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India · Statutory Legislation
Enacted Year: 2021
The Dam Safety Act, 2021 (Act No. 41 of 2021)
Regulatory Authority: Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India / Central Water Commission
The Dam Safety Act, 2021 provides for surveillance, inspection, operation, and maintenance of specified dams across India for prevention of dam failure related disasters and to protect life, property, and livestock. It establishes statutory bodies including the National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS), the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), and State Committees on Dam Safety (SCDS). It mandates regular pre- and post-monsoon inspections, hazard classification, comprehensive safety reviews every 5 years, and institutional emergency action plans.
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All Country Dam Safety Acts & Guidelines
Browse legislative acts from international water safety bodies.
The Dam Safety Act, 2021 (Act No. 41 of 2021)
The Dam Safety Act, 2021 provides for surveillance, inspection, operation, and maintenance of specified dams across India for prevention of dam failure related disasters and to protect life, property, and livestock. It establishes statutory bodies including the National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS), the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), and State Committees on Dam Safety (SCDS). It mandates regular pre- and post-monsoon inspections, hazard classification, comprehensive safety reviews every 5 years, and institutional emergency action plans.
National Dam Safety Program Act (NDSPA) & FEMA Safety Guidelines
The National Dam Safety Program was established under the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 and is led by FEMA. It coordinates federal and state dam safety programs, establishes risk-informed decision making guidelines, provides funding for state dam safety agencies, maintains the National Inventory of Dams (NID), and enforces emergency action planning and condition assessments for over 90,000 dams nationwide.
Reservoirs Act 1975 & Flood and Water Management Act 2010
The UK Reservoirs Act 1975 governs the safety of large raised reservoirs with a capacity over 10,000 cubic meters. It mandates appointment of qualified Supervising Engineers and Inspecting Engineers from government panels, annual supervision inspections, statutory 10-year safety reviews, continuous monitoring logs, and criminal liability for non-compliance with safety recommendations.
Canadian Dam Association (CDA) Dam Safety Guidelines & Provincial Regulations
In Canada, dam safety regulation is primarily administered provincially (such as Quebec's Dam Safety Act and British Columbia's Dam Safety Regulation) aligned with the Canadian Dam Association (CDA) Safety Guidelines. CDA standards define dam consequence classifications, flood handling, seismic hazard evaluations, surveillance monitoring, and emergency response management standards across Canada.
ANCOLD Guidelines & NSW Dams Safety Act 2015
Australia's dam safety is governed by state-based statutory authorities (such as Dams Safety NSW under the Dams Safety Act 2015) following guidelines developed by the Australian National Committee on Large Dams (ANCOLD). It requires declared dam owners to implement safety management systems, conduct risk assessments, submit annual safety compliance reports, and establish operations and maintenance plans.
River Act & Structural Safety Standards for Dam Facilities
Japan regulates dam construction, operation, and seismic resilience under the River Act (Act No. 167 of 1964) and Ordinance for Structural Standards for River Management Facilities. Given Japan's high seismic activity and typhoon vulnerability, guidelines mandate rigorous dynamic earthquake safety evaluations, real-time telemetry, automated flood discharge management, and comprehensive periodic structural health inspections.
Federal Act on Dam Safety (Stauanlagengesetz, StAG)
Switzerland's Federal Act on Dam Safety (StAG) establishes strict safety surveillance for over 200 large dams and hundreds of retention basins. It mandates four-tier surveillance: regular continuous visual and geodetic measurements by operating staff, annual inspections by certified dam experts, 5-year comprehensive structural reassessments, and independent federal authority oversight.