(Feature Image: Experts visit Srisailam dam to assess its structural safety in May 2025. Source)
At national level, the NDSA has carried safety audit of 1853 large dams out of 6545 as of Nov. 25, 2025. In July 2025, the Central govt announced to reconstitute NCDS for a period of three years. Before this the NDSA in April 2025 organized a symposium on Dam Safety Act 2021. It has also released the updated version of National Register on Specified Dams 2025. At state level, the Tamil Nadu govt in July 2025 has planned to set up separate dam safety wing. The Punjab govt in May 2025 moved resolution in state assembly to annul Dam Safety Act and planned to enact its own dam safety bill.
The process for installation of 18th gate at Tungabhadra dam has started in Dec. 2025 and replacing of remaining 32 gates may take at least next six months. The Odisha cabinet in Feb. 2025 has approved ₹1068 cr for Hirakud dam maintenance under DRIP-III. The project will be executed over 6 years (2025-26 to 2030-31) with financial support from WB & ADB and the issue of installation of additional spillway at the dam has seen very little progress. To assess structural safety of Bhakra and Pong dams, the BBMB has prepared a ₹200 cr project. It will continue till 2029 and for 2025-26 (first part) ₹70 cr has been sanctioned.
At Judicial front, the SC continued hearing on Mullaperiyar dam safety issue. As a result, the Centre has formed a new supervisory committee under NDSA to oversee its safety matters. During a hearing in May 2025, the SC remarked that experts with specialized knowledge and not politicians are required to find a solution to the prolonged dispute. In Oct. 2025, the apex court sought responses from union and state govts while hearing a plea seeking comprehensive safety audit and remedial measures including possible decommissioning of the 130-year-old dam.
After, NGT and CAG intervention, the Telangana govt in Feb. 2025 decided to conduct seismic study of Mallannasagar dam. Regarding, amusement part near KRS dam, the Karnataka high court in June 2025 has issued notices to state and central govt agencies. There is no further update available in the case. In Kerala, the HC has closed its 2020 suo moto case into dam safety issues.
1 Safety audit of large dams under way According to the new database, a latest enumeration showed India had 6,545 dams and 83 under-construction ones. “As on Nov. 25, 2025, 1,853 dams had been screened and verified, marking the first nationwide risk prioritization exercise for dam safety,” the official said. The national audit will directly aid states in prioritizing rehabilitation and risk-mitigation investments to ensure public safety. Mandatory protocols are being put in place, a second official said. To comply with Section 38(1) of the Act, the NDSA issued a detailed template for states and dam owners to ensure that safety evaluations by independent panels of experts follow a “uniform, high-quality technical approach” across the country, according to a note.
Standardization has been a key measure to ensure compliance with the Act, authorities said. To ensure safe reservoir filling of newly constructed dams, National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) has issued a pre-filling standard operating procedure. The NDSA has also issued model terms of reference for recasting of drawings to help “dam owners update missing or outdated engineering documentation”, an essential requirement under Section 22(1) of the Act. “Emergency action plans are being uploaded steadily, and states have been requested to fast-track the remaining ones,” one of the officials said.
2 National Dam Safety Committee reconstituted The Centre in July 2025 announced the reconstitution of the National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS), which will function for a three-year term starting from its notification date. This was disclosed in a Gazette notification, as the committee has been revamped under the Dam Safety Act, 2021. Headed by the chairman of the Central Water Commission (CWC), the committee includes senior representatives from government bodies such as the NDSA, Central Electricity Authority, (CEA) Ministry of Environment, Geological Survey of India, India Meteorological Department, and the Indian Space Research Organization. In addition, the committee will feature officials from seven states: Karnataka, Punjab, Assam, Mizoram, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh. The revamped body, which includes three industry experts, has the mandate to invite additional national and international specialists as needed.
Symposium on “Dam Safety Act, 2021 Towards Integrated Dam Safety Management”, organized by NDSA, DoWR, RD & GR in the presence of Minister of State for Jal Shakti Dr. Raj Bhushan Choudhary in New Delhi on April 7, 2025. The minister highlighted that dams are getting old and more efforts are needed to take preventive measures for Dam Safety.
He encouraged stakeholders to view dam safety not merely as compliance, but as a commitment to human safety, ecosystem preservation, and national resilience. MoJS emphasized that every specified dam owner must earmark sufficient funds as mandated; and uphold the best global practices and advanced technology for a secure water future. He emphasized on the importance of Dam Health and Rehabilitation Monitoring Application, i.e. DHARMA Portal as a repository of data of all the specified dams of the country.
Key releases during the Symposium: The National Register of Specified Dams-2025 was released, providing a comprehensive database of all the 6628 Specified dams in the country; Guidelines for Preparing Operation & Maintenance Manual for Ungated Dams was released, aimed at improving safety protocols of dams; A Compendium on regulations published under the Dam Safety Act, 2021.
Secretary of the ministry pointed out that dam safety is becoming increasingly difficult with climate change. NHPC CMD claimed that NHPC is maintaining their Dam Safety Dam Management data through their In-house portal of NHPC, which is called “SAHAJ SEWA”.
3 Tamil Nadu Govt to establish separate dam safety wing As per Jul 2025 report, the WRD will establish a separate wing, SDSO, with a dedicated chief engineer for effective management of dam safety & implementation of related initiatives, including dam rehabilitation and improvement projects in TN. The SDSO will be the 15th wing of the WRD, bifurcated from the Operation & Maintenance Wing, and would adhere to the Dam Safety Act, 2021.
The State government recently issued an order, notifying the constitution of the SDSO to adhere to the requirements of the Act & the functions specified by it. The Act specifies that States with more than 30 dams must have an SDSO. Therefore, the formation of a wing was essential to prioritise the safety of dams that are several decades old. TN has 128 dams, including 90 under the WRD & 38 under the TN Generation and Distribution Corp (Tangedco).
4 Punjab Dam Safety Act must be annulled: Resolution The resolution, moved by the Punjab govt during a special session of the assembly on May 5, 2025 sought immediate annulment of Dam Safety Act-2021, calling it a direct attack on Punjab’s rights. Punjab water resources minister Barinder Kumar Goyal, who moved the resolution, said: “The BJP has been trying to take away the rights of Punjab through its govts in Haryana & at the Centre & the BBMB.”
“This law fully empowers the central government to directly control the rivers and dams of the states, even if the dam is entirely within the state’s borders. This is against India’s federal structure and undermines the sovereign right of states such as Punjab over their water. Therefore, this House demands from the central government that the Act be repealed immediately, and Government of Punjab rejects it completely,” Goyal said while reading out the resolution. Mann, while speaking in the House, also outrightly rejected the Dam Safety Act. “Punjab can protect its dams on its own. It doesn’t need anyone else,” he said.
The resolution also sought reorganisation of the BBMB. “In the meetings of the BBMB, Punjab is neither being heard nor are the rights of Punjabis being taken care of. So, the BBMB should be reorganised to protect the rights of Punjab,” it said.
The CM Bhagwant Mann on May 5 told the state Assembly that his government would soon draft a state dam safety Bill. The statement came after the House unanimously termed the central Dam Safety Act, 2021, an attack on the rights of the state.
The CM said this after Cabinet minister Barinder Kumar Goyal moved a resolution against the BBMB order allocating additional water from the Bhakra Dam to Haryana. The CM said both rivers belonged to Punjab as these flowed through the state, making these entirely the “rightful property of Punjab”. Mann said Haryana and Rajasthan had no direct connection with these rivers. However, the CM said Punjab’s waters had been diverted to other states by the BBMB for years. The CM alleged that meetings were being called by the board “at midnight” without consulting Punjab and under pressure from other states.
5 Mullaperiyar Dam SC asks govts which committee will be ‘more effective’ The Supreme Court on Jan. 20, 2025 orally asked the States of Tamil Nadu and Kerala to address it on whether the supervisory committee formed by the court would be more effective in taking care of the 129-year-old Mullaperiyar dam or the job must be given to a statutory committee envisaged under the Dam Safety Act of 2021. Next hearing on Feb. 19.
The apex court remarked that the safety concerns of the dam resemble a cartoon character who lives in fear of the sky falling on his head, while considering a group of petitions about safety of the Dam. Meanwhile, the Centre formed a new supervisory committee, chaired by the head of the NDSA, to oversee safety matters concerning the Mullaperiyar Dam. With this, the existing supervisory committee for the dam remains dissolved, transferring all responsibilities for the dam’s safety to the NDSA.
The members of the Periyar Vaigai Irrigation Farmers Association (PVIFA) threatened to protest at Kumuli on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border on 25 Jan against the inclusion of Kerala officials in a new panel formed by the Ministry of Jal Shakti on safety of Mullaiperiyar dam.
On Feb. 19, the bench said if the issues, including the clearance for felling trees, repair of the dam, construction of approach road, etc., were not settled amicably, the SC would adjudicate it. “It seems to us that a new supervisory committee along with its chairman has been appointed on Jan. 3, 2025. It must look into the prayers made by TN and find out the solutions preferably to be accepted by both sides. However, in the event of any dispute the committee is directed to submit a report in this court to adjudicate the left out issues,” the bench said.
The new supervisory committee inspected the main dam, baby dam, gallery, and the spillway shutters of the dam on Mar 22, following SC directive. After the visit, a meeting was held at Kumily. The members of the PVIFA staged a protest on Mar 22, demanding NDSA to fulfill their 14 charter points of demands, such as release of the resettlement agreement of 1979 & conduct fair enquiry on the lack of implementation of the Supreme Court’s 2006 & 2014 orders.
During further hearing in first week of May 2025, the SC asked both the states to implement supervisory committee recommendations and made interesting observation, “The CMs of Tamil Nadu and Kerala and our Prime Minister may be very respected persons. But in this particular field, they may not have the in-depth knowledge. That is why we wanted experts… Our interest is the safety and security of the dams,” Justice Dipankar Datta, a member of the three-judge Bench headed by Justice Surya Kant, remarked.
The SC on May 19 gave positive directions facilitating Tamil Nadu and Kerala to address and resolve long-contentious issues such as cutting trees that block access to the dam, transportation of materials to repair the approach roads and even grouting of the main super-structure of the dam.
The SC on Oct 13 sought responses from both states and Centre on an NGO’s plea for a comprehensive safety audit of the 130-year-old dam and remedial measures, including its possible decommissioning. The bench of CJI B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran also sought responses from National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and NDSA on the petition by ‘Save Kerala Brigade’, which expressed concern over the outdated dam, located in a seismic zone, posing a serious threat to the lives of 10 million people living downstream.
Chairing the fourth supervisory committee meeting, NDSA chair Anil Jain said on Nov. 11 the committee inspected various aspects of the dam, including its structure, instruments, hydro-mechanical components, and gallery. “We visually observed the condition of the dam after the 2025 monsoon. As of now, we have not found anything alarming or of a concerning nature. The dam is in good shape,” he said. He added that several issues between Tamil Nadu and Kerala were amicably resolved during the meeting.
The committee also discussed the next steps based on the upcoming report of the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) survey assessing the dam’s underwater condition. He further said that the supervisory sub-committees had finalized the scope of work for comprehensive dam safety evaluation. When asked about Tamil Nadu’s request for maintenance work on the baby dam, Anil Jain said it depended on obtaining permission from the MoEF for felling trees. “Both states have agreed to approach the MoEF to expedite the process of granting permission,” he said.
6 Tungabhadra Dam New crest gate at 19th sluice gate The Gujarat Hardware Tools and Machinery Project Company won the tender valued at Rs 1.9 crore for the construction of the 19th gate, and preparations for the gate commenced. Only the 19th gate will be constructed in Gadag, while Tungabhadra Board officials are considering starting work on the remaining 32 gates. Currently, the construction of the 19th gate is in progress and is expected to be installed by the end of June 2025.
The experts’ committee had advised the board not to store water beyond 80 per cent of its capacity, as the condition of the crest gates is poor. Accordingly, dam authorities are planning to discharge water into the river the moment the water level exceeds 80 per cent.
The six (gate number 11, 18, 20, 24, 27 and 28) rickety and defective crest gates of the dam have become a cause for worry to farmers. Water release from these crest gates has been stopped as the dam authorities claimed that they have lost 80 to 90% of their strength. Officials say that these six gates may break if water is released through them and that the other gates have around 50-60% strength. However, they maintained that there will be no problem as long as they maintain the storage level at 80 TMC against full reservoir capacity of 105 TMC till the gates are replaced before June 2026.
As per Nov. 14, 2025 report, the govt decided not to release water from Tungabhadra reservoir for second crop due to the installation of 33 gates at the dam. On Dec 5, 2025, the Ahmedabad-based Hardware Tools & Machinery Projects Ltd company, which bagged the contract for Rs 52 crore, arrived at the dam site. The company will take up full-fledged work to replace the gates only after the water level in the dam goes below the crest gate level.
According to Tungabhadra Board officials, a total of 15 gates are ready for installation and the remaining 18 gates will be manufactured in another three months. The officials said that it would take seven days to remove the old gate and another seven days to install a new one. It would take at least six months to replace all 33 gates.
On Dec 7, 2025, a portion of the 18th gate was cut & lifted from the dam. Sources estimate that parts of crest gates around the centre of the reservoir may be removed by Dec 3rd week.
7 Hirakud Dam to get additional spillways As per Jan. 2025 report, decade after the CWC recommended two additional spillways on the left and right dykes of Hirakud reservoir to protect the world’s longest earthen dam from further deterioration, none of them are yet to get off ground. The reason, delay in deciding whether the additional spillways would be built under World Bank (WB)-funded DRIP or the state govt would take up the project on its own. However, after the long delay, the govt has finally decided to include the project under DRIP.
One of the spillways was taken up by a joint venture of Tata Projects Ltd and Turkey-based AGE Group at an estimated ₹369 crore under DRIP-II in 2019, the state govt cancelled the work contract after the JV backed out citing delay in resolution of displacement issues in 2020.
A year later, the Odisha govt decided to construct the additional spillway with its own funding through Odisha Construction Corp (OCC). Accordingly, the project was re-estimated at ₹786 crore. But the project could not again take off due to procedural and approval delays. In May 2024, the Water Resources Dept (WRD) revised the estimate once again and decided to take up the additional spillway project with hydromechanical works on the left of Gandhi Hillock at Hirakud dam at a cost of ₹884.38 crore. But the project remained in the approval stage.
In Feb. 2025, the Odisha cabinet approved the DRIP-III for the Hirakud dam at an estimated cost of ₹1,066.38 crore. The project, to be executed over 6 years from 2025-26 to 2030-31, will receive funding from WB and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). There are three major components of DRIP-III. The centrepiece of the project involves construction of an additional spillway on the dam’s left dyke to manage excess flood water more effectively.
On Mar 8, 2025, a nine-member joint inspection team from the CWC and the WB visited the dam to assess plans for constructing an additional spillway under phase three of the DRIP.
The construction is expected to begin in April 2025. CWC chief engineer Rakesh Kashyap said, “We are exploring various options for additional water discharge. While the tendering process is our immediate focus, the entire construction is expected to take around 3 years.” Chief Engineer of Upper Mahanadi Basin, Sushil Kumar Behera, said tender for the additional spillway work will be floated soon after getting the administrative approval from the govt.
In Sept. 2025, Sudhir Kumar Sahu, additional chief engineer, Hirakud Dam Circle, said that while the dam’s overall strength remains good, superficial cracks and cavities have been identified upstream of the reservoir. Sahu said the identified structural issues were being addressed through periodic treatment. “CWC has told us to build another spillway, additional spillway. It is under process and MoU will be signed with the CWC,” the official said.
8 BBMB ₹200-cr project to assess structural safety of Bhakra & Pong As per Jan. 2025 report, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) is undertaking a Rs 200 cr project to assess the structural integrity and safety of Bhakra and Pong dams and implement corrective measures and technical upgradation where required. The WB project finances up to 70% of the outlay, while the remaining part is funded by the central and state agencies concerned. The project is expected to continue till 2029. “The first part of the project will be executed in 2025-2026 for which Rs 70 crore has been sanctioned,” a senior BBMB functionary said.
The project involves evaluation of the physical state of the structures, measuring the dams’ deflection due to the constant water pressure against it, detecting and sealing seepage, undertaking seismic studies and treatment of the catchment area for slope stabilisation, erosion and silt flow. There is also some upgradation of instrumentation along with the automation of downstream headworks and barrage gate operations as well as real-time data access on various operational parameters.
9 Karnataka: KRS Dam Amusement park: HC issues notice A vacation bench comprising Justices BM Shyam Prasad and KV Aravind issued notices to state govt, NDSA and other respondents. Next hearing on June 9, 2025. The PIL was filed by K Boraiah and four other residents, questioning the govt’s Mar 15, 2025 tender notification, inviting proposals for a commercial project spread across 198 acres, for an estimated cost of Rs 2,663 crore.
According to the petitioners, the proposal involves non-agricultural commercial development in a sensitive zone surrounding the KRS dam. They argue that the authorities have overlooked important considerations such as dam security, environmental and ecological impact, and the protected status of the area. They further submitted that the state govt had not sought prior approval from the NDSA, nor had it invited public feedback on the proposed development or disclosed its potential impacts.
The first notification was issued on Sept 9, 2024, and the third notification on March 15, 2025. The urgency for the writ petition is the arbitrary decision taken on May 13, 2025, calling for a tender for the project, in addition to the Cauvery arathi event at Rs 100 crore. They requested the court to stay the tender. The next hearing on June 9. The park represents a case of misplaced priorities, especially when farmers in the Cauvery basin have long demanded investments in canal modernization and improved water storage infrastructure. It is time to shelve this dangerous project before irreversible damage is done.
10 Mallannasagar NGRI to conduct seismic monitoring for 5 years As per Feb. 2025 report, the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Hyderabad, will take up seismic monitoring of the Sri Komaravelli Mallannasagar reservoir in Siddipet district for a period of five years. The NGT took up a suo motu cognizance after news reports and apprehensions that the reservoir was constructed without seismic studies.
Before this, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) also found fault with the government for constructing Mallannasagar without carrying out seismic studies. It also requested the NGRI, Hyderabad, to furnish an expert opinion on conducting further seismic studies for the reservoir. In this regard, Irrigation officials filed an affidavit before the NGT recently. “…The bill for depositing the necessary funds for the NGRI was prepared and submitted to the government in Jan. 2025. It will start the work once payment is made,” the affidavit said.
An official pointed out that seismic studies were not carried out even for Medigadda barrage, in Zone-III, a more dangerous area for earthquakes. Meanwhile, the preparation of Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for the reservoir has been entrusted to Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune, as required under the Dam Safety Act. The preparation of EAP has started and the report will be submitted by March 2025, the Irrigation dept informed the NGT.
Some Relevant Reports
Punjab Inquiry into Madhopur floodgate collapse The state govt ordered an inquiry into the collapse of three floodgates at the Madhopur Headworks on Aug. 27 2025 and placed three of its officers posted at the barrage under suspension. The SDSO has constituted a five-member expert committee – headed by AK Bajaj, a hydromechanical expert, with Pradeep Kumar Gupta, Sanjeev Suri, NK Jain and Vias Dev as members – to hold an inquiry.
The committee will investigate the structural, mechanical, hydrological, geotechnical and operational causes that led to the washing away of the gates at the barrage. It will also examine the condition and performance of the gates, the embedded parts, hoisting arrangements and stability of civil structures. The committee will suggest immediate and long-term remedial and rehabilitation measures. The upkeep of the barrage has come under scrutiny with experts alleging that the floodgates had corroded and jammed. The working of the floodgates had also not been tested frequently, it is alleged.
MP calls for Probe Gurdaspur member of Parliament Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa called for a high-level investigation into the matter. In a letter to CM on Sept. 21, 2025, Randhawa questioned the decision to suspend three officials, including an executive engineer and SDO, and demanded that accountability be fixed at the highest level. In his letter, Randhawa raised several key concerns, including the absence of senior officials at Ranjit Sagar Dam during the critical hours when water levels peaked. He also questioned why there was no prior coordination with downstream structures like Shahpur Kandi Dam and Madhopur headworks before the gates were opened. Additionally, he asked why the gates at Madhopur were not opened in advance or in sync with the release from Ranjit Sagar Dam.
Minister blames private firm WRD minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said a company (Level9 Biz) was hired on March 13, 2024, for Rs 22.72 lakh to review the headworks’ floodgates. The report, submitted by the company on Dec 12, 2024, claimed that the headworks could handle a water flow of up to 6.25 lakh cusec. However, the minister noted, the gates collapsed under a flow of less than 2 lakh cusec. As a result, the govt has sent a notice to the company for submitting an incorrect report that led to human loss and damaged the department’s reputation, said the minister on Aug 30. Asked why the Madhopur headworks were not opened before an alarming increase in water levels, Goyal said the decision was taken on the basis of the report submitted by the private company.
Kerala HC closes 2020 dam safety case The High Court has closed its suo moto case initiated in 2020 for safety evaluation of dams, monitoring dam shutters and regulating dam water levels, in light of frequent flooding. While doing so, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice S. Manu took note of various steps implemented by the State govt since 2020, to ensure better management of dams…
Govt withdraws controversial order In March 2025, the state govt decided to withdraw the controversial order issued by the WRD fixing a 20-meter buffer zone and another 100-meter construction restriction in the vicinity of dams under the department. The department issued the order on Dec 26, 2024 fixing guidelines for the issuance of NoC for construction activities in the vicinity of reservoirs under it, leading to resentment among those who reside on the premises of dams or their catchment areas.
Tamil Nadu Progress in DRIP As per Feb. 2025 report, the WRD would soon start work to rehabilitate Vaigai dam and carry out catchment area treatment works at a cost of ₹20 cr. Similarly, tender is being finalized for works to repair the Bhavanisagar dam across Bhavani river at a cost of ₹19.89 cr. “We are also preparing proposals for dam rehabilitation project in Willington (Cuddalore dist) & catchment area treatment at Mettur dam,” said an official.
Officials noted many major dams were nearly 5-7 decades old and needed to be rehabilitated for hydrological safety. These projects would be implemented based on the recommendations of the Dams Safety Review Panel. The dept is awaiting World Bank’s nod to start renovation works in Anaikuttam dam in Virudhunagar dist, Mirugandanadhi dam in Tiruvannamalai dist & Amaravathy dam.
While the ₹90 cr project in Sathanur dam is nearing completion, the dept has so far finished nearly 80% of the works at Sholayar dam. Two other dams-Kelavarapalli and Upper Nirar have been renovated. Instrumentation has been finished for real time water level monitoring and measuring various weather parameters in 17 dams so far. The DRIP-II worth nearly ₹610.26 cr would be completed by Dec. 2027.
Govt to restore 5 dams at 510 cr As per Sept. 2025 report, at least 5 dams Sathanur, Kelavarapalli, Bhavani Sagar, Sholayar, and Upper Nirar will undergo a major renovation at a cost of Rs 510 cr under the DRIP to address leakages, replace shutters, strengthen side walls, and restore catchment areas. WRD engineer-and-chief S Gopalakrishnan said they have another five dams proposed under the DRIP Phase-II scheme. He added that works for DRIP Phase-III are also underway. “For DRIP-III, we only have Rs 66 cr funding from the World Bank. So, for the third phase, the state govt will fund the restoration of more dams with Rs 2,000 cr funding,” he said.
Telangana: Nagarjuna Sagar Dam Maintenance nearing completion Annual maintenance works on the Nagarjuna Sagar dam and its 26 crest gates were nearing completion around second week of June 2025. Major tasks including the overhauling and sealing of all 26 crest gates have been completed. Trial runs of the gates and greasing of their ropes are currently in progress. Proposals related to spillway maintenance have been submitted, to completed by the end of July 2025.
Maharashtra: Ambazari Dam Escape gate project hits delays Civic chief Abhijeet Chaudhari admitted before the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on April 24, 2025 that a delay in administrative approval for redesigned escape gates at Ambazari Dam was caused by procedural hold-ups linked to the municipal budget software system’s annual upgrade.
In an affidavit filed in response to a PIL filed by Ramgopal Bachuka and others regarding safety and flood management concerns at the dam, Chaudhari explained that the irrigation dept initially sought administrative clearance for Rs11 cr in Aug 2024, which NMC granted the following month. However, the dept later requested revised approval for Rs 6.6 cr in Feb 2025 after redesigning the gates as radial structures. This second request was only cleared on April 23. The irrigation department informed that the tender process was underway, with the financial bid set to be opened soon and once awarded, would take nine months for completion.
Tamghar Dam Cabinet approves ₹315cr for dam’s repair The state cabinet on Feb. 04, 2025 approved Rs 315.05 crore for the repair and strengthening of Temghar dam’s wall, two years after the proposal was sent for approval. The allotment of funds has paved the way to undertake the remaining works of plugging leakages and strengthening the dam’s wall. About 90% of the leakages were repaired in the first phase of the work, which ended over two years ago. The remaining work has been pending since then because of lack of funds.
Goa: Tillari Dam Concerns over illegal stone mining For over a week now, locals and environmentalists have been protesting at Tillari against alleged illegal stone quarrying being carried out near the Tillari reservoir that supplies water to both Goa and Mah. On Mar 12, 2025, Goa’s minister for water resources, Subhash Shirodkar, said the chief engineer of Goa’s WRD, Pramod Badami, had already written to the Mah govt and is awaiting a response.
The Sindhudurg’s District Collector, Anil Patil issued a directive to temporarily halt operations of stone quarries and crushing units as well as transportation near the Tillari dam. 7 such units were operational in the ecologically sensitive area. The order issued by the collector states that the decision was taken following a discussion with officials who pointed out that the mining activities can have detrimental impact on the Tillari dam as well as water in the village.
Amthane Dam Work of new gates tendered The Gates of the Amhane dam were found to be jammed on Jan. 24, 2025 when they needed to be opened in emergency situation. Surprisingly, after the gates were jammed, the officials realized that they did not have the drawings of the gates, which could be used to repair the gates. In this scenario, the efforts of available divers proved futile and Navy’s divers had to be engaged to cut the gates open.
Gujarat Kadana Dam Gates replaced after 5 decades The irrigation department in March 2025 started the process of changing the gates of Gujarat’s third largest dam and expected to change two of the 27 gates by 2025 monsoon. Work on the dam was completed in 1978. The dam has 21 gates on the main spillway and six on the additional spillway. 9 gates are to be replaced at a cost of Rs 18.24 Cr in first phase. Each gate weighs 120 T. Replacement of all 27 gates may take 5 years. A committee appointed under the DRIP suggested that the gates should be changed. Examination of the gates revealed wear and tear as well as some rusting.
Madhya Pradesh Bargi Dam safe: MP govt On Sept 7, 2025 a video purportedly showing seepage from the Bargi Dam went viral, raising concerns over its safety. “On Sept 8, the dam was jointly inspected by a team from the CWC from Bhopal and the Bureau of Designs. After the technical examination, the dam was found to be completely safe,” Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Dr Rajesh Rajora said. “NDSA consultant U S Vidyarthi, Director the CWC Kayyin Mohammad, other senior officials and experts visited the site and according to all of them, the Bargi Dam is safe,” Rajora said.
“The dam has attained its full capacity level (following heavy rains in the upper catchment areas). There is seepage in a part of the dam”: Jabalpur district collector Deepak Saxena. The breach was found in the Block 3/10 (out of total 30 blocks) of the 5,357-m long dam, Jabalpur district collector Deepak Saxena said. The full reservoir level of the dam is 422.76 m, water level has reached 423.05 m, with inflow of 1775 cumecs. With dam running full, nine gates were opened on Sept 3 and 6 more later when the dam was to be literally overflowing.
Tripura: Dumbur HEP NHPC team conducts study Tripura’s lone HEP commissioned in 1984 suffered serious damage due to the unprecedented flood in Sept 2024. “As part of the revival plan, a 6-member expert team of NHPCL visited the Dumbur HEP. During the 3-day visit, the team carried out a study on the pros and cons of the state’s lone HEP”, managing director of Tripura State Electricity Corporation (TSECL), Bishwajit Bose said.
“We are waiting for the Detailed Project Report (DPR) from the NHPC on the revival plan of the HEP. Once the DPR is received, the govt will take the final decision on how to revive the power plant with increased power generation capacity”, he said. He said the per unit cost of electricity stands at Rs 3.86 at Dumbur HEP while it is around Rs 5.9 per unit in any gas-based power project. The Dumbur HEP had played a significant role in meeting the state’s electricity demand until the 1990s. Launched in 1972, the project led to the eviction of a large number of tribal inhabitants. However, the project has faced considerable setbacks in recent years.
Meghalaya Umiam Dam Govt looks for long-term safety solution “We always call it the Umiam Bridge, but the Power Dept’s concern is more about the health of the dam. After the renovation work, seepage has been minimized. We have restricted the passage of heavy vehicles solely for the dam’s safety,” Power Minister AT Mondol said in March 2025. The minister acknowledged the pressing challenge of determining the long-term fate of the bridge once its extended lifespan expires.
Sikkim Bi-Monthly safety inspection of Kalez HEP A bi-monthly inspection of 5 MW Kalez HEP of Kundan Hydro Power Project Pvt. Ltd. in Dentam was carried out on Nov 6, 2025 by a district team led by Ganesh Kumar Rai, DPO (DDMA). Officials directed the project management to complete essential repairs, including a footpath and fencing around the Desilting Tank, within a month. As per Fire and Emergency Services guidelines, two hydrants with a minimum storage capacity of 50,000 liters, sprinkler systems, and smoke and heat detection devices are to be installed outside the power house.
Odisha World Bank on EAPs The WB team in May 2025 appreciated the state’s initiative in preparing EAPs for 25 dams. They emphasized the importance of integrating the EAPs into the state disaster management plan. Initially, the EAP will be implemented on a pilot basis in one or two districts, followed by expansion to all districts. A budgetary provision of Rs 200 cr has been made for the scheme, which aims at rehabilitating other distressed dams within the state, further strengthening dam safety and resilience.
Himachal Pradesh Meeting to assess dam safety A high-level virtual meeting to assess dam safety preparedness in the state was held on Jun 2, 2025, with senior officials from 23 concerned dam authorities and officials from the Dept of Energy attending. It was emphasized that robust inter-agency communication, real-time monitoring, and prompt dissemination of warnings to vulnerable downstream communities should be mandatorily ensured. The meeting was convened in anticipation of the upcoming monsoon season, with a specific focus on reviewing the implementation of safety standards in accordance with the CWC Guidelines and the Dam Safety Act, 2021. Detailed reports were presented on the structural and operational safety of major dams, including key facts and figures.
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