12th Meeting of the National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS)

• 18 Jul 2026

The 12th meeting of the National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS) was held on 17 July 2026 in New Delhi, under the chairmanship of the Chairman, Central Water Commission (CWC).

Key Points

• Progress under the Dam Safety Act, 2021: The meeting reviewed the implementation of the Dam Safety Act, 2021. Progress made in the notification of rules, publication of technical guidelines, and development of key dam safety documents was highlighted.
• Emphasis on Expediting Pending Tasks: The Committee stressed the timely completion of mandatory activities, including Emergency Action Plans, Comprehensive Dam Safety Evaluations, Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Manuals, and Risk Assessment Studies.
• Emerging Challenges: The meeting deliberated on the growing problem of reservoir sedimentation, dam monitoring, safety and security, and the need to strengthen State Dam Safety Organisations.
• New Regulatory Framework: The Committee agreed to formulate new Regulations for the surveillance and security of specified dams in view of emerging safety threats.
• Time-bound Compliance: The Committee urged all States to complete statutory compliances, including Comprehensive Dam Safety Evaluations, Emergency Action Plans and Risk Assessment Studies for all specified dams by December 2026.