Dam Safety Act
What Act Says?
As per Dam Safety Act 2021, Chapter VIII, Clause 35 (2), Page Number 11 “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 (14thDec 2021)..
What to be Done?
Chapter VIII, Clause 36 (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;
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 specially 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.
Where it Could be done?
(i) above fifteen Metres in height, measured from the lowest portion of the general foundation area to the top of dam;
(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 especially difficult foundation problems; or
(E) the dam is of unusual design;