The Dam Safety Act, 2021

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.

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;

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.

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.