Dam Safety and Rehabilitation in India

India is undertaking one of the world’s largest dam rehabilitation and modernization programmes aimed at strengthening ageing water infrastructure and improving dam safety amid rising climate and disaster risks.

Status of Dams in India

Global Position

India has:

• The world’s third-largest dam network

• After the United States and China

Number of Dams

• 6,628 specified dams

Ownership Pattern

• Around 98.5% owned by State Governments

States with Highest Number of Dams

1. Maharashtra

2. Madhya Pradesh

3. Gujarat

“Dams are critical national assets for irrigation, drinking water, flood control and energy security.”

Importance of Dams in India

1. Irrigation Support

• Backbone of agricultural productivity

2. Hydropower Generation

• Renewable energy source

3. Drinking Water Supply

• Supports urban and rural water needs

4. Flood Moderation

• Controls seasonal flooding

5. Industrial and Urban Development

• Supports economic growth and urbanization

Key Issues Related to Dam Safety

1. Ageing Infrastructure

Status

• About 26% of dams (1,681 dams) are over 50 years old

Concerns

• Structural weakness

• Material deterioration

• Increased maintenance burden

2. Sedimentation

Problem

Reservoirs have lost:

• Around 19% of gross storage capacity

due to:

• Silt accumulation

Impact

• Reduced water storage

• Lower hydropower efficiency

• Reduced flood cushion

3. Seismic Vulnerability

Some dams are located in:

• Earthquake-prone regions

Example

• Bhuj Earthquake (2001)

caused:

• Liquefaction in foundation of Chang Dam

4. Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs)

Climate change has increased:

• Risk of glacial lake bursts

Example

• Chungthang Dam, Sikkim (2023)

was damaged during:

• Flash floods caused by Glacial Lake Outburst Flood

5. Climate Change and Hydrological Variability

Changing rainfall patterns lead to:

• Extreme floods

• Erratic inflows

• Operational uncertainty

6. Poor Maintenance and Monitoring

Challenges include:

• Inadequate inspections

• Limited technical manpower

• Weak emergency preparedness

Dam Safety Initiatives in India

1. Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Programme (DRIP)

Overview

A multi-phase programme launched in:

• 2012

with support from:

• World Bank

Objectives

• Structural rehabilitation

• Safety inspections

• Emergency Action Plans

• Instrumentation and monitoring

Phases

• DRIP Phase I

• DRIP Phase II

• DRIP Phase III

Significance

• Enhances operational safety

• Improves disaster preparedness

“DRIP represents a shift from reactive repairs to preventive dam safety management.”

2. Dam Safety Act, 2021

Objective

Provides legal framework for:

• Surveillance

• Inspection

• Operation

• Maintenance of specified dams

Institutional Structure under the Act

A. National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS)

• Policy and technical guidance

B. National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA)

• Regulatory oversight body

C. State Committees on Dam Safety

• State-level coordination

D. State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs)

• Monitoring and inspections

3. DHARMA Platform

Full Form

Dam Health and Rehabilitation Monitoring Application

Purpose

• Digital monitoring platform for dams

Functions

• Real-time data management

• Inspection tracking

• Maintenance records

4. Mandatory Inspections

Pre-monsoon and post-monsoon inspections are compulsory for:

• All specified dams

Challenges in Dam Safety Governance

1. Financial Constraints

• High rehabilitation costs

2. Interstate Coordination Issues

• Shared river basin disputes

3. Technological Gaps

• Need for advanced sensors and AI monitoring

4. Climate Risks

• Existing dam designs may not suit extreme weather events

5. Emergency Response Preparedness

• Limited downstream evacuation planning

Importance of Modernising Dams

1. Water Security

• Ensures sustainable storage capacity

2. Disaster Risk Reduction

• Prevents catastrophic dam failures

3. Energy Stability

• Supports hydropower reliability

4. Climate Adaptation

• Builds resilience against extreme events

Way Forward

1. Adoption of Advanced Monitoring Systems

• Remote sensing

• IoT sensors

• AI-based predictive systems

2. Sediment Management

• Desiltation strategies

• Catchment treatment

3. Climate-Resilient Infrastructure

• Redesigning spillways and safety standards

4. Strengthening Institutional Capacity

• Training engineers and disaster managers

5. Community-Based Preparedness

• Early warning systems

• Public awareness programmes

“Dam safety is not merely an engineering issue but a critical component of human security and climate resilience.”

Conclusion

With one of the largest dam networks in the world, India faces significant challenges from ageing infrastructure, climate change, seismic risks and sedimentation. Through initiatives like DRIP, the Dam Safety Act, 2021 and digital monitoring systems such as DHARMA, India is moving toward a more scientific, resilient and preventive dam safety framework aimed at protecting lives, livelihoods and long-term water security.