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Context

The National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, has issued a show-cause notice to the Narmada Valley Development Authority over safety concerns at Bargi Dam.

About Bargi Dam 

The Bargi Dam, officially named the Rani Avantibai Lodhi Sagar Project, is a multipurpose dam (Irrigation, Power Generation, Water Supply) located on the Narmada River in the Jabalpur district, Madhya Pradesh.

In January 2026, the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) issued a show-cause notice to the Narmada Valley Development Authority over safety non-compliance issues. 

• Structural Weakness: Persistent and heavy leakage from the dam's masonry spillway, a problem ignored for decades that could compromise the dam's integrity.
• Inadequate Monitoring: Lack of modern instrumentation to monitor structural health, stress, and seepage, which is crucial for early warnings.
• Operational Lapses: Poor access control and security in sensitive areas of the dam.
• Non-compliance: Failure to prepare and implement a mandatory Emergency Action Plan (EAP) to handle potential dam failure scenarios.

Dam Safety in India: 

Vast Infrastructure: India is the world's third-largest dam-owning nation after China and the USA, with 6,138 completed large dams. (Source: National Register of Large Dams)

Ageing Structures: Over 1,065 large dams are between 50-100 years old, and 224 are over a century old, making them more vulnerable to structural decay. (Source: Ministry of Jal Shakti)

Climate Change: Increased frequency of extreme weather events like intense rainfall and flash floods puts unprecedented stress on these ageing structures.

Reservoir-Induced Seismicity (RIS): It occurs when the pressure from a large reservoir triggers earthquakes, with the 1967 Koyna Dam earthquake (magnitude 6.3–6.6) in Maharashtra being the most notable Indian example, highlighting the seismic risks of large dams.

Dam Safety Act 2021 

It is a comprehensive  law enacted to provide an institutional mechanism for the surveillance, inspection, operation, and maintenance of specified dams across the country to prevent dam failure-related disasters.

It applies to dams over 15 meters high, or between 10 to 15 meters with specific structural conditions.

Institutional Framework: The Act establishes a four-tier institutional structure to ensure uniform safety procedures nationwide:

• National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS): Responsible for evolving dam safety policies and recommending regulations.
• National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA): A regulatory body to implement national policies, provide technical assistance to states, and resolve disputes between State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs) or dam owners.
• State Committee on Dam Safety (SCDS): Supervises state-level dam rehabilitation programs and reviews the work of the SDSO.
• State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO): Conducts perpetual surveillance, inspection, and monitoring of dams within its jurisdiction.

Responsibilities of Dam Owners: The primary responsibility for dam safety rests with the dam owners (mostly state governments). They are mandated to:

• Establish a dedicated dam safety unit at each specified dam.
• Conduct regular inspections, especially before and after monsoon seasons, floods, or earthquakes.
• Prepare a well-documented Emergency Action Plan to handle potential failures.
• Carry out periodic risk assessment studies and comprehensive safety evaluations by panels of experts.
• Earmark sufficient funds specifically for maintenance and repairs.
• Install necessary instrumentation for monitoring the dam's performance and establish hydro-meteorological stations in the vicinity.

Enforcement and Penalties: The Act grants legal powers to dam safety agencies to implement protocols. Non-compliance or obstruction of officials in their duties can lead to penalties, including imprisonment for up to one year.

The Act aims to address the safety concerns of India's numerous aging dams, many of which are over 50 years old, and mitigate potential disasters in downstream communities. 

Source: DOWNTOEARTH