GS Advanced Program 2025
Batch 1 - #DM006
Traditional Disasters - Dam Failure
As per International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD), dam failure is the
collapse or the movement of part of a dam or its foundation such that the dam
cannot retain water and as a result it releases large amount of water imposing risk
on people and property downstream.
Examples: Arbat Dam Failure, Sudan, 2024; Raidak dam failure (West Bengal, 2024)
What are the natural Causes of Dam Failures?
Seismic Activity:
o Example: The 1967 failure of the Karnataka Dam in India, caused by a
combination of an earthquake and the dam’s failure to accommodate
seismic activity.
Flooding and Overtopping:
o Example: The Banqiao Dam failure in China (1975), where heavy rains from
Typhoon Nina led to massive flooding and the collapse of the dam.
Soil Erosion and Landslides:
o Example: Vaiont Dam, Italy (1963), was compromised by a landslide into the
reservoir, which led to the overtopping of the dam.
What are the anthropogenic (Human-Induced) Causes of Dam Failures?
Design and Construction Deficiencies:
o Example: The St. Francis Dam failure in California (1928) was attributed to
poor geological assessment and the failure to recognize the potential for
seepage.
Human error in selecting sites such as weak lithology
o Vajont Dam failure, Italy, 1963
Poor Maintenance and Lack of Monitoring:
o It can lead to the failure of safety-critical components like spillways, gates,
and structural integrity.
o Example: The Morvi Dam failure in Gujarat, India (1979), which resulted in
thousands of casualties due to poor maintenance and the absence of
proper warning systems.
Overloading or Inadequate Spillways: Example: The Kakhovka Dam in Ukraine
suffered damage due to poor capacity management and overload.
What are the remedial measures to prevent dam failures?
Improved Design and Engineering: Ensuring that dams are designed with
appropriate safety factors, including accounting for extreme weather events,
seismic risks, and geological surveys, is crucial.
Incorporating modern materials and technologies that enhance the structural
integrity and flexibility of the dam is necessary.
Regular Inspection and Monitoring: Establishing comprehensive inspection
protocols and monitoring systems, including the use of remote sensing
technologies, drones, and sensors to track structural health, is essential.
Early detection of problems such as seepage, cracks, or deformation can prevent
catastrophic failure.
Seismic and Flood Resilience:
Forum Learning Centre: Delhi - 2nd Floor, IAPL House, 19 Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 | Patna - 2nd floor, AG Palace, E Boring Canal
Road, Patna, Bihar 800001 | Hyderabad - 1st & 2nd Floor, SM Plaza, RTC X Rd, Indira Park Road, Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500020
9311740400, 9311740900 | [Link] | admissions@[Link] | helpdesk@[Link]
GS Advanced Program 2025
Batch 1 - #DM006
Public Awareness and Emergency Preparedness: Developing public awareness
programs about potential hazards, flood risk zones, and the establishment of
early-warning systems is important.
Adoption of Modern Technology: Utilizing real-time data collection, automated
control systems, and artificial intelligence to enhance the monitoring of water
levels, weather, and dam health can help mitigate risks.
Capacity Building and Training: Ongoing training of engineers, technicians, and
local authorities in dam management and risk mitigation is necessary to ensure
preparedness and effective response.
Examples from the World and India
Banqiao Dam, China (1975): The dam was overwhelmed by a massive typhoon,
which led to the release of enormous volumes of water, causing flooding and
failure. Over 200,000 lives were lost in the disaster.
St. Francis Dam, USA (1928): A catastrophic failure due to poor geological analysis
and design flaws, leading to the loss of more than 400 lives.
Morvi Dam, India (1979): A failure caused by poor maintenance and inadequate
warning systems, resulting in approximately 1,800 deaths.
Kakhovka Dam, Ukraine (2023): This failure caused widespread flooding, and
though the failure was linked to a mix of poor management and sabotage, it
underscored the importance of dam maintenance and resilience against
unforeseen events.
What are the various government measures to prevent dam failures?
Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP)
80% financial assistance of the World Bank
Repair and rehabilitation of initially about 225 dam projects across the seven states
of India, namely Jharkhand (DVC), Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha,
Tamil Nadu, and Uttarakhand (UJVNL).
Objectives of DRIP
o Improve the safety and operational performance of selected existing dams
o To strengthen the dam safety institutional setup of participating States /
Implementing Agencies.
Dam Safety Act 2021
It provides for the surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of all
specified dams in the country.
It provides for four tiers of institutional mechanism:
o Establishment of National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS) and National
Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) at Centre level
o Establishment of State Committee on Dam Safety and the State Dam Safety
Organization at State level.
Forum Learning Centre: Delhi - 2nd Floor, IAPL House, 19 Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 | Patna - 2nd floor, AG Palace, E Boring Canal
Road, Patna, Bihar 800001 | Hyderabad - 1st & 2nd Floor, SM Plaza, RTC X Rd, Indira Park Road, Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500020
9311740400, 9311740900 | [Link] | admissions@[Link] | helpdesk@[Link]
