The news this week that the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) has issued a show cause notice possibly on Sept 29-30 2025 to the Member (Engg) of Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA) regarding violation of the Dam Safety Act (DSA) 2021 in operation and maintenance of the Bargi Dam, pointing out “serious” and “gross” negligence and threatening action under sections 41 and 42 of the DSA.
Continue reading “DRP 120126: NDSA notice to NVDA on Bargi Dam Safety exposes India’s Dam Safety Mess”Tag: Dam Safety Act 2021
2025: Silt accumulation in Indian Dams: Reducing entry of silt is the only viable option
(Feature Image: Luhri-I HEP muck dump along Satluj river. Credit HNA, Aug 2024)
This annual overview highlights the critical issue of siltation in dams across India. Silt accumulation is defeating the very ‘multi-purposes’ for which they were built. While the reduced storage has been hampering dam-based water supplies, it is also leading to their fast filling up and untimely releases in monsoon season thus creating avoidable floods. It is in some case has also been resulting in plans to construct additional reservoirs and increase in dam height.
Continue reading “2025: Silt accumulation in Indian Dams: Reducing entry of silt is the only viable option “
2025: Govts, Judiciary Actions on Dam Safety in India
(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.
Continue reading “2025: Govts, Judiciary Actions on Dam Safety in India”
2024: Has NDSA made our dams any safer?
(Feature Image: Srisailam dam in Telangana. Source: Telangana Today)
This annual overview focusses on the functioning of National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) and related institutions in 2024 to understand if the functioning of these institutions have made Indian Dams any safer? Here functioning of Central Water Commission (CWC) is also important as CWC people head all the dam safety panels. The dam safety related institutions were formed following the passage of Dam Safety Act 2021 and hence there were promises and hopes that these institutions will make our dams safer.
Continue reading “2024: Has NDSA made our dams any safer?”
SANDRP 