THE DAM SAFETY ACT, 2021 
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ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 
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CHAPTER I 

PRELIMINARY 

SECTIONS 

1.  Short title, extent and commencement. 
2.  Declaration as to expediency of Union control. 
3.  Application. 
4.  Definitions. 

CHAPTER II 

NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON DAM SAFETY 

5.  Constitution of National Committee.. 
6.  Functions of National Committee. 
7.  Meetings of National Committee. 

CHAPTER III 

NATIONAL DAM SAFETY AUTHORITY 

8.  Establishment of National Dam Safety Authority. 
9.  Functions of Authority. 
10.  Officers and Employees of Authority. 

CHAPTER IV 

STATE COMMITTEE ON DAM SAFETY 

11.  Constitution of State Committee on Dam Safety. 
12.  Functions of State Committee. 
13.  Meetings of State Committee. 

CHAPTER V 

STATE DAM SAFETY ORGANISATION 

14.  Establishment of State Dam Safety Organisation. 
15.  Officers and employees of State Dam Safety Organisation. 

CHAPTER VI 

DUTIES AND FUNCTIONING IN RELATION TO DAM SAFETY 

16.  Surveillance and inspection. 
17.  Vulnerability and hazard classification of dams. 
18.  Maintenance of log books. 
19.  Records of dam failures and dam incidents. 
20.  Instructions on safety of specified dams. 
21.  Funds for maintenance and repairs. 
22.  Technical documentation. 

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SECTIONS 

23.  Qualifications and experience of individuals responsible for safety of specified dams. 
24.  Jurisdiction of State Dam Safety Organisation and Authority. 
25.   Cost of investigation. 
26.  Construction or alteration of dams. 
27.  Initial filling of reservoirs. 
28.  Operation and maintenance. 
29.  Responsibility of owner of specified dam. 

CHAPTER VII 

SAFETY, INSPECTION AND DATA COLLECTION 

30.  Dam safety unit. 
31.  Inspection. 
32.  Instrumentations to be installed in every specified dam. 
33.  Establishment of hydro-meteorological station. 
34.  Installations of seismological station. 

CHAPTER VIII 

EMEGENCY ACTION PLAN AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT 

35.  Obligation of owner of specified dam. 
36.  Emergency action plan. 
37.  Assistance to other disaster management authorities. 

CHAPTER IX 

COMPREHENSIVE DAM SAFETY EVALUTION 

38.  Comprehensive dam safety evaluation. 
39.  Compulsory evaluation in certain cases. 
40.  Reports of comprehensive evaluation. 

CHAPTER X 

OFFENCES AND PENALTIES 

41.  Punishment for obstruction, etc. 
42.  Offences by Departments of Government. 
43.  Offence by companies. 
44.  Cognizance of offences. 

CHAPTER XI 

MISCELLANEOUS 

45.  Annual report of safety status of specified dam. 
46.  Safety measures in respect of dams other than specified dams. 
47.  Safety measures in respect of dams located outside territory of India. 
48.  Act to have overriding effect. 
49.  Power to amend Schedules. 
50.  Power of Central Government to give directions. 
51.  Vacancies,  etc.,  not  to  invalidate  proceedings  of  National  Committee  on  Dam  Safety 

  Authority and State Committee on Dam Safety. 

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SECTIONS 

52.  Power of Central Government to make rules. 
53.  Power of State Government to make rules. 
54.  Power to make regulations by Authority. 
55.  Rules and regulations to be laid before Parliament. 
56.  Power to remove difficulties. 

THE FIRST SCHEDULE. 

THE SECOND SCHEDULE. 

THE THIRD SCHEDULE. 

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THE DAM SAFETY ACT, 2021 

ACT NO. 41 OF 2021 

[13th December, 2021.] 

An Act to provide for surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of the specified dam 
for prevention of dam failure related disasters and to provide for institutional mechanism to 
ensure their safe functioning and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. 

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventy-second Year of the Republic of India as follows:— 

CHAPTER I 

PRELIMINARY 

1.  Short  title,  extent  and  commencement.—(1)  This  Act  may  be  called  the  Dam  Safety  Act, 

2021. 

(2) It extends to the whole of India. 

(3)  It  shall  come  into  force  on  such  date1 as  the  Central  Government  may,  by  notification  in  the 

Official Gazette, appoint. 

2. Declaration as to expediency of Union control.—It is hereby declared that it is expedient in the 
public  interest  that  the  Union  should  take  under  its  control  the  regulation  of  uniform  dam  safety 
procedure for specified dam to the extent hereinafter provided 

3.  Application.—Save  as  provided  under  this  Act,  it  applies  to  the  owner  of  every  specified                  

dam, — 

(a) being a public sector undertaking or institution or a body owned or controlled by the Central 
Government or a State Government or jointly by one or more Governments, as the case may be; 
and 

(b)  being  an  undertaking  or  company  or  institution  or  a  body  other  than  those  owned  or 

controlled by the State Government or the Central Government, as the case may be. 

4. Definitions.—In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, — 

(a) "alteration of dam" means alterations or repairs as may directly affect the safety of the dam 

or reservoir; 

(b)  "annual  report"  means  a  report  giving  the  activities  of  the  Authority  and  the  State  Dam 
Safety  Organisation  and  the  safety  status  of  the  specified  dams  falling  under  their  jurisdiction 
during each financial year; 

(c) "appurtenant structure" means the structure being— 

(i) spillways, either in the dam or separate therefrom; 

(ii)  low  level  outlet  structure  and  water  conduits  such  as  tunnels,  pipelines  or  penstocks, 

either through the dam or its abutments or reservoir rim; 

1.  30th December, 2021,  vide notification  No. S.O.5422(E), dated 30th December, 2021,  see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, 
Part II, sec. 3 (ii). 

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(iii) hydro-mechanical equipment including gate, valve, hoist, elevators; 

(iv) energy dissipation and river training structure; and 

(v) other associated structures acting integrally with the dam or its reservoir or reservoir rim; 

(d) "Authority" means the National Dam Safety Authority established under section 8; 

(e) "dam" means any artificial barrier and its appurtenant structure constructed across rivers or 
tributaries  thereof  with  a  view  to  impound  or  divert  water  which  also  include  barrage,  weir  and 
similar water impounding structures but does not include— 

(a) canal, aquaduct, navigation channel and similar water conveyance structures; 

(b) flood embankment, dike, guide bund and similar flow regulation structures; 

(f)  "dam  failure"  means  any  failure  of  the  structure  or  operation  of  a  dam  which  leads  to 
uncontrolled  flow  of  impounded  water  resulting  in  downstream  flooding,  affecting  the  life  and 
property of the people and the environment including flora, fauna and riverine ecology. 

Explanation.—For  the  purposes  of  this  clause,  failure  in  the  operation  shall  mean  such  faulty 

operations of the dam which are inconsistent with the operation and maintenance manual; 

(g) "dam incident" means all such problems occurring to a dam that have not degraded into a 

dam failure, and includes— 

(i) any structural damage to the dam and the appurtenant structure; 

(ii) any unusual reading of any instrument in the dam; 

(iii) any unusual seepage or leakage through the dam body; 

(iv) any unusual change in the seepage or leakage regime; 

(v) any boiling or artesian condition noticed below the dam; 

(vi) any sudden stoppage or unusual reduction in seepage or leakage from the foundation or 

body of the dam or any of its galleries; 

(vii) any malfunction or inappropriate operation of gates; 

(viii) occurrence of flood, the peak of which exceeds the available flood discharge capacity 

of the dam or seventy per cent. of the approved design flood; 

(ix) occurrence of flood, which resulted in encroachment on the available freeboard, or the 

approved design freeboard; 

(x)  any  unusual  erosion  in  the  near  vicinity  up  to  five  hundred  metres  downstream  of  the 

  spillway or waste-weir; and 

(xi) any other occurrence which a prudent dam engineer may relate to dam safety concerns; 

(h) "dam safety unit" means a dam safety unit of any specified dam referred to in section 30; 

(i) "distress condition" means the occurrence or potential development of such conditions in the 
dam  or  appurtenance  structure  or  its  reservoir  or  reservoir  rim,  which  if  left  unattended  to,  may 
impede the safe operation of dam for its intended benefits or may pose serious risks to the life and 
property of people and the environment including flora, fauna and riverine ecology; 

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(j)  "documentation"  means  all  permanent  records  including  electronic  records  concerning 
investigation,  design,  construction,  operation,  performance,  maintenance,  major  repair,  alteration, 
enlargement  and  safety  of  dams  and  includes  design  memorandum,  construction  drawings, 
geological reports, reports of specialised studies simulating structural and hydraulic response of the 
dam,  changes  made  in  design  and  drawings,  quality  control  records,  emergency  action  plan, 
operation  and  maintenance  manual,  instrumentation  readings,  inspection  and  testing  reports, 
operational reports, and dam safety review reports and other similar reports; 

(k) "enlargement of dam" means any change in the scope of an existing dam or reservoir, which 

raises water storage elevation or increases the volume of water impounded by the dam; 

(l) "Government" means the Central Government or a State Government, as the case may be; 

(m)  "inspection"  means  on-site  examination  of  any  component  of  a  dam  and  its  appurtenant 

structure; 

(n) "investigation" means collection of evidence, detailed examination, analysis or scrutiny of a 
specific problem pertaining to the dam and its appurtenant or a part thereof and includes laboratory 
testing,  in-situ  testing,  geological  exploration,  model  testing  and  mathematical  simulation  of  the 
problem; 

(o)  "National  Committee"  means  the  National  Committee  on  Dam  Safety  constituted 

under section 5; 

(p) "notification"  means  a  notification  published  in the  Official  Gazette  and  the term  "notify" 

shall be construed accordingly; 

(q)  "operation  of  dam"  means  elements  of  the  use,  control  and  functioning  of  the  dam  which 

may primarily affect the storage, release of water and the structural safety of the dam; 

(r) "operation  and  maintenance  manual"  means  the  written  instructions  that  provide  operation 
procedures,  maintenance  procedures,  emergency  procedures  and  any  other  features  necessary  for 
the safe operation of dam; 

(s) "owner of specified dam" means the Central Government or a State Government or jointly 
by one or more Governments or public sector undertaking or local authority or company and any or 
all of such persons or organisations, who own, control, operate, or maintain a specified dam; 

(t) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made by the Central Government or, as the case may 

be, by the State Government; 

(u) "regulations" means the regulations made by the Authority under this Act; 

(v) "remedial measures" means such structural or non-structural measures, as may be required in 
relation  to  the  specified  dam  or  appurtenant  structure  or  reservoir  or  reservoir  rim  or  catchment 
area of reservoir for the purpose of removing or mitigating the distress condition of the specified 
dam; 

(w) "reservoir" in relation to a dam shall mean any spread of water impounded by a specified 

dam; 

(x)  "specified  dam"  means  a  dam  constructed  before  or  after  the  commencement  of  this  Act, 

which is, — 

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(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; 

(y) "State Committee" means the State Committee on Dam Safety constituted under sub-section 

(1) of section 11; 

(z)  "State  Dam  Safety  Organisation"  means  the  State  Dam  Safety  Organisation  established 

under section 14; and 

(za) "vulnerability and hazard classification" means the system or systems of classifying dams 

on the basis of their condition, location, damage or hazard potential. 

CHAPTER II 

NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON DAM SAFETY 

5.  Constitution  of  National  Committee.—(1)  With  effect  from  such  date  as  the  Central 
Government  may,  by  notification,  appoint,  there  shall  be  constituted, for  the  purposes  of this  Act, a 
National  Committee  to  be  known  as  the  National  Committee  on  Dam  Safety  consisting  of  the 
following members, namely: — 

(a) the Chairman, Central Water Commission—Chairperson, ex officio; 

(b)  not  exceeding  ten  representatives  of  the  Central  Government  not  below  the  rank  of  Joint 
Secretary  to  that  Government  or  equivalent  dealing  with  matters  relating  to  dam  engineering  or 
dam safety, nominated by the Central Government—Members, ex officio; 

(c)  not  exceeding  seven  representatives  of  the  State Governments  of  the level of  Engineer-in-

Chief or equivalent by rotation, nominated by the Central Government—Members, ex officio; and 

(d) not exceeding three specialists in the field of dam safety and allied fields nominated by the 

Central Government—Members. 

(2)  The  National  Committee  shall  be  constituted  within  a  period  of  sixty  days  from  the  date  of 

commencement of this Act, and shall be reconstituted for every three years thereafter. 

6.  Functions  of  National  Committee.—(1)  The  National  Committee  shall  discharge  such 
functions  as  specified  in  the  First  Schedule  as  may  be  necessary  to  prevent  dam  failure  related 
disasters and to maintain standards of dam safety. 

(2) The National Committee may, in discharge of its functions, constitute such sub-committees as it 
may  consider  necessary  to  assist it  and  the  secretarial  assistance  to the  National  Committee  and  the 
sub-committees shall be provided by the Authority. 

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(3)  The  knowledge  and  information  collected  or  generated  by  the  National  Committee  shall  be 

disseminated to all stakeholders by the Authority. 

7. Meetings of National Committee.—(1) The National Committee shall meet at such times and 
places and shall observe such rules of procedure in regard to the transaction of business at its meetings 
in the manner as may be prescribed by the Central Government: 

Provided  that  the  National  Committee  shall  meet  twice  in  a  year  and  one  meeting  shall  be  held 

before the onset of the monsoon season. 

(2) The National Committee may invite the representative of the owner of any specified dam and 
such other experts in dam safety (including international experts) as it may consider appropriate for the 
discharge of its functions. 

(3)  The  expenditure  incurred  on  the  National  Committee  shall  be  in  such  manner  as  may  be 

prescribed by the Central Government. 

CHAPTER III 

NATIONAL DAM SAFETY AUTHORITY 

8.  Establishment  of  National  Dam  Safety  Authority.—(1)  With  effect  from  such  date  as  the 
Central  Government  may  by  notification,  appoint, there  shall  be  established  for  the  purposes of  this 
Act, a National Dam Safety Authority, within a period of sixty days from the date of commencement 
of this Act. 

(2) The Authority shall be headed by an officer not below the rank of Additional Secretary to the 
Government of India or equivalent to be appointed by the Central Government who have knowledge 
of, and adequate qualification, experience and capacity in, dealing with problems relating to the dam 
engineering and dam safety management. 

(3)  The  headquarters  of  the  Authority  shall  be  at  the  National  Capital  territory  of  Delhi  and  the 

Authority may establish offices at other places in India. 

(4) The Authority shall comply with such directions as may, from time to time, be given to it by the 

Central Government. 

9. Functions  of  Authority.—(1) The Authority shall discharge such functions as specified in the 
Second Schedule as may be necessary to implement the policy, guidelines and standards evolved by 
the National Committee for proper surveillance, inspection and maintenance of specified dams and for 
such  purposes,  it  shall  have  the  power  to  enforce  the  attendance  of  any  person  and  call  for  any 
information as may be necessary. 

(2) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in sub-section (1), the Authority shall make all 
endeavours to resolve any issue between the State Dam Safety Organisations of States or between a 
State Dam Safety Organisation and any owner of a specified dam in that State. 

(3)  Every  decision  of  the  Authority  taken  in  respect  of  matters  under  this  Act  shall  be  final  and 

binding upon all the parties to the issue. 

10. Officers and Employees of Authority.—(1) The Central Government shall, for the purpose of 
enabling the Authority to perform functions under this Act, provide such number of officers and other 
employees as it may consider necessary: 

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Provided that the officers and other employees shall have such qualifications and experience in the 
field  of  dam  safety  including  dam-design,  hydro-mechanical  engineering,  hydrology,  geo-technical 
investigation,  instrumentation,  dam-rehabilitation  or  such  other  fields  as  may  be  prescribed  by  the 
Central Government. 

(2)  The  functions,  powers,  terms  and  conditions  of  service  of  the  officers  and  other  employees 

appointed under sub-section (1) shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government. 

CHAPTER IV 

STATE COMMITTEE ON DAM SAFETY 

11.  Constitution  of  State  Committee  on  Dam  Safety.—(1)  With  effect  from  such  date  as  the 
State Government may, by notification, appoint, there shall be constituted, for the purposes of this Act, 
a State Committee on Dam Safety consisting of the following members, namely:— 

(a)  the  Engineer-in-Chief  or  equivalent  officer  of  the  Department  of  the  State  responsible  for 

Dam Safety—Chairperson, ex officio; 

(b)  technical  and  scientific  officers  of  the  rank  of  Chief  Engineer,  not  exceeding  six  persons, 
from  such  Departments  as  may  be  decided  by  the  State  Government  or  from  such  other 
organisations owing specified dams—Members; 

(c) the Chief Engineer or equivalent level officer of each such upstream States in cases where 

reservoir area of any of the specified dam of the State extends to another State—Members; 

(d) the Chief Engineer or equivalent level officer of each such downstream State in cases where 

flood release of any of the specified dam of the State flows to a neighbouring State—Members; 

(e)  one  representative  of  the  Central  Water  Commission  not  below the rank  of  Director  to be 

nominated by the Chairman, Central Water Commission—Member; 

(f)  experts  in  the  field  of  hydrology  or  dam  designs,  not  exceeding  three,  from  engineering 

institutes--Members; and 

(g) one representative of the Central Electricity Authority not below the rank of Director to be 

nominated by the Chairman, Central Electricity Authority—Member. 

(2) The State Committee shall be constituted within a period of hundred and eighty days from the 

date of commencement of this Act, and reconstituted for every three years thereafter. 

 12. Functions of State Committee.—(1) The State Committee shall discharge such functions as 
specified in the Third Schedule as may be necessary to prevent dam failure related disasters under this 
Act as per guidelines, standards and other directions on dam safety issued by the Authority. 

(2) The State Committee, in discharge of its functions, shall be assisted by such sub-committees as 
it  may  consider  necessary,  and  the  secretarial  assistance  to  the  State  Committee  as  well  as  its  sub-
committees shall be provided by the concerned State Dam Safety Organisation. 

13.  Meetings of State Committee.—(1) The State Committee shall meet at such times and places 
and  shall  observe  such  rules  of  procedure  in regard  to  the transaction  of  business  at its  meetings  as 
may be prescribed by the State Government: 

Provided that the State Committee shall meet twice in a year and one meeting shall be held before the 
onset of the monsoon season. 

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(2) The State Committee may invite the representative of the owner of any specified dam and such 

other experts in Dam Safety as it may consider appropriate, for the discharge of its functions. 

(3) The expenditure incurred on the meetings of the State Committee shall be in the manner as may 

be prescribed by the State Government. 

(4)  The  specialist  members  and  other  expert  invitees  who  attend  the  meetings  of  the  State 
Committee or its sub-committees shall be paid such fees and allowances as may be prescribed by the 
State Government. 

CHAPTER V 

STATE DAM SAFETY ORGANISATION 

14. Establishment of State Dam Safety Organisation.—(1) The State Government shall, for the 
purposes of this Act, by notification, establish in the Department dealing with dam safety, a separate 
organisation, to be known as the State Dam Safety Organisation, within a period of hundred and eighty 
days from the date of commencement of this Act: 

Provided that in States having more than thirty specified dams, the State Dam Safety Organisation 
shall  be  headed  by  an  officer  not  below  the  rank  of  Chief  Engineer  or  equivalent,  and  in  all  other 
cases,  the  State  Dam  Safety  Organisation  shall  be  headed  by  an  officer  not  below  the  rank  of 
Superintendent Engineer or equivalent. 

(2) The State Dam Safety Organisation shall be responsible to, and report to, the technical head of 

the Department dealing with Dam Safety. 

(3) The organisational structure and work procedures of the State Dam Safety Organisation shall be 

such as may be prescribed by the State Government. 

(4) The administrative and other expenses of the State Dam Safety Organisation shall be borne by 

the respective State Government. 

15.  Officers  and  employees  of  State  Dam  Safety  Organisation.—(1)  The  State  Government 
shall, having regard to the number of specified dams in that State, provide such number of officers and 
employees  to  the  State  Dam  Safety  Organisation  as  it  may  consider  necessary  for  the  efficient 
functioning of the said Organisation: 

Provided that the officers and employees shall have such qualifications and experience in the field 
of  dam  safety  including  dam-design,  hydro-mechanical  engineering,  hydrology,  geo-technical 
investigation, instrumentation, dam-rehabilitation or such other field as may be prescribed by the State 
Government. 

(2) The functions and powers of the officers and employees appointed under sub-section (1) shall 

be such as may be prescribed by the State Government. 

CHAPTER VI 

DUTIES AND FUNCTIONING IN RELATION TO DAM SAFETY 

16. Surveillance and inspection.—(1) Every State Dam Safety Organisation shall, — 

(a) keep perpetual surveillance; 

(b) carry out inspections; and 

(c) monitor the operation and maintenance,  

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of all specified dams falling under their jurisdiction to ensure continued safety of such specified dams 
and take such measures as may be necessary to address safety concerns that are noticed with a view to 
achieve  satisfactory  level  of  dam  safety  assurance  as  per  such  guidelines,  standards  and  other 
directions on dam safety as may be specified by the regulations. 

(2) The State Dam Safety Organisation, for the purpose of enabling it to make decisions compatible 
with public safety, shall make or cause to be made such investigations and shall gather or cause to be 
gathered  such  data  as  may  be  required  for  proper  review  and  study  of  the  various  features  of  the 
design, construction, repair and enlargement of dams, reservoirs and appurtenant structures under their 
jurisdiction. 

17. Vulnerability and hazard classification of dams.—The State Dam Safety Organisation shall 
classify each dam under their jurisdiction as per such vulnerability and hazard classification criteria as 
may be specified by the regulations. 

18.   Maintenance  of  log  books.—(1)  Every  State  Dam  Safety  Organisation shall  maintain a log 
book or database for each specified dam under their jurisdiction recording therein all activities related 
to the surveillance and inspection and all important events related to dam safety and with such details 
and in such form as may be specified by the regulations. 

(2) Every State Dam Safety Organisation shall furnish all such information to the Authority as and 

when required by them. 

19. Records of dam failures and dam incidents.—(1) Every State Dam Safety Organisation shall 
report  the  event  of  any  dam  failure  under  their  jurisdiction  to  the  Authority,  and  furnish  any 
information as and when required by them. 

(2) Every State Dam Safety Organisation shall maintain the records of major dam incidents of each 
specified dams under their jurisdiction, and furnish all such information to the Authority as and when 
required by them. 

20.  Instructions  on  safety  of  specified  dams.—(1)  Every  State  Dam  Safety  Organisation  shall 
render its instructions to the owner of a specified dam on the safety or the remedial measures required 
to be taken with respect to it. 

(2) Every owner of the specified dam shall comply with the instructions issued by the State Dam 
Safety Organisation with regard to safety or remedial measures in relation to any specified dam owned 
by it. 

21.  Funds  for  maintenance  and  repairs.—Every  owner  of  the  specified  dam  shall  earmark 
sufficient and specific funds for maintenance and repairs of the specified dam and to implement the 
recommendations of the State Dam Safety Organisation. 

22. Technical documentation.—(1) Every owner of the specified dam shall compile all technical 
documentations  concerning  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. 

(2)  Every  owner  of the specified  dam  shall furnish  all such information  to the State  Dam  Safety 

Organisation and the Authority as and when required by them. 

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(3)  Every  owner  of  the  specified  dam  shall  equip  its  organisation  with  the  state-of-the-art 
information  technology  tools  to  store,  retrieve,  and  distribute  the  data  related  to  the  dam  safety  and 
dam performance. 

23.  Qualifications  and  experience  of  individuals  responsible  for  safety  of  specified  dams.—
Every individual responsible for safety of specified dams and all activities related thereto shall possess 
such  qualifications  and  experience  and  shall  undergo  such  training  as  may  be  specified  by  the 
regulations. 

24. Jurisdiction of State Dam Safety Organisation and Authority.—(1) Without prejudice to the 
provisions  of  this  Act,  all  specified  dams,  shall  fall  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  State  Dam  Safety 
Organisation 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: 

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 the Authority shall be construed as the State Dam Safety Organisation for the 
purposes of this Act: 

Provided further that in all such dams where the Authority takes up  the role of State Dam Safety 
Organisation,  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 the Authority. 

(2) The authorised representative of the Authority or concerned State Dam Safety Organisation for 
the  purposes  of  making  any  inspection  or  investigation  necessary  for  the  implementation  of  the 
provisions of this Act, may enter upon any part of the specified dam or its site as and when required 
and apply such investigation methods, as may be considered necessary. 

(3) After making inspection or investigation under sub-section (2), the representative referred to in 
that  sub-section  is  of  the  opinion  that  certain  remedial  measures  are  required  to  be  taken,  he  shall 
report  such  remedial  measures  to  the  officer-in-charge  of  such  specified  dam  and  to  the  concerned 
State Dam Safety Organisation. 

(4) The Authority and concerned State Dam Safety Organisation, in cases of specified dams being 
found  to  be  distressed  on  account  of  their  age,  degeneration,  degradation,  structural  or  other 
impediments,  shall  suggest  such  remedial  measures  on  such  operational  parameters  (including 
maximum  reservoir  level,  maximum  spillway  discharge  and  maximum  discharges  through  other 
outlets) as it may consider necessary. 

(5) Nothing contained in sub-sections (1), (2), (3) and (4) shall absolve the owner of specified dam 
or any other authority or person from any of the responsibilities or obligations entrusted upon it under 
the provisions of this Act and the provisions of sub-sections (1), (2), (3) and (4) shall be in addition to, 
and not in derogation of, any other provision of this Act. 

25.  Cost  of  investigation.—All  the  costs  to  be  incurred  by  the  Authority  or  State  Dam  Safety 
Organisation on any form of investigation done including payment given to any consultant or expert, 
shall be borne by the owner of the specified dam. 

12 

 
26.  Construction  or  alteration  of  dams.—(1) Any construction or alteration of a specified dam 
shall be undertaken subject to investigation, design and construction being done by such agencies as 
may be accredited by the Authority or the State Government, as the case may be: 

Provided that the Authority may disqualify any agency which violates any of the provisions of this 

Act or the rules or regulations made thereunder. 

(2) Every agency referred to in sub-section (1) shall, for the purpose of designing or evaluating the 
safety of the specified dam, make use of the relevant standard codes and guidelines of the Bureau of 
Indian  Standards,  and  furnish  the  reasons,  if  any  departure  is  made  in  the  design  or  dam  safety 
evaluation. 

(3)  Every  agency  referred to  in  sub-section (1)  shall for the purpose  of investigation,  design  and 
construction employ such qualified, experienced and competent engineers, as may be specified by the 
regulations. 

(4)  Every  agency  referred  to  in  sub-section  (1)  shall  for  the  purpose  of  approval  of  dam  design 
demonstrate  the  safety  of  the  design,  operational  parameters  and  policies  as  per  the  provisions  of 
relevant codes and guidelines to the Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be. 

(5)  Every  agency  referred  to  in  sub-section  (1)  shall,  for  the  purpose  of  dam  construction, 

undertake such quality control measures, as may be specified by the regulations. 

(6) The construction of any specified dam or the alteration or enlargement of any existing specified 
dam  shall  be  undertaken  with  the  approval  of  such  competent  authority,  as  may  be  specified  by 
notification by the Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be. 

27. Initial filling of reservoirs.—(1) Before initial filling of any reservoir of a specified dam, the 
agency responsible for its design shall draw the filling criteria and prepare an initial filling plan, with 
adequate  time  for  monitoring  and  evaluating  the  performance  of  the  dam  and  its  appurtenant 
structures. 

(2)  Before  initial  filling  of  the  reservoir  is  taken  up,  the  State  Dam  Safety  Organisation  shall 
inspect  or  cause  to  be  inspected  the  specified  dam  either  through  its  own  engineers  or  by  an 
independent  panel  of  experts,  who  shall  also  examine  the  initial  filling  programme  and  prepare  a 
detailed report thereof duly certifying the fitness of dam for filling. 

28. Operation and maintenance.—(1) Every owner of the specified dam shall provide operation 
and  maintenance  establishment  for  the  specified  dam,  and  shall  ensure  that  sufficient  number  of 
trained operation and maintenance engineers or technical persons are posted at each such dam. 

(2)  Every  owner  of  the  specified  dam  shall  ensure  that  a  well-documented  operation  and 

maintenance manual is kept at each of the specified dams and are followed at all times. 

29. Responsibility of owner of specified dam.—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. 

CHAPTER VII 

SAFETY, INSPECTION AND DATA COLLECTION 

30.  Dam  safety  unit.—For  each  specified  dam,  the  owner  shall,  within  the  operation  and 
maintenance establishment, provide a dam safety unit consisting of such competent levels of engineers 
as may be specified by the regulations. 

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31. Inspection.—(1) Every owner of a specified dam shall undertake every year, through their dam 

safety unit, a pre-monsoon and post-monsoon inspections in respect of each such dam. 

(2) Without prejudice to sub-section (1), every owner of a specified dam shall inspect or cause to 
be inspected every specified dam by the 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 in 
the dam. 

(3) Every owner of a specified dam shall, — 

(a) carry out all inspections referred to in sub-section (1) and sub-section (2) in accordance with 

the guidelines and check-lists as may be specified by the regulations; 

(b) station, at each of the specified dam site throughout the monsoon period, such engineers and 
other  technical  personnel,  as  may  be  decided,  in  consultation  with  the  State  Dam  Safety 
Organisation: 

Provided that the engineers and other technical personnel shall be required to be stationed at their 
respective  dam  sites  during  entire  period  of  emergency  following  any  other  natural  or  man-made 
calamity that may create distress conditions in the dam; and 

(c)  forward  the  inspection  report  by  the  dam  safety  unit  to  the  State  Dam  Safety  Organisation, 
which shall analyse the report and submit comments on the deficiency and remedial measures, if any, 
to the owner of the specified dam. 

32. Instrumentations to be installed in every specified dam.—(1) Every owner of a specified dam 
shall  have  a  minimum  number  of  such  instrumentations  at  each  specified  dam,  and  installed  in  such 
manner as may be specified by the regulations for monitoring the performance of such dam. 

(2)  Every  owner  of  the  specified  dam  shall  maintain  a  record  of  readings  of  the  instrumentations 
referred  to  in  sub-section  (1)  and  forward  the  analysis  of  such  readings  to  the  State  Dam  Safety 
Organisation, in the form, manner and at such interval as may be specified by the regulations. 

33.  Establishment  of  hydro-meteorological  station.—(1)  Every  owner  of  a  specified  dam  shall 
establish a hydro-meteorological station in the vicinity of each specified dam capable of recording such 
data as may be specified by the regulations. 

(2) Every owner of the specified dam shall collect, compile, process and store data referred to in sub-

section (1) at a suitable location. 

34. Installations of seismological station.—(1) In the case of every specified dam, having a height 
of thirty metres or above or falling under such seismic zone, as may be specified by the regulations, the 
owner of the specified dam shall establish 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. 

(2) Every owner of a specified dam shall collect, compile, process and store data referred to in sub-

section (1) at such suitable location and in such manner as may be specified by the regulations. 

CHAPTER VIII 

EMEGENCY ACTION PLAN AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT 

35. Obligation of owner of specified dam.—(1) Every owner of a specified dam, in respect of each 

specified dam, shall, — 

14 

 
(a) establish well designed hydro-meteorological network and an inflow forecasting system; 

(b)  establish  an  emergency  flood  warning  system  for  the  probable  flood  affected  areas 

downstream of the dam; 

(c)  test  or  cause  to  be  tested  periodically  the  functioning  of  systems  referred  to  in  clauses  (a)                

and (b); 

(d) install such scientific and technical instruments which are invented or adopted from time to 

time for the purpose of ensuring the dam safety and the life and property of people downstream; 

(e)  make  available  the  information  relating  to  maximum  anticipated  inflows  and  outflows 
including flood warning and an adverse impact of the same, if any, on persons and property towards 
the upstream or downstream of the dam, to the concerned district authorities and also make available 
the information in public domain; and 

(f) render necessary assistance to the Authority in establishment and running of the early warning 
system for the exchange of real time hydrological and meteorological data and information related to 
the operation of reservoirs. 

(2) Every owner of a specified dam, for each of its dam shall, carry out risk assessment studies at 
such interval as may be specified by the regulations and the first such study shall be made within five 
years from the date of commencement of this Act. 

36.  Emergency  action  plan.—(1) Every owner of a specified dam, in respect of each of specified 

dam, shall, — 

(a) prepare emergency action plan before allowing the initial filling of the reservoir and thereafter 

update such plans at regular intervals; 

(b) in respect of the dam which is constructed and filled before the commencement of this Act, 
prepare  emergency  action  plan  within  five  years  from  the  date  of  commencement  of  this  Act  and 
thereafter update such plans at regular intervals as may be specified by the regulations. 

(2) The emergency action plan referred to in sub-section (1) shall, — 

(a) set out the 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; 

(b) include therein, — 

(i) the type of emergencies which are likely to occur in the operation of any reservoir; 

(ii) 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; 

(iii)  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; 

(iv)  such  other  matters  which  may  having  regard  to  the  geographical  conditions,  size  of  the 

dam and other relevant factors as may be necessary. 

(3)  The  emergency  action  plan  under  this  section  shall  be  put  into  action  as  and  when  conditions 
arise which are hazardous or likely to be hazardous to a specified dam or potentially hazardous to public 
safety, infrastructure, other property or to the environment. 

15 

 
(4) Every owner of the specified dam shall, while preparing and updating the emergency action plan, 
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, so as to bring coordination and transparency and 
allay any unwarranted fear on dam safety issues. 

37. Assistance to other disaster management authorities.—Without prejudice to the provisions of 
this Act or liability of the owner of the specified dam and other organisations and authorities under this 
Act,  every  owner,  organisation  and  authority  shall  render  necessary  assistance,  if  so  required  by  any 
authority under any law for the time being in force to meet or mitigate any disaster or emergency arising 
out of the specified dams. 

CHAPTER IX 

COMPREHENSIVE DAM SAFETY EVALUTION 

38. Comprehensive dam safety evaluation.—(1) The owner of a specified dam shall make or cause 
to be made 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 specified 
dam and its reservoir: 

Provided that the first comprehensive dam safety evaluation for each existing specified dam shall be 
conducted  within  five  years  from  the  date  of  commencement  of  this  Act,  and  thereafter  the 
comprehensive dam safety evaluation of each such dam shall be carried out at regular intervals as may 
be specified by the regulations. 

(2) The comprehensive dam safety evaluation shall consists of, but not be limited to, — 

(a) review and analysis of available data on the design, construction, operation, maintenance and 

performance of the structure; 

(b) general assessment of hydrologic and hydraulic conditions with mandatory review of design 

floods as specified by the regulations; 

(c)  general  assessment  of  seismic  safety  of  specified  dam  with  mandatory  site  specific  seismic 

parameters study in certain cases as specified by the regulations; 

(d) evaluation of the operation, maintenance and inspection procedures; and 

(e) evaluation of any other conditions which constitute a hazard to the integrity of the structure. 

39. Compulsory evaluation in certain cases.—The comprehensive dam safety evaluation referred 

to in section 38 shall be compulsory in the case of, — 

(a) major modification to the original structure or design criteria; 

(b) discovery of an unusual condition at the dam or reservoir rim; and 

(c) an extreme hydrological or seismic event. 

40.  Reports  of  comprehensive  evaluation.—(1)  The  owner  of  a  specified  dam  shall  report  the 
results of the dam safety evaluation undertaken under section 38 or section 39 to the State Dam Safety 
Organisation. 

(2) The reports referred to in sub-section (1) shall include, but not be limited to, — 

16 

 
(a) assessment of the condition of the structure based on the visual observations and available 
data  on  the  design,  hydrology,  construction,  operation,  maintenance  and  performance  of  the 
structure; 

(b)  recommendations  for  any  emergency  measures  or  actions,  if  required,  to  assure  the 

immediate safety of the structure; 

(c)  recommendations  for  remedial  measures  and  actions  related  to  design,  construction, 

operation, maintenance and inspection of the structure, if required; 

(d) recommendations for additional detailed studies, investigations and analysis, if required; and 

(e)  recommendations  for  improvements  in  routine  maintenance  and  inspection  of  dam,  if 

required. 

(3)  Where  the  safety  evaluations  undertaken  under  section  38  or  section  39,  results  in 
recommendations for a remedial action, the State Dam Safety Organisation shall pursue with the owner 
of the specified dam to ensure that remedial measures are carried out in time, for which the owner shall 
provide adequate funds. 

(4) Where there is any unresolved matter emerging between an independent panel of experts referred 
to in sub section (1) of section 38 and the owner of the specified dam, the matter shall be referred to the 
State Dam Safety Organisation, and, in case no agreement is arrived at, the matter shall be referred to 
the  Authority  which  shall  render  its  advice  and  send  recommendations  to  the  State  Government 
concerned for implementation. 

CHAPTER X 

OFFENCES AND PENALTIES 

41. Punishment for obstruction, etc.—Whoever, without reasonable cause, — 

(a) obstructs any officer or employee of the Central Government or the State Government, or a 
person authorised by the National Committee or the Authority or the State Committee or the State 
Dam Safety Organisation in the discharge of his functions under this Act; or 

(b) refuses to comply with any direction given by or on behalf of the Central Government or the 
State Government or the National Committee or the Authority or the State Committee or the State 
Dam  Safety  Organisation  under  this  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. 

42.  Offences  by  Departments  of  Government.—(1)  Where  an  offence under this  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 that he exercised all due diligence to 
prevent the commission of such offence. 

(2)  Notwithstanding  anything  contained  in  sub-section  (1),  where  an  offence  under  this  Act  has 
been  committed  by  a  Department  of  the  Government  and  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. 

17 

 
43.   Offence  by  companies.—(1)  Where  an  offence  under  this  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  in  this  sub-section  shall  render  any  such  person  liable  to  any  punishment 
provided in  this  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. 

(2)  Notwithstanding  anything  contained  in  sub-section  (1),  where  an  offence  under  this  Act  has 
been committed by a company, and 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 director, manager, secretary or other officer shall also, be deemed to be 
guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. 

Explanation. — For the purpose of this section—  

(a)  "company"  means  any  body  corporate  and  includes  a  firm  or  other  association  of 

individuals; and 

(b) "director", in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm. 

44. Cognizance of offences.—(1) 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  National  Committee or  the  Authority  or the  State  Committee  or the 
State Dam Safety Organisation, as the case may be. 

(2) 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. 

CHAPTER XI 

MISCELLANEOUS 

45. Annual report of safety status of specified dam.—(1) Every State Dam Safety Organisation 
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 
Authority  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. 

(2) Every State Dam Safety Organisation and every owner of a specified dam shall provide to the 
Authority,  documentation  of  the  projects,  report  of  enquiries  into  failure  and  any  other  data,  as  and 
when required in such format and in such manner as may be decided by the Authority. 

(3)  The  Authority,  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. 

(4)  The  Authority  shall  forward  its  annual  report  on  the  safety  status  of  specified  dams  to  the 

National Disaster Management Authority and also make available such report in public domain. 

18 

 
(5)  The  State  Dam  Safety  Organisation  of  each  State  shall  forward  their  annual  report  to  the 
concerned  State  Disaster  Management  Authority  and  also  make  available  such  report  in  public 
domain. 

46.  Safety  measures in  respect  of  dams  other  than  specified  dams.—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. 

47.  Safety  measures  in  respect  of  dams  located  outside  territory  of  India.—Where  a  dam, 
including a dam created due to landslides or glacial moraine, is located outside the territory of India 
and the Authority suo motu or on receipt of information from any person or organisation or authority 
or source prima facie is of the opinion that measures are required to be taken to ensure safety of such 
dams and failure of which  may endanger the life and property of people located in India, it shall in 
writing submit an intimation thereof to the Central Government indicating therein the likely damages 
which may arise due to failure of such dams and the safety measures required to be taken in respect of 
such dam and the Central Government shall take all suitable measures to mitigate any possible threat. 

48. Act to have overriding effect.—The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding 

anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being in force. 

49. Power to amend Schedules—(1) If the Central Government is satisfied that it is necessary or 
expedient so to do, it may, by notification, amend the First Schedule, the Second Schedule or the Third 
Schedule and thereupon the Schedules, shall be deemed to have been amended accordingly. 

(2)  A  copy  of  every  notification  made  under  sub-section  (1)  shall  be  laid  before  each  House  of 

Parliament as soon as may be after it is made. 

50. Power of Central Government to give directions.—The Central Government may give such 
directions, as it may consider necessary, to the State Government where that Government is the owner 
of  the  specified  dam  and  to  the  owner  of  a  specified  dam  in  any  other  case  for  the  effective 
implementation of the provisions of this Act. 

51.  Vacancies,  etc.,  not  to  invalidate  proceedings  of  National  Committee  on  Dam  Safety 
Authority  and  State  Committee  on  Dam  Safety.—No  act  or  proceedings  of  the  National 
Committee, the Authority and the State Committee shall be invalid merely by reason of— 

(a) any vacancy in, or any defect in the constitution of, the Authority; or 

(b) any defect in the appointment of a person acting as a member of the Authority; or 

(c) any irregularity in the procedure of the Authority not affecting the merits of the case. 

52.  Power  of  Central  Government  to  make  rules.—(1)  The  Central  Government  may,  by 

notification, make rules to carry out the provisions of this Act. 

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or 

any of the following matters, namely: — 

(a)  the  time  and  place  of  the  meetings  of  the  National  Committee  and  the  procedure  to  be 
followed at such meetings under sub-section (1) of section 7 and the expenditure incurred on the 
meetings of the National Committee under sub-section (3) of section 7; 

(b) the qualifications and experience of the officers and other employee of the Authority in the 

field of dam safety or such other field under sub-section (1) of section 10; 

19 

 
(c)  the  functions,  powers,  and  terms  and  conditions  of  service  of  other  officers  and  other 

employees of the Authority under sub-section (2) of section 10; 

(d) any other matter which is to be, or may be, prescribed or in respect of which provision is to 

be made by the Central Government by rules. 

53. Power of State Government to make rules.—(1) The State Government may, by notification, 

make rules to carry out the provisions of this Act. 

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or 

any of the following matters, namely: — 

(a)  the  times  and  places  of  the  meetings  of  the  State  Committee  and  the  procedure  to  be 

followed at such meetings under sub-section (1) of section 13; 

(b) the  expenditure incurred  on  the  meetings  of  the  State  Committee  under sub-section (3) of 

section 13; 

(c)  the  fee  and  allowances  paid  to  the  specialist  members  or  expert  invitees  of  the  State 

Committee or its sub-committees under sub-section (4) of section 13; 

(d)  the  organisational  structure  and  work  procedure  of  State  Dam  Safety  Organisation  under 

sub-section (3) of section 14; 

(e)  the  qualifications  and  experience  of  the  officers  and  other  employees  of  the  State  Dam 
Safety Organisation in the field of dam safety or such other field under sub-section (1) of section 
15; 

(f) the functions, powers, and terms and conditions of service of the employees of the State Dam 

Safety Organisation under sub-section (2) of section 15; 

(g) the dam safety measures in respect of dams other than specified dams under section 46; 

(h) any other matter which is to be, or may be, prescribed or in respect of which provision is to 

be made by the State Government by rules. 

(3) Every rule made by a State Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it 
is  made,  before  the  State  Legislature,  where  it  consists  of  two  Houses,  or  where  such  legislature 
consists of one House, before that House. 

54. Power to make regulations by Authority.—(1) The Authority on the recommendations of the 
National Committee may make regulations consistent with this Act and the rules made thereunder to 
carry out the provisions of this Act. 

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such regulations 

may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely: — 

(a)  the  guidelines,  standards  and  other  directions  for  achieving  the  satisfactory  level  of  dam 

safety assurance under sub-section (1) of section 16; 

(b) the vulnerability and hazard classification criteria of specified dams under section 17; 

(c)  the  details  and  form  pertaining  to  the  maintenance  of  log  books  or  database  under  sub-

section (1) of section 18; 

(d)  the  qualifications,  experience  and  training  of  the  individuals  responsible  for  safety  of 

specified dams under section 23; 

20 

 
(e)  the  employment  of  competent  engineers  and  their  qualifications  and  experience  for  the 
purpose  of  investigation,  design  and  construction  of  specified  dams  under  sub-section  (3)  of         
section 26; 

(f)  the  quality  control  measures  for  the  purpose  of  dam  construction  under  sub-section  (5)  of 

section 26; 

(g) the level of competent engineers for the dam safety units under section 30; 

(h)  the  guidelines  and  check-lists  for  inspection  of  specified  dams  under  clause  (a)  of  sub-

section (3) of section 31; 

(i) the minimum number of set of instrumentations in the specified dams and the manner of their 

installation under sub-section (1) of section 32; 

(j) the form, manner and time interval for forwarding the analysis of readings to the State Dam 

Safety Organisation under sub-section (2) of section 32; 

(k)  the  data  requirements  of  hydro-meteorological  stations  in  the  vicinity  of  specified  dams 

under sub-section (1) of section 33; 

(l) the data requirements of seismological stations in the vicinity of specified dams under sub-

section (1) of section 34; 

(m)  the  suitable  location  and  manner  of  collection,  compliance,  process  and  storage  of  data 

under sub-section (2) of section 34; 

(n) the time interval of risk assessment studies to be carried out under sub-section (2) of section 

35; 

(o) time interval for updating the emergency action plan under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of 

section 36; 

(p)  the  time  interval  for  the  comprehensive  safety  evaluation  of  specified  dams  under  sub-

section (1) of section 38; 

(q)  the  mandatory  review  of  design  flood  of  existing  specified  dams  under  clause  (b)  of  sub-

section (2) of section 38; 

(r) the mandatory site specific seismic parameter studies of existing specified dams under clause 

(c) of sub-section (2) of section 38; 

(s)  the  measures  necessary  to  ensure  dam  safety  by  every  owner  of  dam  other  than  specified 

dams under section 46; 

(t) any other matter which is to be specified or in respect of which provision is to be made by 

the Authority. 

55. Rules and regulations to be laid before Parliament.—Every rule and every regulation made 
by the Central Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each 
House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in 
one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately 
following  the  session  or  the  successive  sessions  aforesaid,  both  Houses  agree  in  making  any 
modification in the rule or regulation or both Houses agree that the rule or regulation should not be 
made, the rule or regulation shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, 

21 

 
as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to 
the validity of anything previously done under that rule or regulation. 

56. Power to remove difficulties.—(1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of 
this  Act,  the  Central  Government  may,  by  order,  published  in  the  Official  Gazette,  make  such 
provisions  not  inconsistent  with  the  provisions  of  this  Act,  as  may  appear  it  to  be  necessary  or 
expedient for removing the difficulty: 

Provided that no order shall be made under this section after the expiry of three years from the date 

of commencement of this Act. 

(2)  Every  order  made  under this section  shall,  as  soon  as  may  be  after it  is  made, be laid before 

each House of Parliament. 

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THE FIRST SCHEDULE 

[See section 6(1)] 

FUNCTIONS OF NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON DAM SAFETY 

1. For the purposes of maintaining standards of dam safety and prevention of dam failure related 

disasters, evolve dam safety policies and recommend necessary regulations as may be required; 

2. act as a forum for exchange of views on techniques to be adopted for remedial measures to relieve 

distress conditions in specified dams and appurtenant structures; 

3. analyse the causes of major dam incidents and dam failures and suggest changes in the planning, 
specifications, construction, operation and maintenance practices in order to avoid recurrence of such 
incidents and failures; 

4.  evolve  comprehensive  dam  safety  management  approach  as  an  integration  of  dam  safety 
evaluation,  risk  assessment  and  risk  management  for  the  desired  level  of  safety  assurance;  and  also 
explore compensations, by means of insurance coverage for the people affected by dam failures; 

5.  render  advice  on  any  specific  matter  relating  to  dam  safety  which  may  be  referred  to  it  by  the 

Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be; 

6. make recommendations on a request by the Central Government on safety measures in respect of 

dams located outside the territory of India; 

7. make recommendations on the rehabilitation requirements of ageing dams; 

8. provide strategic supervision for such dam rehabilitation programmes that are executed in States 

through central or externally aided funding; 

9. identify areas of research and development for dam safety and recommend for provision of funds; 

10. make recommendations on the coordinated reservoir operations of cascading dams; and 

11.  any  other  specific  matter  relating  to  dam  safety  which  may  be  referred  to  it  by  the  Central 

Government. 

23 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE SECOND SCHEDULE 

[See section 9(1)] 

FUNCTIONS OF NATIONAL DAM SAFETY AUTHORITY 

1.  For  the  purpose  of  maintaining  standards  of  dam  safety  and  prevention  of  dam  failure  related 
disasters,  discharge  such  functions  as  related  to  implementation  of  the  policies  made  by  the  National 
Committee including making regulations on the recommendations of the National Committee; 

2. resolve any issue between the State Dam Safety Organisations of States or between a State Dam 

Safety Organisation and any owner of a specified dam in that State; 

3.  provide  the  state-of-the-art  technical  and  managerial  assistance  to  the  State  Dam  Safety 

Organisations; 

4. maintain a national level database of all specified dams in the country, including serious distress 

conditions, if any, noticed therein; 

5. maintain liaison with the State Dam Safety Organisations and the owners of the specified dams for 

standardisation of dam safety related data and practices, and related technical or managerial assistance; 

6.  lay  down  guidelines  and  check-lists  for  the  routine  inspection  and  detailed  investigation  of  the 

specified dams and appurtenant structures; 

7. maintain the records of major dam failures in the country; 

8. examine, as and when necessary, either through its own engineers or through a panel of experts, 

the cause of any major dam failure, and submit its report to the National Committee; 

9.  examine  whenever required, either  through its  own  engineers  or through  a  panel  of experts,  the 
cause  of  any  major  public  safety  concern  in  respect  of  any  specified  dam,  and  issue  appropriate 
instructions relating to further investigations, operational parameters or remedial measures; 

10. lay down the uniform criteria for vulnerability and hazard classification of the specified dams in 

the country, and review such criteria as and when necessary; 

11. give directions regarding maintenance of log books or database; 

12.  give  directions  regarding  qualifications  and  experience requirements  of  individuals responsible 

for safety of the specified dams; 

13.  accord  accreditations  to  the  agencies  that  may  be  entrusted  with  the  investigation,  design, 

construction and alteration of the specified dams; 

14.  disqualify  any  agency  for  taking  up  investigation,  design,  construction  or  alteration  of  the 

specified dams, if it violates any of the regulations made under this Act; 

15. give directions regarding qualification and experience requirements of individuals responsible for 

investigation, design and construction of the specified dams; 

16.  give  directions  regarding  quality  control  measures  to  be  undertaken  during  construction  of  the 

specified dams; 

17. lay down guidelines for preventive measures in the areas vulnerable to landslides in the vicinity 

of a specified dam under construction; 

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18. give directions regarding competent levels of engineers in the dam safety units of the specified 

dams on the basis of vulnerability and hazard classification of such dams; 

19.  give  directions  regarding  instrumentation  requirements  and  manner  of  their  installation  for 

monitoring the performance of the specified dams; 

20. give directions regarding data requirements of hydro-meteorological stations in the vicinity of the 

specified dams; 

21.  give  directions  regarding  data  requirements  of  seismological  stations  in  the  vicinity  of  the 

specified dams; 

22. give directions regarding time interval for the risk assessment studies of the specified dams on 

the basis of vulnerability and hazard classification of such dams; 

23. give directions regarding time interval for updating the emergency action plans of the specified 

dams on the basis of vulnerability and hazard classification of such dams; 

24.  give  directions  regarding  constitution  of  independent  panel  of  experts  for  comprehensive  dam 

safety evaluation of the specified dams; 

25. give directions regarding time interval for the comprehensive safety evaluation of the specified 

dams on the basis of vulnerability and hazard classification of such dams; 

26. lay down guidelines for review of design floods of existing the specified dams; 

27. lay down guidelines for review of site specific seismic parameter studies of the specified dams; 

28. establishment of an early warning system incorporating appropriate framework for the exchange 
of real time hydrological and meteorological data and information related to operation of reservoirs by 
the owner of a dam; 

29. promote general education and awareness in relation to dam safety; 

30. provide secretarial assistance to the National Committee and its sub-committees; 

31. provide coordination and overall supervision of dam rehabilitation programmes that are executed 

in States through central or externally aided funding; and 

32.  any  other  specific  matter  relating  to  dam  safety  which  may  be  referred  to  it  by  the  Central 

Government. 

25 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE THIRD SCHEDULE 

[See section 12(1)] 

FUNCTIONS OF STATE COMMITTEE ON DAM SAFETY 

1.  For  the  purpose  of  maintaining  standards  of  dam  safety  and  prevention  of  dam  failure  related 
disasters,  discharge  such  functions  as  may  be  necessary  as  per  the  guidelines,  standards  and  other 
directions issued by the Authority; 

2. review the work done by the State Dam Safety Organisation; 

3. establish priorities for investigations in case of specified dams under distress condition; 

4. in cases where investigations with respect to safety of any specified dam in the State had already 
been undertaken, to order further investigations in relation to safety of such specified dam and assign 
responsibilities  for  execution  including  the  use  of  non-departmental  resources,  and  association  of 
independent experts where necessary; 

5.  recommend  the  appropriate  measures  to  be  taken  in  relation  to  the  safety  of  the  specified  dam 

which is under distress condition; 

6. establish priorities among projects requiring remedial safety works; 

7. review the progress on measures recommended in relation to dam safety; 

8.  assess  potential  implication  of reservoir filling  of  a  specified  dam  in  the  State  on  any  upstream 

State, and coordinate mitigation measures with such upstream States; 

9. assess potential implication of failure of a specified dam in the State on any downstream State, and 

coordinate mitigation measures with such downstream States; 

10.  assess  probability  of  cascading  dam  failure,  and  coordinate  mitigation  measures  with  all 

concerned, including bordering States; 

11. recommend provision of funds for the purpose of planned and appropriately phased rehabilitation 

of ageing dams in the State; 

12. provide strategic supervision for such dam improvement and rehabilitation programmes that are 

executed through State funding; and 

13.  any  other  specific  matter  relating  to  dam  safety  which  may  be  referred  to  it  by  the  State 

Government. 

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