Vidhi Codex

The Dam Safety Act, 2021

The Dam Safety Act, 2021

Infrastructure202156 sections11 chapters

The Dam Safety Act, 2021 establishes a national framework to regulate the surveillance, inspection, maintenance, and operation of specified large dams across India. This law applies to all public and private dam owners, including central and state governments, public sector undertakings, and private companies managing these structures. The legislation matters because it sets up dedicated national and state authorities to enforce safety standards, coordinate emergency warnings, and mandate regular structural evaluations. Ultimately, this unified regulatory system is essential to prevent catastrophic dam failures, thereby protecting millions of vulnerable citizens, downstream properties, and local ecosystems from devastating flooding disasters.

Start reading →Read full ActSections

Chapter I PRELIMINARY →

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

Chapter II NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON DAM SAFETY →

  1. 5Constitution of National Committee..
  2. 6Functions of National Committee.
  3. 7Meetings of National Committee.

Chapter III NATIONAL DAM SAFETY AUTHORITY →

  1. 8Establishment of National Dam Safety Authority.
  2. 9Functions of Authority.
  3. 10Officers and Employees of Authority.

Chapter IV STATE COMMITTEE ON DAM SAFETY →

  1. 11Constitution of State Committee on Dam Safety.
  2. 12Functions of State Committee.
  3. 13Meetings of State Committee.

Chapter V STATE DAM SAFETY ORGANISATION →

  1. 14Establishment of State Dam Safety Organisation.
  2. 15Officers and employees of State Dam Safety Organisation.

Chapter VI DUTIES AND FUNCTIONING IN RELATION TO DAM SAFETY →

  1. 16Surveillance and inspection.
  2. 17Vulnerability and hazard classification of dams.
  3. 18Maintenance of log books.
  4. 19Records of dam failures and dam incidents.
  5. 20Instructions on safety of specified dams.
  6. 21Funds for maintenance and repairs.
  7. 22Technical documentation.
  8. 23Qualifications and experience of individuals responsible for safety of specified dams.
  9. 24Jurisdiction of State Dam Safety Organisation and Authority.
  10. 25Cost of investigation.
  11. 26Construction or alteration of dams.
  12. 27Initial filling of reservoirs.
  13. 28Operation and maintenance.
  14. 29Responsibility of owner of specified dam.

Chapter VII SAFETY, INSPECTION AND DATA COLLECTION →

  1. 30Dam safety unit.
  2. 31Inspection.
  3. 32Instrumentations to be installed in every specified dam.
  4. 33Establishment of hydro-meteorological station.
  5. 34Installations of seismological station.

Chapter VIII EMEGENCY ACTION PLAN AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT →

  1. 35Obligation of owner of specified dam.
  2. 36Emergency action plan.
  3. 37Assistance to other disaster management authorities.

Chapter IX COMPREHENSIVE DAM SAFETY EVALUTION →

  1. 38Comprehensive dam safety evaluation.
  2. 39Compulsory evaluation in certain cases.
  3. 40Reports of comprehensive evaluation.

Chapter X OFFENCES AND PENALTIES →

  1. 41Punishment for obstruction, etc.
  2. 42Offences by Departments of Government.
  3. 43Offence by companies.
  4. 44Cognizance of offences.

Chapter XI MISCELLANEOUS →

  1. 45Annual report of safety status of specified dam.
  2. 46Safety measures in respect of dams other than specified dams.
  3. 47Safety measures in respect of dams located outside territory of India.
  4. 48Act to have overriding effect.
  5. 49Power to amend Schedules.
  6. 50Power of Central Government to give directions.
  7. 51Vacancies, etc., not to invalidate proceedings of National Committee on Dam Safety Authority and State Committee on Dam Safety.
  8. 52Power of Central Government to make rules.
  9. 53Power of State Government to make rules.
  10. 54Power to make regulations by Authority.
  11. 55Rules and regulations to be laid before Parliament.
  12. 56Power to remove difficulties.

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