Ageing dams are time bombs that demand prevention, not compensation. Highlight the challenges in ensuring structural and operational safety of dams. Suggest key reforms.
Kartavya Desk Staff
Topic: Infrastructure
Topic: Infrastructure
Q6. Ageing dams are time bombs that demand prevention, not compensation. Highlight the challenges in ensuring structural and operational safety of dams. Suggest key reforms. (10 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: NIE
Why the question: Supreme Court scrutiny of ageing structures like Mullaperiyar, highlighting structural risks, institutional weaknesses, and the need for preventive reforms under the Dam Safety Act, 2021. Key Demand of the question: It asks to examine the major challenges in ensuring structural and operational safety of dams, particularly ageing ones, and to suggest key policy, technological, and institutional reforms for preventive risk management. Structure of the Answer: Introduction: Briefly mention India’s large dam inventory, ageing concerns, and the increasing disaster risk context. Body: Challenges: Outline core issues such as ageing infrastructure, sedimentation, lack of monitoring, poor coordination, and climate-induced hydrological stress. Reforms: Suggest actionable reforms including effective implementation of Dam Safety Act 2021, digital monitoring, DRIP schemes, and inter-agency coordination for early warning and resilience. Conclusion: Conclude by emphasizing preventive safety culture and modernization for long-term water security and disaster resilience.
Why the question: Supreme Court scrutiny of ageing structures like Mullaperiyar, highlighting structural risks, institutional weaknesses, and the need for preventive reforms under the Dam Safety Act, 2021.
Key Demand of the question: It asks to examine the major challenges in ensuring structural and operational safety of dams, particularly ageing ones, and to suggest key policy, technological, and institutional reforms for preventive risk management.
Structure of the Answer: Introduction:
Briefly mention India’s large dam inventory, ageing concerns, and the increasing disaster risk context. Body:
• Challenges: Outline core issues such as ageing infrastructure, sedimentation, lack of monitoring, poor coordination, and climate-induced hydrological stress.
• Reforms: Suggest actionable reforms including effective implementation of Dam Safety Act 2021, digital monitoring, DRIP schemes, and inter-agency coordination for early warning and resilience.
Conclusion:
Conclude by emphasizing preventive safety culture and modernization for long-term water security and disaster resilience.