The National Committee on Dam safety meets twice in a year. This committee will form or evolve policies and recommend regulations regarding dam safety standards. Representative of State Government at the level of Engineer-in-Chief & Chief Engineer (General), Water Resources Department or equivalent will be selected as a Member by rotation basis to attend the National Committee on Dam Safety Meeting.
The Union Government have established National Dam Safety Authority with 6 members for standardising safety-related data and practices with State-Level dam safety organisations and owners of dams. 200 National Dam Safety Authority will implement the policies and provide technical assistance to State Dam Safety Organisations, resolving matters between State Dam Safety Organisations of States or between a State Dam Safety Organisations and any dam owner in that State. For the 4 dams of Tamilnadu viz., MullaiPeriyar, Parambikulam, Thunacadavu and Peruvaripallam located in the State of Kerala, the National Dam Safety Authority acts as State Dam Safety Organisation.
State Committee on Dam Safety has been reconstituted as per Dam Safety Act, 2021 in G.O. (Ms) No.56, Water Resources (WR-2) Department, Dated 30.06.2022. This Committee shall meet twice in a year and one meeting shall be held before the onset of monsoon. The Committee has to be reconstituted for every 3 years thereafter. The Committee comprises of 16 members and 8 Special Invitees. 201 The First Meeting of State Committee on Dam Safety was held on 26.05.2023 and the Second Meeting was held on 09.01.2024 at Chennai.
Dam Safety Act, 2021, mandates that, the State Dam Safety Organisation shall be headed by an officer not below the rank of Chief Engineer, if the number of specified dams in the State exceeds 30.
As the number of Specified dams in Tamil Nadu is 128 (90 WRD + 38 TANGEDCO), the Government have issued Notification for Establishment of State Dam Safety Organisation as per Dam Safety Act, 2021 vide G.O.(Ms) No.56 Water Resources (WR2) Department dated 30.06.2022.
The Chief Engineer, Water Resources Department, Operation & Maintenance is re-designated as Chief Engineer, Water Resources Department, Operation & Maintenance and State Dam Safety Organisation to look after the activities of State Dam Safety Organisation.
As per the Dam Safety Act, 2021 and guidelines/recommendations of National Dam Safety Authority, the works are being carried out in State Dam Safety Organisation.
The major works which are in various stages of implementation are furnished below:-
- Submission of Periodical Health Status Reports based on Post Monsoon Inspection Reports viz.,
Pre-monsoon (10th April – 14th June), Monsoon I (15th June – 15th August), Monsoon II (16th August – 14th November) and Post Monsoon (15th November -9th April) Inspection Reports.
- The Annual Report is Prepared and submitted for approval, based on the Periodical Health Status
Reports.
- Phase I safety inspection is being carried out for 128 dams (90 WRD + 38 TANGEDCO) once in five
years by the following State Level five Member Multidisciplinary Committee headed by the
Superintending Engineer, State Dam Safety Organisation.
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Superintending Engineer, SDSO - Chairman
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Superintending Engineer (Designs) - Member
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Executive Engineer (Soil Mechanics and Research Division) - Member
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General Superintendent, P.W.Workshop & Stores - Member
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A representative from the Geological Survey of India - Member
So far, 71 dams (59 WRD + 12 TANGEDCO) inspection were completed and Inspection Reports are being sent to the concerned Superintending Engineers and Executive Engineers to take necessary action for rectifying the deficiencies given in the report.
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Dam Safety Units formed for 128 dams
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Preparation of Operation & Maintenance Manual for each dam.
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Ensuring Maintenance of Log book or database by the Dam Safety Unit.
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Conservation of Technical documents.
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To assist the Dam data Manager (Inspecting Officer) in Dam safety Units to upload the data of dam in DHARMA Portal and to monitor the same and also approving the monsoon inspection reports in DHARMA portal.
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To carry out other tasks as directed by the National Dam Safety Authority.
