Lok Sabha Question No. 1460 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-10
Subject: Safety of Dams
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Raghu Ramakrishna Raju Kanumuru, Geetha Viswanath Vanga, Komati Reddy Venkat Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI,

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1460

ANSWERED ON 10.02.2022

## SAFETY OF DAMS

1460. SHRI KANUMURU RAGHU RAMA KRISHNA RAJU: SHRIMATI VANGA GEETHA VISWANATH: SHRI KOMATI REDDY VENKAT REDDY:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is working on the safety of dams in the country and if so, the details thereof, State-wise; (b) the steps being taken with a reliable and legally mandated institutional mechanism for the upkeep of large dams; (c) whether many dams in the country are displaying signs of aging and the measures aim essentially at giving the Centre a role in ensuring the physical wellbeing of large dams, maintenance and inclusion of technical experts; and (d) whether any laws have been enacted so far and if so, the role of States in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)

(a) to (d)  Responsibility for safety of dams, including its operation and maintenance, rests primarily with dam owners which are mostly the State Governments and Central/State Public Sector Units. The details  of  dam safety  conditions,  maintenance,  repair  and  renovations  are  available  with  the  concerned  dam  owners.   Dam owners generally carry out the safety audit (in terms of periodical pre-monsoon and post-monsoon inspection) of their dams.

In order to improve the safety and operational performance of select existing dams in the Country, Government of India implemented the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) with funding assistance from the World Bank during April 2012 to March 2021. Under this program, about 223 existing dams located in 7 States have been comprehensively audited and  rehabilitated at a cost of Rs. 2567 crore.

After completion of DRIP Phase- I program, Govt. of India has now taken up DRIP, Phase-II & III program. The Scheme envisages rehabilitation of 736 dams located in nineteen (19) States with the budget outlay of Rs 10,211 crore. The Scheme is of 10 years duration. DRIP Phase-II has become operational from 12th October 2021. The State/Agency wise number of proposed dams and the estimated cost under this Scheme is given at Annexure.

Further, for ensuring safety of large number of dams in the Country, Union Government has recently enacted the Dam Safety Act 2021 for proper surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of the specified dams. The said Act has been notified by the Government of India on 14.12.2021 and has come into effect from 30th December,  2021.  The  Act  aims  for  preventing  dam  failure  related  disasters  and  provide  for  institutional mechanism to ensure their safe functioning.

Dam Safety  Act  provides  for  constitution/establishment  of  two  national  bodies.  The  first  such  body  is  the National Committee on Dam Safety, whose functions include evolving uniform dam safety policies, protocols, and  procedures  and  recommending  regulations  regarding  dam  safety  standards.  The  second  body  is  the National  Dam  Safety  Authority,  which  will  function  as  a  regulatory  body  for  ensuring  the  nationwide implementation of dam safety policies and standards. At the State level, the Act provides for the constitution of State Committee on Dam Safety and the establishment of the State Dam Safety Organization to ensure proper surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of all specified dams in that State and also to ensure their safe functioning.

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (A) TO (D) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1460 TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 10.02.2022 REGARDING 'SAFETY OF DAMS'.

## Details of Proposed Dams and the estimated cost, under DRIP Phase-II & Phase-III

| SI.No.   | State / Agency   | No. of dams   | Estimated cost (Cr)   |
|----------|------------------|---------------|-----------------------|
| 1.       | Andhra Pradesh   | 31            | 667                   |
| 2.       | Chhattisgarh     | 5             | 133                   |
| 3.       | Goa              | 2             | 58                    |
| 4.       | Gujarat          | 6             | 400                   |
| 5.       | Jharkhand        | 35            | 238                   |
| 6.       | Karnataka        | 41            | 612                   |
| 7.       | Kerala           | 28            | 316                   |
| 8.       | Madhya Pradesh   | 27            | 186                   |
| 9.       | Maharashtra      | 167           | 940                   |
| 10.      | Manipur          | 2             | 311                   |
| 11.      | Meghalaya        | 6             | 441                   |
| 12.      | Odisha           | 36            | 804                   |
| 13.      | Punjab           | 12            | 442                   |
| 14.      | Rajasthan        | 189           | 965                   |
| 15.      | Tamil Nadu       | 59            | 1064                  |
| 16.      | Telangana        | 29            | 545                   |
| 17.      | Uttar Pradesh    | 39            | 787                   |
| 18.      | Uttarakhand      | 6             | 274                   |
| 19.      | West Bengal      | 9             | 84                    |
| 20.      | BBMB             | 2             | 230                   |
| 21.      | CWC              | ---           | 570                   |
| 22.      | DVC              | 5             | 144                   |
| Total    | Total            | 736           | 10,211                |