FUNCTIONS OF NATIONAL DAM SAFETY AUTHORITY
1. For the purpose of maintaining standards of dam safety and prevention of dam failure related
disasters, discharge such functions as related to implementation of the policies made by the National
Committee including making regulations on the recommendations of the National Committee;
2. resolve any issue between the State Dam Safety Organisations of States or between a State Dam
Safety Organisation and any owner of a specified dam in that State;
3. provide the state-of-the-art technical and managerial assistance to the State Dam Safety
Organisations;
4. maintain a national level database of all specified dams in the country, including serious distress
conditions, if any, noticed therein;
5. maintain liaison with the State Dam Safety Organisations and the owners of the specified dams for
standardisation of dam safety related data and practices, and related technical or managerial assistance;
6. lay down guidelines and check-lists for the routine inspection and detailed investigation of the
specified dams and appurtenant structures;
7. maintain the records of major dam failures in the country;
8. examine, as and when necessary, either through its own engineers or through a panel of experts,
the cause of any major dam failure, and submit its report to the National Committee;
9. examine whenever required, either through its own engineers or through a panel of experts, the
cause of any major public safety concern in respect of any specified dam, and issue appropriate
instructions relating to further investigations, operational parameters or remedial measures;
10. lay down the uniform criteria for vulnerability and hazard classification of the specified dams in
the country, and review such criteria as and when necessary;
11. give directions regarding maintenance of log books or database;
12. give directions regarding qualifications and experience requirements of individuals responsible
for safety of the specified dams;
13. accord accreditations to the agencies that may be entrusted with the investigation, design,
construction and alteration of the specified dams;
14. disqualify any agency for taking up investigation, design, construction or alteration of the
specified dams, if it violates any of the regulations made under this Act;
15. give directions regarding qualification and experience requirements of individuals responsible for
investigation, design and construction of the specified dams;
16. give directions regarding quality control measures to be undertaken during construction of the
specified dams;
17. lay down guidelines for preventive measures in the areas vulnerable to landslides in the vicinity
of a specified dam under construction;
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18. give directions regarding competent levels of engineers in the dam safety units of the specified
dams on the basis of vulnerability and hazard classification of such dams;
19. give directions regarding instrumentation requirements and manner of their installation for
monitoring the performance of the specified dams;
20. give directions regarding data requirements of hydro-meteorological stations in the vicinity of the
specified dams;
21. give directions regarding data requirements of seismological stations in the vicinity of the
specified dams;
22. give directions regarding time interval for the risk assessment studies of the specified dams on
the basis of vulnerability and hazard classification of such dams;
23. give directions regarding time interval for updating the emergency action plans of the specified
dams on the basis of vulnerability and hazard classification of such dams;
24. give directions regarding constitution of independent panel of experts for comprehensive dam
safety evaluation of the specified dams;
25. give directions regarding time interval for the comprehensive safety evaluation of the specified
dams on the basis of vulnerability and hazard classification of such dams;
26. lay down guidelines for review of design floods of existing the specified dams;
27. lay down guidelines for review of site specific seismic parameter studies of the specified dams;
28. establishment of an early warning system incorporating appropriate framework for the exchange
of real time hydrological and meteorological data and information related to operation of reservoirs by
the owner of a dam;
29. promote general education and awareness in relation to dam safety;
30. provide secretarial assistance to the National Committee and its sub-committees;
31. provide coordination and overall supervision of dam rehabilitation programmes that are executed
in States through central or externally aided funding; and
32. any other specific matter relating to dam safety which may be referred to it by the Central
Government.