Lok Sabha Question No. 584 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-28
Subject: National Dam Safety Authority
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Adv Dean Kuriakose

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 584

ANSWERED ON 28.11.2024

## NATIONAL DAM SAFETY AUTHORITY

## 584. ADV DEAN KURIAKOSE

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has any data of the meetings held and decisions taken by the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) since its constitution;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether  the  Government  will  ensure  that  dams  situated  in  one  State  and  operated  by  another  be taken over by the NDSA;

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(e) whether it is true that NDSA has conducted any comprehensive safety audit of dams before hundred years across the country; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a)  &  (b) Pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  the  Dam  Safety  Act  2021,  the  Central  Government  has established the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) for overseeing dam safety activities across the country and to implement the policy, guidelines and standards evolved by the National Committee on Dam  Safety  (NCDS)  for  proper  surveillance,  inspection  and  maintenance  of  specified  dams.  The Authority has so far held several discussions and meetings with the States for carrying out its designated functions under the Dam Safety Act, 2021. Following major decisions have been taken by the NDSA in this regard:

- i. Various National Workshops/ International Conference have been organized for awareness/ sensitisation related to implementation of various provisions of the Dam Safety Act, 2021.
- ii. Regional  Review  meetings  are  held  regularly  with  all  State  Dam  Safety  Organizations (SDSOs)  to review the implementation of the Dam  Safety  Act 2021 and States' preparedness for managing monsoon flood. So far, 11 Regional Review meetings were held.
- iii. As per compliance of Section 54 (1) of the Dam Safety Act, 2021, the NDSA has to frame 19 dam safety regulations. All these 19 regulations have been prepared and approved by the

NCDS. Out of 19 regulations, 17 regulations have been published in the official Gazette of India.

- iv. NDSA  is  maintaining  nationwide  database  for  all  the  specified  dams  in  Dam  Health Rehabilitation  and  Monitoring  Application  (DHARMA)  portal.  All  State  Dam  Safety Organizations have been directed to fill up all the concerned data of their respective dams in the  portal.  Moreover,  they  have  also  been  instructed  to  upload  the  reports  of  all  premonsoon, post-monsoon and special inspection (if any) on the DHARMA portal,
- v. NDSA also held several meetings with the States/ other dam owning agencies for measures to be taken in case of dams likely to be affected by Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) and installation of early warning systems.
- vi. NDSA is also providing secretarial assistance to the National Committee on Dam Safety and its sub-committees. So far, 9 meetings of NCDS have been held.
- vii. NDSA has also taken up the study related to Rapid Risk Assessment of all the specified dams  in  the  country.  Rapid  Risk  Screening  Tool  has  been  developed  for  this  purpose. Multiple trainings/ workshops have been organized by NDSA for the officials of State/ other dam owning organizations.
- viii. Outreach  programs  at  the  25  iconic  dam  sites  across  the  country  were  organized  with community participation under 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM)'' for promoting Dam Tourism.

(c)  &  (d )         For  those  dams  which  are  located  in  one  State  and  operated  by  another,  National  Dam Safety Authority is functioning as the State Dam Safety Organisation as per the provisions of the Act. Accordingly,  necessary  directions  are  being  given  by  the  Authority  to  the  owner  of  such  dams  for making compliance of various provisions and other mandated functions as per the Act. Hence, there is no question of taking control over these types of dams by the Authority.

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 Safety Act 2021 does not, in any way, encroach upon the power of the States and does not contain  any  provision  to  alter  dam  ownership,  water  sharing  agreements  or  the  operation  and maintenance of the dams by the State governments.

(e)  &  (f) As  per  Section  38  of  the  Dam  Safety  Act  201,  the  responsibility  for  carrying  out  the comprehensive safety audit of dams rests with the dam owners. Hence, NDSA has not conducted the comprehensive safety audit of any dam in the country.