OVERVIEW OF DAM SAFETY

MANAGEMENT IN INDIA

Dr. R.K. Gupta

Former Chairman
Central Water Commission
 GLOBAL
PERSPECTIVE
LARGE DAMS WITH ECONOMY
SIZE WORLDWIDE (TOP 8)

5745 (3)
INDIA GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

2% Land
Resources
Water
4%
Resources
World
18%
Population
 LARGE DAMS IN
INDIA
STATE No. Dams
Maharashta 2394
Madya Pradesh 906
Gujarat 632
Chhattisgarth 258
Karnataka 232
Rajastan 212
Odisha 204
Telengana 184
Andra Pradesh 166
Uttar Pradesh 130
Tamil Nadu 118
Jharkand 79
Kerala 61
West Bengal 30
Bihar 26
Uttarakhand 25
Himachal Pradesh 20 6138
Jammu & Kashimir 17 --NRLD, 2023
Punjab 16
Other States 35
TOTAL 5745
Sources: NRLD (2019)
FEW OLD DAMS OF INDIA
Kallanai Dam | Thanjavur, Tamil
Nadu
2nd Century AD oldest dam
Dam Type- Masonry weir
Height above foundation- 5.4 m
Length of dam- 329 m
Width of dam- 20m
Design Spillway capacity- 5094
cumecs
Tonnur Kere Dam | Mysore, Karnataka
10th Century AD
Dam Type Earth fill (TE)
Foundation Level- 24.38 m
Mir Alam Dam | Hyderabad, Telangana Dam Length- 118.8 m
19th Century | 1804 Gross Storage Capacity- 13.66 MCM
Multiple Arch Buttress Dam Reservoir Area- 12.42 MCM
Height above Lowest Foundation Level-
10.06 m
Dam Length- 914.4 m
21 no. of arches
FEW OLD DAMS OF INDIA
Tansa Dam | Mumbai, Maharashtra
1892
Dam Type- Earth (TE) / Gravity
Masonry Height Above foundation-
41m
Length of dam- 2804m
Gross storage capacity- 184.60 MCM
Effective storage capacity- 172.52
MCM
Reservoir area 19.15 km2

Vanivilasa Sagar Dam | Hiriyur, Mettur Dam | Salem, Tamil Nadu

Karnataka
1907
Dam Type- Gravity/Masonry (PG) / Earth
(TE) Height above foundation- 43 m
Length of dam- 405.40 m
Gross storage capacity- 850.30 MCM
Effective storage capacity- 802.50 MCM
Reservoir area- 87.63 km 2
1934
Dam Type- Gravity/Masonry (PG)
Height above foundation- 65 m
Length of dam- 1615.40 m
Installed Capacity- 250MW
Gross storage capacity- 2708 MCM
Effective storage capacity- 2647 MCM
Reservoir area- 153.46 km 2
 AGE OF LARGE DAM IN
INDIA
2 5 To 5 0
YEARS
2898
Nos.

< 25
YEARS
5 0 To 1 0 0
1153 Nos. YEARS
1041
Nos.
> 100
YEARS
293
Nos.
 Why Dam Safety?
• Dams are very costly infrastructure built at great expense and effort and are a
public asset.
• Dams enable management of an ever lasting water resource and are required to last
forever.
• With the change in environment, age and usage pattern, the continued operation
of a dam requires systematic review and upgradation at regular intervals
• Dam safety is an asset management discipline relying on science and
technology and has components of public administration
• Dams do pose hazard if not maintained or managed properly. Management of risk is
also covered by the dam safety discipline
• Being linked to public safety and benefit assurance, Governance structures
are needed to implement and supervise the activities under the dam safety
Dam Safety across the World
• Most of the economically developed countries have dam safety
• assurance systems in place through enactments.
• UK- Earliest act in 1930, revised in 1975
• Finland Act in 1984, revised in 2009
• France Largely renewed in 2007
• Italy Original legislation 1933, latest revision 2007
• Norway Act in 1981, revised 2010
• Portugal Enacted 1968, latest revision 2007
• Spain 1967, 1994,1996, latest 2007

• USA National Dam Inspection Act 1972, National Dam Safety Program Act 1996
• Australia ANCOLD guidelines (2003) used as basis by all the states for
individual dam safety legislations
 DAM SAFETY
M A N A G E M E N T I N I T I AT I V E S Dam Safety Act

BY INDIA Oct., 2021

DRIP Ph I
Dec., 2021
DRIP Ph II
1991 2012

National Committee Dam Safety Assurance & Rehabilitation Project

on Dam Safety
1987

1979 Central Water Commission opens

Dam Safety Organisation
 DAM SAFETY ASSURANCE &
R E H A B I L I TAT I O N P R O J E C T ( D S A R P )

• World Bank assisted DSARP, was implemented

during year 1991-99.

• Four States, namely Madhya Pradesh, Odisha,

Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, under overall
supervision of CWC, Cost of US$ 86 M.

• 33 dams rehabilitated and basic dam facilities

provided at 182 dams.

• Institutional Strengthening for all partner

agencies.
 D A M R EHA BILITATION A N D IMP R O V EMEN T P R O JEC T
(DRIP) BRIEF SUMMARY
OBJECTIVE SCHEME
Improve safety and operational State Sector with Central Component
performance of selected dams,
along with institutional TIMELINE
strengthening with system wide • April 2012- March 2021
management approach

OVERALL SUPERVISION
Central Water Commission (CWC)

PROJECT COMPONENTS BUDGET

3 Project Components Cost: Rs 3,466 Cr
I: Rehabilitation of Dams
And Associated
Appurtenances
II: Dam Safety Institutional SCALE
Strengthening 6 States, 8 State Agencies and two
WORLD BANK RATING
III: Project Management Central Agencies, 223 dams located
Satisfactory
in 7 States
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS OF DAM SAFETY PROGRAMS

•Joint efforts of Central & State Governments

•Institutional Strengthening
•Rehabilitation of 33 + 223 dams; Structural & Non-structural measures
•Development of EAP and O&M Manuals
•Capacity Building through Trainings & Workshops
•Development of 11 Guidelines related to Dam Safety Aspects
•Long term Asset management through web based tool Dam Health and Rehabilitation
Monitoring Application(DHARMA).
•Initiation of M.Tech courses by IISc Bengaluru & IIT Roorkee for long term sustainability
through trained manpower
•Enhancing seismic preparedness through Seismic Hazard Assessment Information
System(SHAIS)
 DRIP Phase II & III
OBJECTIVE SCHEME OVERVIEW
Improve safety and operational
performance of selected dams, along with
SCHEME
institutional strengthening with system wide
State Sector with Central Component
management approach

OVERALL SUPERVISION TIMELINE

Central Water Commission (CWC)
PROJECT COMPONENTS
I: Rehabilitation of dams and
associated appurtenances
II: Dan safety Institutional
Strengthening
III: Incidental Revenue
Generation for sustainable
operation and maintenance
of dams
IV: Project Management
EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE
INR 7000 Cr (US $ 1 billion)
10 years, two Phases , each of
6 years duration with 2 years
overlap.
BUDGET & FUNDING PATTERN
Rs. 10211 Cr (US $ 1.46 billion)
SCALE
19 States, 3 Central Agencies, 736
dams.
 DAM SAFETY ACT 2021

11 Chapters, 56 Clauses, 3 Schedules

“To provide for
surveillance, Uniform dam Safety Procedures across the Country
inspection, operation Institutional Mechanisms at Central & State Government Levels
and maintenance of
the specified dam for Provisions to make Dam Owners Accountable
prevention of dam
failure related disaster Mandatory for Dam Owners to keep Funds for Maintenance
and to provide for
institutional Mandatory Dam Inspections & Safety Evaluations
mechanism to ensure
their safe functioning Provisions for EAP, O&M Manuals, Instrumentation & Monitoring
and for matters
connected therewith
or incidental thereto “
“SPECIFIED DAM” under the Act ….
i. above fifteen metres in height, measured from the lowest portion of the general foundation
area to the top of dam; or
ii. between ten metres to fifteen metres in height and satisfies at least one of the following,
namely:—
a) the length of crest is not less than five hundred metres; or
b) the capacity of the reservoir formed by the dam is not less than one million cubic metres; or
c) the maximum flood discharge dealt with by the dam is not less than two thousand cubic
metres per second; or
d) the dam has specially difficult foundation problems; or
e) the dam is of unusual design;

For safety measures in respect of dams other than specified dams, Section 46 of the Act
reads ….
Every owner of the dam other than specified dams shall undertake such measures as may be necessary to
ensure dam safety and shall comply with such measures as may be specified by the regulations.
“OWNER OF SPECIFIED DAM” under the Act may be….

 Central Government
 State Government
 Jointly by one or more Governments
 Public Sector Undertaking
 Local Authority
 Company
Any or all of such persons or organisations, who own, control, operate, or maintain a specified dam.
PRIME RESPONSIBILITY IS OF THE OWNER OF SPECIFIED DAM

Section 29 of the Act reads……

Nothing contained in this Act shall be construed to absolve an owner of a specified dam of the duties,
obligations or liabilities incidental to the construction, operation, maintenance and supervision of the dam
or reservoir.
 Jurisdiction of State Dam Safety Organisation and NDSA

All specified dams, shall fall under the jurisdiction of the SDSO of the State in which such dam is situated in
matters relating to dam inspections, analysis of information, investigation reports or recommendations
regarding safety status, and remedial measures to be undertaken to improve dam safety; and in all such
matters, full co-operation shall be extended by the owner of the specified dam:

a) Provided that where a specified dam is owned by a Central Public Sector Undertaking or where a
specified dam is extended over two or more States, or where the specified dam in one State is
owned by another State, then NDSA shall be construed as the SDSO for the purposes of the Act:
b) Provided further that in all such dams where NDSA takes up the role of SDSO, the Governments of
the States within the jurisdiction of which such dams are located shall have access to all
information relating to these specified dams as available with NDSA.
Jurisdiction of State Dam Safety Organisation and NDSA

 The authorized representative of the NDSA or concerned SDSO may enter upon any part of the specified
dam or its site as and when required for the purposes of making inspection or investigation
necessary for the implementation of the provisions of the Act.

 The remedial measures required to be taken shall be reported to the officer-in-charge of the
dam and to the concerned SDSO.

 The NDSA and the concerned SDSO, in cases of specified dams being found to be
distressed on accountof their age, degeneration, degradation, structural or other
impediments,shall suggest such remedial measures on such operational
parameters(including maximum reservoir level, maximum spillway
maximum discharge through the outlets) as it may consider necessary. discharge,

 All costs towards implementation of the suggestions of SDSO or NDSA are to be

borne by the owner of the specified dam.
 D A M S A F E T Y A C T- I N S T I T U T I O N A L A R R A N G E M E N T

Ministry of Parliament
National Disaster
Management
National Dam Safety Authority Jal Shakti
Central Govt. Level

Authority Adm. & Tech. Special & Advanced

Support Topics Central Govt. and
National
Committee on University Research
Direct Indirect Institutions
Dam Safety
Supervision Supervision
Subcommittees
State Govt. Level Owners

Owners
WR/ Irrigation/ Legislative
(Dam Safety Units)
Power Dept. Assembly
State Disaster
Management State Dam Safety Organizations State and
Authority
Adm. & Tech. Direct University Research
State Committee Support Supervision Institutions
on Dam Safety
ORDERS ADVISES
Owners
wners

Subcommittees
(Dam Safety Units) REPORTS ASSISTS
TECHNICAL SUB-COMMITTEES OF NCDS

NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON DAM SAFETY

U C TU RAL &
DAM SAFE
TY STR
MANAGEM HYDRAULIC
HYDROLOGICAL SEISMIC
ENT SAFETY SAFETY
SAFETY
L
INSTRU CH NICA
MEN TE
ATION & T C H A NICA GEO AFETY
M E S
MONIT CAPACITY R&D AND HYDRO RICAL
ORING E LEC T
DEVELOPM L& FETY
ENT STANDARDS E M S S A
DEVELOPMENT SYST
 Select functions of State Dam Safety Organisation
Item Section Duties and Functions
Surveillance and 16 Keep perpetual surveillance, carry out inspections and monitor the Operation
inspection & Maintenance of all specified dams falling under their jurisdiction and
address safety concerns as required. Carry out necessary investigations, data
collection as may be required for review and study of various features of design,
construction, repair and enlargement of dams, reservoirs and appurtenant
structures.

Vulnerability and 17 Classify each dam under their jurisdiction as per vulnerability and hazard
hazard classification of classification criteria as may be specified by the regulations.
dams
Maintenance of log 18 Maintain a log book or database for recording all activities related to the
Books surveillance and inspection and all important events related to dam safety.

Records of dam 19 Report the event of any dam failure to NDSA. Maintain the records of
failures/ incidents major dam incidents of each specified dam.
Initial filling of 27 Examine the reservoir initial filling programme, inspect the specified dam
reservoirs either through own engineers or by an independent panel of experts and prepare a
detailed report thereof duly certifying the fitness of dam for filling.
12
 Select functions of Dam Owners
Item Section Duties and Function

Instructions 20 Comply with the instructions received from the SDSO with regard to safety
received on safety or remedial measures in relation to any specified dam.
of specified dams
Technical 22 Compile all technical documentations concerning…….
documentation -hydrology, dam foundation, structural engineering of dam, watershed upstream of dam,
and nature or use of land downstream of dam along with information on all resources or
facilities of economic, logistic or environmental importance which are likely to be
affected due to dam failure. Equip with the state-of- the-art information technology tools
to store, retrieve, and distribute the data related to the dam safety and dam performance.
Furnish all such information to the SDSO and NDSA as and when required by
them.

Operation and 28 Provide O&M establishment for the specified dam & shall ensure that sufficient
Maintenance number of trained operation and maintenance engineers or technical persons are posted
(O&M) at each such dam and ensure that a well-documented
operation and maintenance manual is kept at each of the specified dams and are
followed at all times.
 Select functions of Dam Owners
Item Section Duties and functions

Dam Safety Unit 30 For each specified dam within the operation and maintenance establishment,
provide a dam safety unit consisting of competent levels of engineers.

Inspection 31 • Undertake every year, through their dam safety unit, a pre- monsoon
and post-monsoon inspections in respect of each dam.
• Shall inspect through their dam safety unit, during and after every
flood, earthquake or any other natural or man-made calamities,
or if any sign of distress or unusual behaviour is noticed.
• Carry out all inspections in accordance with the guidelines and
check-lists as may be specified by the regulations;
• Station engineers and technical personnel at dam site during
monsoon period and during emergency period after calamity.
• Forward the inspection report by the dam safety unit to the
SDSO, which shall analyse the report and submit comments on the
deficiency and remedial measures, if any, to the owner of the specified
dam.
 Select functions of Dam Owners
Item
Instrumentations to be
installed in every specified
dam.
Establishment of hydro-
meteorological station
Installations of
seismological station
Section Duties and functions
32 • Install a minimum number of such instruments at each specified dam
as specified by the regulations for monitoring the performance of the
dam.
• Maintain a record of readings of the instruments and forward
the analysis of such readings to the SDSO.
33 • Establish a hydro-meteorological station in the vicinity of each
specified dam capable of recording such data as per the regulations.
Collect, compile, process and store data at a suitable location
34 • Establish in the case of every specified dam, having a height of thirty
metres or above or falling under such seismic zone, a
seismological station in the vicinity of each such dam for recording
micro and strong motion earthquakes and such other data as
may be specified by the regulations.
• Collect, compile, process and store data at such suitable location and in
such manner as may be specified by the regulations.
Funds for Dam Safety Activities

Item Section Duties and functions

Funds for maintenance and 21 Every dam owner shall earmark sufficient and specific funds for
repairs maintenance and repairs of the specified dam and to implement the
recommendations of the SDSO.

Cost of Investigation 25 All the costs to be incurred by NDSA or SDSO on any form of investigation
done including payment given to any consultant or expert, shall be borne
by the owner of the specified dam.
 Emergency Action Plan and Disaster Management
 Obligation of owner of specified dam in respect of Emergency Action Plan;
 Prepare emergency action plan before allowing the initial filling of the reservoir and update at regular
intervals.
 In respect of the dam which is constructed and filled before the commencement of the Act, prepare
emergency action plan within 5 years from the date of commencement of the Act and thereafter
update as per the regulations.

 What is an emergency action plan as per the Act;

 Set of procedures to be followed for the protection of persons and property upstream or downstream of
the specified dam in the event of an actual or imminent dam failure or to mitigate the effects of the disaster.

 When shall the emergency action plan be put into action as per the Act;
 As and when conditions arise which are hazardous or likely to be hazardous to a specified dam or
potentially to public safety, infrastructure, other property or to the environment.
 Emergency Action Plan and Disaster Management
 Obligation of owner of specified dam:

 Establish well designed hydro-meteorological network and an inflow forecasting system

and ensure their smooth functioning.
 Establish an emergency flood warning system for the probable flood affected
areas
downstream of dam and ensure its smooth functioning.
 Install scientific and technical instruments for ensuring safety of dam and the life and property of
people downstream.
 Disseminate information on anticipated inflows, outflows, flood warnings & adverse impacts on
upstream or downstream people and property to concerned authorities and in public domain.
 Render necessary assistance to NDSA for exchange of real time hydrological
and
meteorological data and information related to operation of reservoirs.
 Carry out risk assessment studies at interval as may be specified by the regulations. First
such study shall be made within five years from the date of commencement of the Act.
 Emergency Action Plan and Disaster Management
 What shall be included in an Emergency Action Plan;
 Type of emergencies which are likely to occur in the operation of any reservoir;
 Identification of the likely catastrophic flood in the event of any dam failure, along with probable areas,
population, structures and installations likely to be adversely affected due to flood water released from
the reservoir.
 Warning procedures, inundation maps and advance preparations for handling efficiently and in the
best possible manner the likely adverse situations especially to avoid loss of human life.

 Consultations in the preparation and updation process ;

 Every dam owner shall undertake a consultation process with all disaster management agencies and other
Departments of the State entrusted with disaster management and relief in the area likely to be affected
and owners of other dams in the immediate vicinity likely to be affected.
 Every dam owner, organisation and authority under the Act shall render necessary assistance to other
disaster management authorities to mitigate any disaster or emergency arising out of the specified dams.
 Comprehensive Dam Safety Evaluation

Obligation of owner of specified dam;

 Carry out Comprehensive Dam Safety Evaluation of each specified dam through an independent panel
of experts constituted as per regulations for the purpose of determining the conditions of the dam and its reservoir.
 First such evaluation shall be conducted within 5 years from the date of commencement of the Act,
and thereafter at regular intervals as specified by the regulations.
(Frequency : Switzerland -5 years, China 6-10 years, Canada 5-10 years, UK – 10 yrs, Japan-30 yrs)
 Comprehensive Dam Safety Evaluation has been made compulsory in case of;
 Major modification to the original structure or design criteria;
 Discovery of an unusual condition at the dam or reservoir rim;
 An extreme hydrological or seismic event.

 Dam Safety Review Panel;

 An Independent panel of experts shall be constituted by the States to carry out a comprehensive assessment of
the specified dams. Due to large number of dams in many States and timeline of five years set by the Act for the
first comprehensive evaluation, more than one DSRP in each State may be required.
 Offences and Penalties
 Punishment for obstruction etc.

Whoever, without reasonable cause-

 obstructs any officer or employee of the Central Government or the State Government, or a person
authorised by the NCDS/NDSA/SCDS/SDSO in the discharge of his functions under the Act; or

 refuses to comply with any direction given by or on behalf of the Central Government or the State
Government or the NCDS/NDSA/SCDS/SDSO under the Act,

shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine, or with
both, and if such obstruction or refusal to comply with directions results in loss of lives or imminent danger
thereof, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years.
 Offences and Penalties
 Offences by Departments of Government;

 Where an offence under the Act has been committed by a Department of the Government, the head of the
Department shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against
and punished accordingly unless he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or he
exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.

 Where it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable
to any neglect on the part of, any officer, other than the head of the Department, such officer shall
be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
 Offences and Penalties
 Offences by Companies;

 Where an offence under the Act has been committed by a company or body corporate, every person who
at the time the offence was committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to the
company, for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company, shall be
deemed to be guilty of the contravention and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
 Provided that nothing shall render any such person liable to any punishment provided in the Act, if he
proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised due
diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.

 Where it is proved that the offence was committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any
neglect on the part of any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such officer
shall also, be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished
accordingly.
 Offences and Penalties

 Cognizance of offences;

 No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this Act, except on a complaint made by the
Central Government or the State Government or a person authorised in this behalf by the NCDS/NDSA/SCDS/SDSO as
the case may be.

 No court inferior to that of a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the first class shall try any offence
punishable under this Act.
 Annual Report

 Annual report of safety status of specified dam;

 Every SDSO shall prepare annual report, within three months of the expiry of the preceding financial year, of
its activities and safety status of specified dams in the State and such report shall be forwarded to the NDSA and State
Government and that Government shall cause the same to be laid before each House of the State Legislature, where it
consists of two Houses or where such Legislature consists of one House, before that House.
 Every SDSO and every dam owner shall provide to NDSA, documentation of the projects, reports of
enquiries into failure and any other data, as and when required in format and manner as decided by NDSA.
 NDSA shall prepare a consolidated annual report of the dam safety activities in the country and submit the same to the
Central Government within six months of the expiry of the preceding financial year and that Government shall
cause the same to be laid before each House of Parliament.
KEY CHALLENGES
 KEY CHALLENGES
CAPACITY BUILDING
• Lack of expertise in dam owner’s
1 agencies in areas such as flood hazard
mapping, advanced hydraulic
simulations, and quantitative risk
assessment
• Trainings required to have long term
sustainability of intended objectives for
optimum benefits from existing assets

STRENGTHENING OF SDSO
• Thin manpower in SDSOs is a natter of
concern. State Governments have to
2 deploy dedicated more manpower to
da, safety organisations.
 KEY CHALLENGES
RESERVOIR SILTATION
3 • Increasing reservoir sedimentation, and
loss of a dam's functionality and
effectiveness represents a current
challenge in India. Currently, India have
a sedimentation rate of about 0.72%
per year. Till date a loos of gross storage
capacity of about 32 billion m3 is
estimated

INSTRUMENTATION & MONITORING

4 • Limited number of dams have desired
level of instrumentation in the country
 KEY CHALLENGES
FLOOD AND RISK MANAGEMENT
• Establishment of control centres for inter-
5 state and integrated reservoir operations
is still a paramount in India
• Implementation of expert decision-
support systems along with real time flood
forecasting systems for reservoir
operations rather than traditional
operation rule curves

LARGE STRUCTURAL INTERVENTIONS

• Approval of Environmental Impact
Studies, R&P Plan, EMP Plans, bid
6 documents etc. takes considerable
resources
 KEY CHALLENGES

CLIMATE CHANGE UNCERTAINTIES

7 • Significant changes in seasonal and
annual rainfall patterns and other
factors affecting streamflow are being
experienced in India

DEDICATED FUNDS FOR DAM SAFETY

• No or Meager fund allocation for
maintenance.
8 • State Governments have to allocate
sufficient funds for dam safety
management activities.
 KEY CHALLENGES
DAM DESIGN REPORTS AND DRAWINGS
9 • Drawings as constructed and related
design reports are not available with
project authorities in many cases. In
some others, existing drawings are not
readable
Summing Up
 Institutions will play a key role in implementation of Dam Safety
Act 2021
 Implementation of the act provisions require a multitude of disciplines and skills
 In order to assume the designated role, each of the institution at every level will have to
generate and maintain special skill sets.
 Role of competent expert institutions and individuals is key to the dam safety assurance
 Dam safety assurance regime will require capacity development in the
new areas and spread of new knowledge amongst the practitioners
 Dam safety should not be considered a one time exercise and perpetual surveillance is the key
for which all the institutions will have to play their own roles well.
 Lot of works and efforts await us for making this happen.
Thank you