Central Idea

India boasts nearly 6,000 large dams, but concerns loom over the safety of these structures, with approximately 80% of them being over 25 years old and posing safety risks.
With numerous large dams and hydropower projects, the Himalayas play a crucial role in meeting India’s energy needs.
However, the recent incident of a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in North Sikkim has raised alarm bells about the safety of these structures.

Hydropower boom in the Himalayas

As of November 2022, the Himalayan states and Union territories, excluding West Bengal, had 81 large hydropower projects (above 25 MW) in operation, with 26 more under construction.
An additional 320 large projects are in the planning stages, according to the Central Electricity Authority under the Union Ministry of Power.

Vulnerability to Natural Hazards: The Himalayas are highly susceptible to natural hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, and GLOFs due to their complex geological and topographical features. These hazards can jeopardize the integrity of dams and reservoirs.
High Population Density: The Himalayan region is densely populated, with communities residing downstream of dams and hydropower projects. A dam failure can have devastating consequences on human lives and property.
Ecological Sensitivity: The Himalayas are an ecologically fragile region with unique biodiversity. A dam failure can lead to environmental disasters, impacting delicate ecosystems.

Climate Change: The melting of glaciers due to global warming contributes to the formation of glacial lakes. As these lakes grow, the risk of GLOFs increases, putting downstream infrastructure at risk.
Snowball Effects: Landslide dams can lead to impounding of lakes, landslide-induced floods, secondary landslides, channel avulsion, and the formation of flood terraces downstream, impacting communities and infrastructure.
Delayed Impacts: Run-of-the-river projects, which often bypass large-scale displacement and forest diversion, have been promoted as environmentally friendly. However, their underground components can disturb geology and geohydrology, leading to indirect displacement and environmental impacts.
Aging Infrastructure: Many dams and hydropower projects in the Himalayas are aging, with approximately 80% of them over 25 years old. Proper maintenance and monitoring are essential to ensure their safety.

The DSA was introduced in response to dam failures caused by deficient surveillance and maintenance.
It establishes key responsibilities and requires the formation of national and state-level bodies for its implementation.
The Act outlines the following provisions:

National Committee on Dam Safety: Responsible for overseeing dam safety policies and regulations.
National Dam Safety Authority: Tasked with implementing and resolving state-level disputes.
Chairman of the Central Water Commission (CWC): Heads dam safety protocols at the national level.
State Committee on Dam Safety (SCDS) and State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO): To be established at the state level.

Inadequate Risk Assessment: Experts argue that the DSA does not encourage risk-based decision-making and lacks transparency incentives.
Transparency Concerns: Dam safety should be a public function, with information readily accessible. However, transparency is impeded when government employees and project engineers dominate national and state bodies, potentially compromising objective decision-making.

Comprehensive Risk Assessment: Dam safety protocols must include comprehensive risk assessments that consider factors such as climate change, geological stability, and the potential for GLOFs. Periodic reviews yield updated inundation maps and rule curves for reservoir capacity.
Hazard Profiling Issues: Hazard risk is influenced by climate change, urbanization, and water usage patterns. Periodic reviews should yield updated inundation maps and rule curves for reservoir capacity. Unfortunately, these reviews are often overlooked or findings are not made publicly available.
Standardized Safety Evaluation: The DSA mandates comprehensive dam safety evaluations but lacks standardization in how failures are analyzed and reported.
Transparent Reporting: Transparency in dam safety is paramount. The DSA should be implemented rigorously, with an emphasis on transparent reporting of dam failures and safety assessments.
Community Involvement: Local communities should be actively engaged in dam safety measures. They can provide valuable insights into the environmental and social impacts of such projects.

Early Warning Systems: Establishing advanced early warning systems that can detect GLOFs and other potential hazards is crucial. These systems can save lives and minimize damage.
Regular Maintenance: Aging infrastructure must undergo regular maintenance and upgrades to ensure their continued safety and functionality.
International Collaboration: Given the transboundary nature of the Himalayan region, international collaboration on dam safety and disaster management is essential. Neighboring countries should work together to mitigate shared risks.