommend necessary regulations. NCDS is proposed to be chaired by Chairman, CWC. The Bill provides for establishment of National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) as a regulatory body to implement the policy, guidelines, and standards for dam safety in the country. The Bill also provides for constitution of State Committee on Dam Safety by the State Governments to ensure proper surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of all specified dams in the State and to ensure their safe functioning, the Minister said.

The Bill mandates NDSA to:

  1. maintain liaison with the State Dam Safety Organisations and the owners of dams for standardisation of dam safety-related data and practices;
  2. provide the technical and managerial assistance to the States and State Dam Safety Organisations;
  • maintain a national level database of all dams in the country and the records of major dam failures;
  1. examine the cause of any major dam failure;
  2. publish and update the standard guidelines and checklists for the routine inspection and detailed investigations of dams and appurtenances;
  3. accord recognition or accreditations to the organisations that can be entrusted with the works of investigation, design or construction of new dams; and
  • resolve issue between the State Dam Safety Organisation of states, or between the State Dam Safety Organisation and the owner of a dam in that State.

Further, the Minister said that the At drafting stage, the Bill was circulated to all States/UTs for consultation on 09.08.2016. Most of the States supported the proposed Bill. State of Kerala and Tamil Nadu raised objections that water being State subject, there is need to review the need of the Bill. Kerala stated that their State already has statutory provisions in place for maintenance of Dams. Tamil Nadu raised concerns regarding ownership of dams and reservoirs which are owned, operated and maintained by a State, but located in another State.

The proposed Bill was discussed threadbare along with the inputs received from various States/UTs in the meeting of 37th meeting of National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS) held in 2017. As per the outcome of the meeting, the Dam Safety Bill, 2018 has been modified and finalized in consultation with Legislative Department to address apprehensions of the States, Minister added.

Annexure

State-wise details of completed Large Dams, under Construction Large Dams and Dam Failures

 

Sl.No.Name of state/UTNo. of Completed DamsNo. of Dams under ConstructionNo. of Dam failures reported
1Andaman & Nicobar Island2  
2Andhra Pradesh142252
3Arunachal Pradesh13 
4Assam31 
5Bihar242 
6Chhattisgarh24810 
7Goa5  
8Gujarat620125
9Himachal Pradesh191 
10Haryana1  
11Jammu & Kashmir143 
12Jharkhand5029 
13Karnataka2301 
14Kerala611 
15Madhya Pradesh899710
16Maharashtra20692854
17Manipur31 
18Meghalaya8  
19Mizoram 1 
20Nagaland1  
21Odisha19951
22Punjab142 
23Rajasthan209211
24Sikkim2  
25Tamil Nadu116 1
26Telangana16321 
27Tripura1  
28Uttar Pradesh115151
29Uttarakhand1691
30West Bengal291 
 TOTAL526443736

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Share this article:

User Avatar
About:


Leave a feedback about this
TRENDING NEWS

munna-bhai-to-andar-rhna-chahiye-sc-on-bail-plea-by-candidate-accused-of-using-proxy-in-competitive-exam
Trending Judiciary
'Munna Bhai to Andar Rhna chahiye,' SC on bail plea by candidate accused of using proxy in competitive exam

SC says “Munna Bhai should remain inside” while hearing bail plea of candidate accused of using proxy in UP CTET exam.

09 September, 2025 11:06 AM
kerala-hc-grants-10-day-leave-to-life-convict-for-law-college-internship
Trending Judiciary
Kerala HC Grants 10-Day Leave To Life Convict For Law College Internship [Read Judgment]

Kerala HC grants 10-day leave to life convict Karuvangadan Mukthar to attend law college internship, upholding prisoners’ right to education.

09 September, 2025 02:45 PM

TOP STORIES

husbands-increased-income-warrants-higher-maintenance-for-wife-delhi-hc
Trending Judiciary
Husband’s Increased Income Warrants Higher Maintenance for Wife: Delhi HC [Read Judgment]

Delhi HC rules husband’s increased income and rising living costs justify higher maintenance for wife, enhancing it from ₹10,000 to ₹14,000.

04 September, 2025 12:50 PM
bar-on-pre-arrest-bail-to-operate-under-sc-st-act-sc
Trending Judiciary
Bar on pre arrest bail to operate under SC/ST Act: SC [Read Judgment]

SC rules anticipatory bail barred under SC/ST Act; courts can allow only if FIR lacks prima facie case of offence.

04 September, 2025 01:12 PM
child-must-maintain-relationship-with-both-parents-even-if-they-live-abroad-sc
Trending Judiciary
Child Must Maintain Relationship With Both Parents, Even If They Live Abroad: SC [Read Judgment]

SC affirms child’s right to affection of both parents, granting father video call access to son living in Ireland every alternate Sunday.

04 September, 2025 01:40 PM
sc-registers-suo-motu-case-on-absence-of-cctv-cameras-inside-police-stations
Trending Judiciary
SC registers suo motu case on absence of CCTV cameras inside police stations

SC takes suo motu note of 11 custodial deaths, registers case over lack of CCTV cameras inside police stations to ensure accountability.

04 September, 2025 02:02 PM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email