As per the Press Information Bureau's press release, the Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Water Resources for enacting The Dam Safety Bill, on May 13 2010. The Bill is to be introduced in the Parliament.
The main objectives of the legislation are:-
• The new legislation will help the States in adopting uniform dam safety procedures which shall ensure safety of dams and safeguard benefits from such dams.
• It also provides for proper surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of dams of certain parameters (called specified dams) to ensure their safe functioning, and thereby protect persons and property against risks associated with dams failures.
• Provisions have also been made in the legislation concerning the necessities of periodical inspections, instrumentations and establishment of hydrological and seismological stations.
• The proposed measure also addresses the issues of emergency action plan and disaster management, and enlists the requirements of comprehensive dam safety evaluation.
Read the complete press release here.