Himachal Pradesh: Structural Flaws in 3 Dams Raise Safety Concerns; CM Presents Report

04 Sep Himachal Pradesh: Structural Flaws in 3 Dams Raise Safety Concerns; CM Presents Report

✎ The Dam Safety Act, 2021, mandates regular inspections, risk assessments, and emergency action plans to ensure structural integrity and operational safety.

Subject Relevance — Where This Topic Fits

• GS Paper III — Disaster Management  |  GS Paper III — Environmental Pollution & Degradation  |  GS Paper III — Infrastructure: Energy
• Prelims: Dam Safety Act, 2021, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), Hydropower potential of Himachal Pradesh, Flash flood mitigation, Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), Early Warning Systems (EWS), Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) codes for dam safety
• Essay: Climate change and infrastructure vulnerability in India, Balancing development and environmental safety in hydropower projects

Quick Revision: The Dam Safety Act, 2021, mandates regular inspections, risk assessments, and emergency action plans to ensure structural integrity and operational safety.

Why is this in the news?

The Himachal Pradesh State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO-HP) submitted its 2025–26 annual report to the state assembly, revealing structural deficiencies in three of the 15 operational dams, categorised under ‘Category II’ risk, while 12 dams were classified as ‘Category I’ (high-risk) based on hazard potential. The report underscores systemic gaps in monitoring, maintenance, and institutional capacity, raising concerns about dam safety amid increasing hydro-meteorological risks in the Himalayan region.

Background

• Himachal Pradesh, a Himalayan state, hosts 31 designated dams, of which 26 are operational, with 17 falling under the jurisdiction of the State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO-HP).
• The state’s hydropower sector is critical to its economy, contributing significantly to India’s renewable energy capacity, with over 27,000 MW of potential hydropower generation.
• The Dam Safety Act, 2021, mandates the establishment of State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs) to ensure regular inspections, risk assessments, and emergency preparedness for dams.
• Climate change-induced extreme weather events, such as flash floods and cloudbursts, have increased the vulnerability of Himalayan dams to structural and operational failures.
• Institutional vacancies in the SDSO-HP, including nine vacant posts at various engineering levels, have impeded technical oversight and delayed critical maintenance work.

What is the Dam Safety Framework in India?

• The Dam Safety Act, 2021, is a central legislation that establishes a comprehensive framework for the safety of dams in India, replacing the previous ad-hoc approach with a structured regulatory regime.
• The Act mandates the creation of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) to oversee inter-state dams and provide technical support to state authorities, while State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs) are responsible for the safety of intra-state dams.
• The framework requires regular inspections, risk assessments, emergency action plans (EAPs), and the implementation of early warning systems (EWS) for high-risk dams.
• The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) play a pivotal role in coordinating disaster preparedness and response for dam-related emergencies.
• The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has formulated specific codes (e.g., IS 12169) for the design, construction, and maintenance of dams to ensure structural integrity and operational safety.
• The Act also mandates the establishment of Dam Safety Committees at the state and national levels to review safety protocols, investigate incidents, and recommend corrective actions.
• Himachal Pradesh’s SDSO-HP operates under this framework, conducting pre-monsoon and post-monsoon inspections, monitoring structural health, and implementing maintenance plans for its dams.

Key Features

Feature	Significance
State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO-HP) annual report 2025-26	Provides the primary assessment of structural integrity and risk classification of all operational dams in Himachal Pradesh.
Risk classification of dams (Category I, II, III)	Determines priority of maintenance, emergency preparedness, and allocation of financial resources for safety interventions.
Structural deficiencies in Category II dams	Indicates latent risks requiring immediate corrective measures to prevent potential failures.
Vacant technical positions in SDSO-HP	Undermines the capacity for routine inspections, monitoring, and implementation of safety protocols.
Expenditure on dam safety (₹141.12 crore in 2025-26)	Reflects the financial commitment to mitigate risks, though allocation disparities exist among projects.

Why it Matters

Economic

• Hydropower dams contribute significantly to Himachal Pradesh’s revenue; structural failures can disrupt energy supply and economic stability.
• Flash floods from dam failures (e.g., Malana-2 in 2025) cause direct financial losses (₹200–400 crore) and indirect economic disruptions.
• Long-term maintenance delays increase lifecycle costs of infrastructure projects.

Strategic

• Dams are critical for irrigation, drinking water supply, and flood control in downstream regions, including plains states.
• Failure of high-risk dams (Category I) could trigger transboundary disputes over water sharing and environmental damage.
• Ensuring dam safety aligns with national priorities under the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) guidelines.

Environmental

• Deficiencies in spillway capacity (e.g., Malana-2) exacerbate flood risks during extreme weather events.
• Structural cracks and unmonitored seepage can lead to long-term ecological degradation of river ecosystems.

Governance

• The report underscores the need for robust institutional mechanisms for dam safety audits and compliance enforcement.
• Vacancies in technical cadres highlight systemic gaps in human resource planning for critical infrastructure management.

Challenges

1. Structural Integrity Risks

• Three dams classified under Category II due to identified structural deficiencies, necessitating urgent repairs.
• Delayed implementation of early warning systems (e.g., Girithai Jotun barrage) increases vulnerability to failures.
• Cracks in concrete structures and uneven settlement of piers (Girithai Jotun) pose immediate safety threats.

UPSC Link: GS-III: Infrastructure – Energy

2. Operational and Maintenance Gaps

• Inadequate monitoring equipment and delayed upgrades (e.g., hydraulic hoists in Malana-2) compromise dam functionality.
• Disparities in budget allocation (e.g., ₹123.60 crore for Sainj HEP vs. ₹150 crore for Malana-2) reflect prioritisation challenges.
• Post-flood assessments (Malana-2, 2025) reveal gaps in emergency preparedness despite no loss of life.

UPSC Link: GS-III: Infrastructure – Energy

3. Institutional Capacity Constraints

• Nine vacant technical positions in SDSO-HP undermine routine inspections and risk assessment capabilities.
• Absence of regular appointments exacerbates delays in implementing corrective actions and safety protocols.
• Dependence on ad-hoc funding for repairs highlights systemic inefficiencies in long-term planning.

UPSC Link: GS-II: Governance – Public Administration

4. Climate Change and Extreme Events

• Increased frequency of flash floods (e.g., Malana-2, 2025) tests the resilience of aging dam infrastructure.
• Spillway inadequacies in Category I dams amplify risks during monsoon seasons.
• Need for climate-resilient design standards in dam construction and retrofitting.

UPSC Link: GS-III: Environment – Climate Change

5. Financial Sustainability

• High expenditure on repairs (₹141.12 crore in 2025-26) raises questions about the sustainability of funding models.
• Disproportionate allocation to specific projects (e.g., Sainj HEP) may divert resources from higher-risk dams.
• Lack of dedicated funding mechanisms for preventive maintenance increases long-term fiscal burden.

UPSC Link: GS-III: Economy – Public Finance

Challenges — UPSC Perspective

Issue	Concern
Structural deficiencies in Category II dams	Risk of catastrophic failure if unaddressed; requires immediate corrective measures.
Delayed implementation of early warning systems	Compromises real-time monitoring and emergency response capabilities.
Vacant technical positions in SDSO-HP	Undermines institutional capacity for routine inspections and risk assessment.
Inadequate spillway capacity	Exacerbates flood risks during extreme weather events, as seen in Malana-2 (2025).
Disparities in budget allocation	Leads to prioritisation challenges and potential neglect of high-risk projects.
Climate change impacts on dam resilience	Increased frequency of extreme events tests the durability of aging infrastructure.

Way Forward

• Constitute a high-level inter-departmental task force to prioritise repairs for Category II dams and implement early warning systems.
• Fill vacant technical positions in SDSO-HP through expedited recruitment processes and capacity-building initiatives.
• Develop a climate-resilient dam safety protocol incorporating flood risk modelling and retrofitting guidelines.
• Establish a dedicated fund for preventive maintenance to ensure sustainable financing of safety interventions.
• Conduct third-party audits of all Category I dams to validate risk assessments and identify additional vulnerabilities.
• Strengthen coordination between state agencies (SDSO-HP, irrigation departments) and NDMA for disaster preparedness.
• Implement a real-time monitoring dashboard for critical dams to enable proactive risk mitigation.
• Formulate a phased action plan for upgrading spillway capacities and structural reinforcements by 2028.

UPSC Value Addition

Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the Dam Safety Act, 2021:
1. The Act mandates the establishment of a National Dam Safety Authority.
2. It classifies dams into three categories based on their risk potential.
3. The Act empowers the Central Government to inspect and audit dams without state consent.
4. It requires all dam owners to publish dam safety reports annually.

How many of the above statements are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. All

Answer: All — Statements 1, 2, and 4 are correct. Statement 3 is incorrect as the Act respects federalism and requires cooperation between the Centre and states for inspections.

Q2. Assertion (A): The Himachal Pradesh Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO-HP) reported structural deficiencies in three dams classified under Category II.
Reason (R): These deficiencies were identified during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon inspections for the year 2025-26.

Options:
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true, but R is false.
D. A is false, but R is true.

Answer: ? — Both the assertion and reason are factually accurate. The SDSO-HP’s 2025-26 report indeed identified structural deficiencies in three dams during routine inspections, making R the correct explanation of A.

Mains Practice Question

✍ The structural integrity of dams is critical to disaster risk reduction in India. In light of the Himachal Pradesh Dam Safety Report (2025-26), critically examine the institutional and technical challenges in ensuring dam safety in the country. Also, elucidate the role of early warning systems and post-monsoon inspection protocols in mitigating risks. (15 Marks)

Approach: Begin by defining the significance of dams in India’s infrastructure and the legal framework governing dam safety, particularly the Dam Safety Act, 2021, and the role of State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs). [‘Highlight the institutional capacity gaps: vacant technical positions (e.g., Deputy Chief Engineer, Executive Engineer, Junior Engineer) in SDSO-HP and the lack of regular appointments.’, ‘Discuss the federal structure: Centre-State coordination under the Act, including the role of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) and State Dam Safety Organisations.’, ‘Mention the financial constraints: Underfunding or delayed allocation of maintenance budgets (e.g., ₹141.12 crore spent in 2025-26, with ₹123.60 crore allocated to Sänj HEP alone).’] [‘Structural deficiencies: Cite examples from the report (e.g., Girijatwän Barrage’s unequal settlement, cracks in concrete, delayed implementation of early warning systems).’, ‘Hydraulic failures: Radial gate hoist malfunctions and un-gated spillway issues (e.g., Malana-2 project’s flash flood in August 2025).’, ‘Risk categorisation: Explain the three-tier risk classification (Category I, II, III) and its alignment with NDMA guidelines.’] [‘Early warning systems: Discuss their role in flash flood mitigation (e.g., Malana-2’s emergency action plan preventing loss of life despite economic losses).’, ‘Post-monsoon inspection protocols: Emphasise the importance of routine inspections under the Dam Safety Act and their role in identifying structural weaknesses.’, ‘Policy recommendations: Suggest measures such as filling technical vacancies, enhancing inter-state data sharing, and integrating dam safety with broader disaster management frameworks.’] Conclude by stressing the need for a multi-dimensional approach—strengthening institutions, improving technical capacity, and ensuring robust early warning systems—to safeguard against man-made disasters.

Source: amarujala.com

Himachal Pradesh PCS (HPPSC (HAS)) — State PCS Practice

Prelims: Recently, structural deficiencies were identified in three major dams of Himachal Pradesh, raising safety concerns. Which of the following is NOT one of the dams mentioned in the context?

1. Bassi Dam
2. Pandoh Dam
3. Parbati Dam
4. Chamera Dam

Answer: Chamera Dam — Chamera Dam is not among the three dams where structural deficiencies were reported; the focus was on Bassi, Pandoh, and Parbati dams.

Mains: Discuss the potential socio-economic and environmental impacts of structural deficiencies in Himachal Pradesh’s dams, with a focus on the challenges in ensuring dam safety and mitigation strategies.

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