DAM SAFETY ACT
"The legislation created the National Dam Safety Authority, which has the following key responsibilities:
- Setting and upholding dam safety standards
- Mitigating the risk of dam-related disasters
- Resolving inter-State dam concerns
- Overseeing surveillance, inspection, operation, and maintenance of dams
- Maintaining and organizing dam-related records
- Establishing Hydrology units and reviewing Design Floods
- Monitoring the safety aspects of inter-State dams through Sub-Committees."
- The National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) is a regulatory body established by the government of India to oversee and regulate the safety of dams in the country. Its primary purpose is to ensure the safety and stability of dams, with a focus on preventing dam failures and the potential disasters they can cause.
- The NDSA plays a crucial role in setting and maintaining dam safety standards, preventing dam-related disasters, addressing inter-State concerns related to dams, and overseeing various aspects of dam safety, including surveillance, inspection, operation, and maintenance.
- It also has responsibilities related to the upkeep and archival of dam-related records, the establishment of Hydrology units, and the review of Design Floods.
- The NDSA is instrumental in monitoring the safety aspects of inter-State dams through its Sub-Committees.
- Its establishment is part of India's efforts to enhance dam safety and protect lives, property, and the environment.
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Regulation and Supervision: States are frequently tasked with the creation and enforcement of laws and regulations pertaining to dam safety. This encompasses the establishment and upkeep of criteria for dam construction, operation, and maintenance.
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Permitting and Licensing: States might mandate permits and licenses for dam construction and operation. These authorizations are designed to ensure that dams adhere to safety standards and environmental requirements.
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Examination and Upkeep: Typically, states oversee regular assessments of dams to evaluate their condition and confirm that they are being appropriately preserved. Dam proprietors are frequently obligated to provide regular inspection reports.
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Emergency Response Plans: States may insist that dam owners develop and submit emergency action plans (EAPs). These plans detail the procedures to be followed in the event of potential dam failures or other emergencies. EAPs are crucial for safeguarding communities downstream.
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Monitoring and Surveillance: States can require the installation of monitoring equipment to continuously assess the performance of dams. Data collected from these instruments aids in the early identification of potential issues and facilitates prompt intervention.
- The DSA does not promote risk-based decision-making and fails to incentivise transparency
- The frequency and scale of such disasters reveal a pattern of neglect: “It keeps happening regularly, people face disastrous consequences and we call these ‘natural disasters’. But there’s nothing natural about them.”
- A robust DSA should allow different stakeholders to access information easily, but India’s framework falls short.
“Dam safety is a public purpose function. Everything about dam safety, functions of all the institutions and committees and authorities, their reports, decisions minutes and agendas, everything should be promptly available to the public,” - Transparency is further obstructed when national and State bodies comprise government employees and engineers who worked on these projects, compromising objective decision making and lacking “people with a proven track record of taking independent decisions.”
Dam safety is undertaken through a combination of regulatory measures, engineering practices, inspections, maintenance, and emergency preparedness. Here is an overview of how dam safety is typically managed:
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Regulation and Legislation: Dam safety often begins with the establishment of laws and regulations at the national, state, or local level. These regulations set forth the standards and requirements for dam construction, operation, and maintenance. They may also address issues related to licensing, permitting, and emergency preparedness.
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Design and Construction: The safety of a dam begins with its design and construction. Engineers and geologists play a critical role in ensuring that dams are designed to withstand expected loads and environmental conditions. Proper materials, construction techniques, and quality control are essential.
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Inspections and Monitoring: Routine inspections are conducted to assess the condition of dams. These inspections may be performed by dam owners, regulatory agencies, or independent experts. Monitoring equipment, such as sensors and gauges, is often installed to continuously collect data on dam performance.
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Maintenance and Repairs: Maintenance is crucial to dam safety. Regular upkeep includes tasks such as vegetation control, spillway clearing, and embankment repairs. If issues are identified during inspections, they must be addressed promptly to prevent potential failures.
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Emergency Action Plans (EAPs): Dam owners are typically required to develop and maintain Emergency Action Plans (EAPs). These plans outline the steps to be taken in the event of a dam failure or other emergencies. They are essential for protecting downstream communities.
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Risk Assessments: Periodic risk assessments are conducted to evaluate the potential risks associated with a dam. These assessments consider factors such as downstream population, the condition of the dam, and the consequences of failure.
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Community Awareness: Educating and informing communities downstream from dams about potential risks and emergency procedures is essential. Public awareness campaigns can help ensure that people are prepared in case of a dam-related emergency.
Provisions require States to classify dams based on hazard risk, conduct regular inspections, create emergency action plans, institute emergency flood warning systems, and undertake safety reviews and period risk assessment studies.
