Lok Sabha Question No. 3034 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-21
Subject: Assessment of Condition of Dams
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Ramdas Chandrabhanji Tadas

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3034

ANSWERED ON 21.12.2023

## ASSESSMENT OF CONDITION OF DAMS

## †3034.   SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has conducted any survey to assess the structure and the conditions of the dams in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the details of the dams identified in dangerous conditions across the country;

(d) whether the Government proposes to formulate any guidelines to enhance the safety of the dams;

(e) if so, the details thereof;

(f)  whether  the  Government  has  allocated  any  funds  to  ensure  repair/renovation  of  the  dams  identified  in dangerous conditions in near future; and

(g) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU )

(a)  &  (b) The  responsibility  to  ensure  the  safety  of  dams,  including  their  operation  and  maintenance,  rests primarily with dam owners which are mostly the State Governments and Central/State Public Sector Units. Dam owners  generally  carry  out  the  safety  inspection  (in  terms  of  periodical  pre-monsoon  and  post-monsoon inspections) of the dams under their jurisdiction.

Further,  as  per  section  31  of  the  Dam  Safety  Act  2021,  every  owner  of  a  specified  dam  has  been mandated to undertake annually, through their dam safety unit, a pre-monsoon and post- monsoon inspection in respect  of  each  specified  dam  and  to  forward  the  inspection  report  to  the  concerned  State  Dam  Safety Organization,  which  shall  analyze  the  report  and  provide  comments  on  safety,  deficiency  and  remedial measures,  if  any,  to  the  owner  of  the  specified  dam.  As  per  the  information  provided  by  the  National  Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), during 2023-24, 6414 pre-monsoon inspections and  925 post-monsoon inspections of specified dams respectively have been carried out across the country as on 14.12.2023.

(c) As  an  outcome  of  pre-monsoon  and  post-monsoon  inspections,  dams  are  being  categorized  into  three categories on the basis of urgency of repairs/maintenance. Category-III requires minor remedial measures which are rectifiable during the year. Category-II indicates major deficiencies requiring prompt remedial measures and Category-I indicate the most serious deficiencies, which if left unattended, may lead to their failure.

As reported by States and other dam owners, at present 2 specified dams across the country have been categorized under Category- I (both are in Uttar Pradesh) and have been taken up for rehabilitation under the externally funded Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP), Phase-II. Further, 183 dams have been reported  under Category-  II by  the  dam  owners  on  the  basis  of  pre-monsoon  inspections  carried  out  during 2023-24.  Necessary  directions  have  been  issued  from  NDSA  to  all  the  dam  owners  to  rehabilitate  these Category-II 183 dams on priority basis.

(d) & (e) Central Water Commission has published several guidelines for dam safety. Under the World Bank funded Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) Phase-I (2012-2021), guidelines/manuals relevant for  various  areas  of  dam  safety  have  been  prepared  and  published.  These  documents  are  intended  to  ensure uniformity  and  standardization  of  various  procedures  dealing  with  dam  safety  across  the  country.  These guidelines/manuals can be accessed through the following link:

https://damsafety.cwc.gov.in/index.php? lang=&page=Downloads&origin=front-end&tp=1&rn=1

Further,  the  Union  Government  has  enacted  the  Dam  Safety  Act,  2021  for  proper  surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of the specified dams for prevention of dam failure related disasters and to provide for an institutional mechanism to ensure their safe functioning. Pursuant to the provisions of the Dam Safety Act 2021, the Central Government has constituted the National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS) and established the National Dam Safety Authority for overseeing dam safety activities across the country and to evolve dam safety policies and recommend necessary regulations regarding dam safety standards in the country. Also,  28  States  and  3  UTs  having  specified  dams  have  constituted  State  Committee  on  Dam  Safety  and established State Dam Safety Organisation.

(f) & (g) As the dams are owned, operated and maintained by State Governments Departments/Boards/CPSUs/Private  Agencies  etc.;  funds  for  the  operation  and  maintenance  of  dams  are allocated by the respective agencies.

Further, section 21 of the Dam Safety Act, 2021 stipulates that: "Every owner of the specified dam shall earmark sufficient and specific funds for maintenance and repairs of the specified dam and to implement the recommendations of the State Dam Safety Organisation".

Necessary directions  have  been  issued  by  the  National  Dam  Safety  Authority  and  the  Department  of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India to the various dam owners to allocate dedicated annual dam safety budget/ funds to ensure repair/renovation of the dams.

Moreover, in order to improve the safety and operational performance of selected existing dams in the country, Government of India is implementing the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) with external  funding.  Under  the  World  Bank  funded  DRIP  Phase-I  programme,  which  was  implemented  during April  2012  to  March  2021,  223  existing  dams  located  in  7  States  were  comprehensively  audited  and rehabilitated at a cost of Rs. 2,567 crore.

After completion of DRIP Phase I programme, Government of India has taken up DRIP Phase-II & III. The scheme envisages rehabilitation and safety improvement of 736 dams located in 19 States, with a budget outlay of Rs. 10,211 crore. The scheme is of 10 years duration. DRIP Phase-II has become operational from 12th October 2021, and is being co-financed by the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank. State/Agency-wise number of included dams and the financial outlay under DRIP, Phase-II & III Scheme is given at Annexure .

ANNEXURE AS REFERRED TO IN REPLY OF PART (f) & (g) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3034 ANSWERED ON 21.12.2023 REGARDING 'ASSESSMENT OF CONDITION OF DAMS'.

State/Agency-wise list of included dams and cost under DRIP -II & III

| SI. No   | State          | No. of dams   | Estimated cost (Rs. crore)   |
|----------|----------------|---------------|------------------------------|
| 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            | 1,064                        |
| 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          | 736           | 10,211                       |

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