.png){kind=small}
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
9 hours ago
2
The Water Resources Department (WRD) will establish a separate wing, State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO), with a dedicated chief engineer for effective management of dam safety and implementation of various initiatives, including dam rehabilitation and improvement projects in Tamil Nadu.
The SDSO will be the 15th wing of the WRD, bifurcated from the Operation and Maintenance Wing, and would adhere to the Dam Safety Act, 2021. The State government recently issued an order, notifying the constitution of the SDSO headed by a chief engineer to adhere to the requirements of the Act and perform the functions specified by it.
The Act specifies that States with more than 30 dams must have an SDSO. Therefore, the formation of a wing was essential to prioritise the safety of dams that are several decades old. Tamil Nadu has nearly 128 dams, including 90 under the WRD and 38 under the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco).
Functions
Sources in the WRD said that the functions of the SDSO could not be effectively carried out due to the lack of a functional head. This wing would be a monitoring and advisory body, which would coordinate with the State Dam Safety Committee and National Dam Safety Authority. It would have 25-30 members with expertise in hydrology, dam hydro mechanics, and dam safety engineering.
The wing would perform various activities like inspection, vulnerability and hazard classification of the dams, recording dam failures and funds for maintenance and repairs. Moreover, some of the major tanks and water bodies would be brought under the dam category, warranting enhanced monitoring and special attention, sources said.
Besides inspection of the dams once in five years, ongoing initiatives like DRIP-II being carried out with World Bank assistance would be expedited.
The new wing would also coordinate with National Dam Safety Authority on rapid risk assessment of dams to evaluate potential impact during dam failure.
English (US) ·