Lok Sabha Question No. 3019 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-16
Subject: Old Dams
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Manish Tewari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI, DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3019

ANSWERED ON 16.12.2021

## OLD DAMS

## 3019.          SHRI MANISH TEWARI

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  the  details  of  total  number  of  dams  older  than  50  years  and  100  years  in  the  country,  State-wise particularly in the State of Punjab;

(b) the details of number of dams in the country that have reached the end of their designated structural life;

(c) whether the Government is aware that these dams pose a risk to lives of citizens and if so, the details thereof; and

(d)  whether the  Government proposes to replace old dams and if so, the details thereof and the progress made in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## (SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)

(a)     As per the National Register of Large Dams (2019) maintained by the Central Water Commission based on the information provided by the project authorities, India has 1175 number of large dams (including one dam of Punjab,  namely  Nangal  dam)  which  are  more  than  50  years  old  (constructed  in  or  before  1971). Further,  the  Country  is  having  227  number  of  large  dams  having  more  than  100  years  of  service  life (constructed in or before 1921). State-wise number of these dams is enclosed as Annexure-l.

(b) & (c) Dams in India are owned and operated either by the State Governments or Central and State Public Sector Undertakings. A few dams are owned by private entities. The safety of dams in India is the principal concern  of  the  State  Agencies/Organizations  who  own  the  dams.  Dam  owners  generally  carry  out  premonsoon and post-monsoon inspection of their dams. Some States have also constituted Dam Safety Review Panels for comprehensive audit and required follow up action on their dams. The life of a dam is normally considered till such time that it performs its intended functions, without jeopardizing the safety of people living in its vicinity.

The Dam Safety Bill, 2021 has been passed by both the Houses of Parliament. The Dam Safety Bill, 2021, inter alia, provides for surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of the specified dams for prevention of dam failure related disasters.

(d)  Proposals for replacement of old dams, if required, need to be formulated by the dam owners.

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a) OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3019 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2021 REGARDING 'OLD DAMS' .

## State-wise Number of Large dams having more than 50 years and 100 years of Age

| S.N.   | State/UT          |   No. of Large dams more than 50 years old (constructed in or before 1971) |   No. of Large dams more than 100 years old (constructed in or before 1921) |
|--------|-------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.     | Andhra Pradesh    |                                                                         33 |                                                                           5 |
| 2.     | Bihar             |                                                                         10 |                                                                           1 |
| 3.     | Chhattisgarh      |                                                                         32 |                                                                           7 |
| 4.     | Gujarat           |                                                                        217 |                                                                          30 |
| 5.     | Himachal Pradesh  |                                                                          1 |                                                                           0 |
| 6.     | Jammu and Kashmir |                                                                          2 |                                                                           0 |
| 7.     | Jharkhand         |                                                                         16 |                                                                           0 |
| 8.     | Karnataka         |                                                                         82 |                                                                          15 |
| 9.     | Kerala            |                                                                         26 |                                                                           1 |
| 10.    | Madhya Pradesh    |                                                                        194 |                                                                          62 |
| 11.    | Maharashtra       |                                                                        274 |                                                                          42 |
| 12.    | Meghalaya         |                                                                          4 |                                                                           0 |
| 13.    | Odisha            |                                                                         16 |                                                                           3 |
| 14.    | Punjab            |                                                                          1 |                                                                           0 |
| 15.    | Rajasthan         |                                                                         85 |                                                                          25 |
| 16.    | Tamil Nadu        |                                                                         46 |                                                                           1 |
| 17.    | Uttar Pradesh     |                                                                         71 |                                                                          17 |
| 18.    | Uttarakhand       |                                                                          5 |                                                                           0 |
| 19.    | West Bengal       |                                                                          2 |                                                                           0 |
| 20.    | Telangana         |                                                                         58 |                                                                          18 |
|        | Total             |                                                                       1175 |                                                                         227 |

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