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National Dam Safety Authority in the works
Why it is in news?
- The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a proposal for introduction of the Dam Safety Bill, 2018 in Parliament.
- The Bill envisages a National Dam Safety Authority, which will liaise with State-level dam safety organisations and the owners of dams for standardising safety-related data and practices.
- The NDSA will investigate dam failures and have the authority to fine the States that are found remiss in implementing safety measures.
- It will look into unresolved points of issue between the States which share dam territory and look to eliminating potential causes for inter-State conflicts.
Mullaperiyar Dam
- A case in point is the Mullaperiyar dam in Kerala, which is a perennial flashpoint between the State and neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
- The Chennai floods of 2015 due to unusually heavy rain were thought to have been compounded by an unprecedented release of water from the Chembarambakkam dam into the Adyar.
- Due to lack of legal and institutional architecture for dam safety in India, dam safety is a perennial concern.