The Dam Safety Act, 2021 provides for surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of the specified dams for prevention of dam failure related disasters and for institutional mechanism to ensure their safe functioning and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The provisions of the Act have come into force with effect from 30.12.2021. As per section 24 (1) of the Act, the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) shall be construed as the State Dam Safety Organisation for the purposes of this Act in respect of, inter alia, those specified dams, which are extended over two or more States, or where the specified dam in one State is owned by another State. Section 24 (1) of the Act further provides 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. This would potentially create an environment of mutual trust and pave the way for resolution of disputes, by way of dispelling apprehension, if any, among the concerned States regarding the issues related to the safety of such dams.

Further, the National Committee on Dam Safety has representations of various States and any inter-State issue related to the safety of dams, if raised, can be appropriately addressed by the Committee.

This Information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti Shri Bishweswar Tudu in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

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BY/AS