Brief Context
Context Recently, the Supreme Court of India issued notices to various stakeholders calling for urgent directions to reinforce the aging structure of the 130-year-old Mullaperiyar dam. Mullaperiyar Dam It is a gravity dam built on the Periyar River in the Idukki district of Kerala that was constructed between 1887 and 1895. The dam is operated and maintained by Tamil Nadu, under a 999-year lease agreement signed in 1886 between the Maharaja of Travancore and the British government.
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Syllabus: GS3/Infrastructure; Disaster Management
Context
- Recently, the Supreme Court of India issued notices to various stakeholders calling for urgent directions to reinforce the aging structure of the 130-year-old Mullaperiyar dam.
| Mullaperiyar Dam – It is a gravity dam built on the Periyar River in the Idukki district of Kerala that was constructed between 1887 and 1895. – The dam is operated and maintained by Tamil Nadu, under a 999-year lease agreement signed in 1886 between the Maharaja of Travancore and the British government. – It diverts water to the Vaigai basin in Tamil Nadu for irrigation across 68,558 hectares. |
India’s Dam Landscape
- According to the National Register of Large Dams (NRLD) maintained by the Central Water Commission (CWC), India ranks third globally — after China and the United States — in the number of large dams, with over 6,000 operational dams and hundreds more under construction.
- These dams serve critical functions in irrigation (supporting agriculture across vast regions); hydropower generation; flood control; and drinking water supply.
- There are concrete gravity dams (e.g., Bhakra Dam), earthen dams (e.g., Banasura Sagar Dam), rock-fill dams, and arch dams (rare in India), based on topography, geology, and hydrological needs.
Why Dam Safety Is Urgent?
- Aging Infrastructure: Nearly 80% of these dams are over 25 years old, over 1,000 dams are between 50–100 years old, and more than 230 are over a century old.
- Many were built using outdated engineering standards and are now vulnerable to structural fatigue, sedimentation, and climate-induced stress.
- It poses serious risks to lives, property, and ecosystems, especially in the face of climate change and extreme weather events.
- Inconsistent Safety Practices: Dam safety protocols vary across states and agencies, leading to gaps in surveillance, inspection, and maintenance.
- The Central Government has been working to unify these practices through the Dam Safety Act, 2021, and the creation of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA).
- Risk of Catastrophic Failure: Events like dam collapse due to a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) underscore the urgency of robust safety protocols.
- The Supreme Court has repeatedly flagged concerns over dams like Mullaperiyar, warning that a breach could endanger lakhs of lives.
Legal and Institutional Framework
- Dam Safety Act, 2021: Enacted to ensure surveillance, inspection, operation, and maintenance of dams. It mandates:
- Hazard classification of dams;
- Emergency action plans;
- Periodic safety reviews by independent panels;
- It mandates the formation of State Committees and National Authority to oversee dam safety.
- National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA): It coordinates dam safety efforts across states.
- It maintains the National Register of Large Dams and promotes capacity building, technical standards, and public awareness.
- State-Level Implementation: States have formed Dam Safety Review Panels and conducted pre- and post-monsoon inspections of thousands of dams.
- Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP): It was launched by the CWC with World Bank support. It focuses on rehabilitation of aging dams; improved safety monitoring; and capacity building for dam operators and engineers;
- DRIP Phase II & III are currently underway, covering over 700 dams across 19 states.
- Digital Monitoring and Reservoir Management: The Dam Safety Organisation of CWC has launched:
- Web-based Reservoir Storage Monitoring System;
- FloodWatch India App for real-time flood alerts and reservoir data.
Strengthening Measures
- Retrofitting and Rehabilitation: Prioritize structural upgrades for high-risk dams.
- Use AI & Analytics: Use sensors and real-time data systems to track dam health.
- Climate Resilience: Update safety norms to account for changing hydrological patterns.
- Public Awareness and Transparency: Publish safety audits and emergency plans for public scrutiny.