One in Four Indian Dams Is Over 50, NCDS Announces Fresh Safety Initiatives

With over 1,700 of India's 6,628 large dams now more than 50 years old , the National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS) has approved a series of measures to strengthen surveillance, improve structural monitoring and enhance the long-term safety of the country's critical water infrastructure. The decisions, taken at the committee's 12th meeting chaired by the Chairman of the Central Water Commission (CWC) , are aimed at reinforcing the implementation of the Dam Safety Act, 2021 and ensuring ageing dams remain safe and operational through preventive maintenance and scientific monitoring.

The meeting, attended by representatives from 10 Central ministries and departments , seven states , State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs) and technical experts, reviewed progress made under the Act. The committee stressed the need to expedite the preparation of Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) , Comprehensive Dam Safety Evaluations (CDSEs) , Operation and Maintenance Manuals and Risk Assessment Studies for all specified dams before the statutory deadline of December 2026 .

Among the key decisions, the NCDS approved framing a new regulation to strengthen the surveillance and security of major dams in response to emerging threats to critical water infrastructure. It also agreed to amend safety inspection regulations and prepare technical guidelines on hazard classification, risk assessment, instrumentation, emergency planning and reservoir management. An accreditation framework for agencies involved in dam investigation, design, construction and quality control will also be explored to improve accountability and engineering standards.

The committee further resolved to continue specialised dam safety training for engineers at IIT Roorkee and IISc Bengaluru , while expanding collaboration with other premier engineering institutions to build technical capacity among dam-owning agencies.

India has the third-largest number of large dams in the world , and officials say nearly 26 per cent of these structures have entered the ageing category. While older dams are not automatically unsafe, prolonged exposure to foundation seepage, concrete deterioration, mechanical wear, reservoir sedimentation and increasingly intense weather events demands continuous monitoring and timely rehabilitation.

The Dam Safety Act, 2021 introduced a nationwide framework for mandatory inspections, emergency preparedness, hazard assessment and periodic safety evaluations. The latest decisions seek to strengthen its implementation by shifting from reactive repairs to risk-based asset management , allowing authorities to detect structural issues early, undertake preventive maintenance and extend the operational life of critical water infrastructure. The committee also reviewed recent dam incidents in Chhattisgarh , Sikkim , Punjab and Rajasthan , directing all states to ensure full compliance with the Act's safety provisions within the prescribed timeline.