Loading…
The National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) reviewed Jharkhand's implementation of the Dam Safety Act, 2021 on 8 September 2026, and inspected Nalkari Dam (8 Sep) and Latratu Dam, a Category-II dam (9 Sep).
Jharkhand was asked for a dam-wise action plan covering Comprehensive Dam Safety Evaluation (CDSE), Emergency Action Plans and rehabilitation of Category-II dams.
NDSA pressed for Independent Panels of Experts and for rebuilding the State Dam Safety Organisation as a dedicated body rather than a committee.
Under the Act, the first CDSE of every existing specified dam must be completed within five years of commencement — by December 2026.
Provides for surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of specified dams; creates the two-tier national (NCDS, NDSA) and state (State Committee, SDSO) structure and mandates CDSE within five years of commencement.
NDSA regulations under the Act that grade dams by deficiency — the basis on which Latratu is a Category-II dam needing prompt remedial work.
Statutory regulator under the Dam Safety Act, 2021; implements NCDS policy, resolves disputes between SDSOs, specifies inspection regulations and accredits dam agencies. Five wings: policy & research, technical, regulation, disaster & resilience, administration & finance
Policy-making body under the Act (22 members)
State-level body responsible for surveillance and safety of specified dams in the state
Comprehensive rehabilitation of 736 existing dams
Key: ₹10,211 crore over 10 years in two six-year phases with a two-year overlap; 19 States (including Jharkhand) plus BBMB and DVC; ₹7,000 crore from World Bank and AIIB
GS Paper III > Disaster Management; GS Paper II > Statutory bodies
General Awareness > Polity / Government bodies
A dam covered by the Dam Safety Act, 2021 on the basis of height/design criteria set in the Act
Comprehensive Dam Safety Evaluation — an in-depth safety review by an independent panel of experts
Dam with major deficiencies requiring prompt remedial measures