SRINAGAR: All eight specified dams in Jammu and Kashmir have undergone mandatory pre-monsoon safety inspections for 2026 under the Dam Safety Act, 2021, with the Union Government informing Parliament that inspections have been completed for 6,566 of the country’s 6,598 operational specified dams.
In a written reply to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary said the inspections were carried out by the respective dam owners through their Dam Safety Units before the onset of the monsoon, in accordance with the provisions of the Dam Safety Act, 2021.
According to data furnished by the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA), Jammu and Kashmir completed inspections of all its eight specified dams, while Ladakh also achieved full compliance by inspecting both its specified dams.
The Minister said responsibility for the operation, maintenance, surveillance and safety of dams rests primarily with the respective dam owners, which are mainly State Governments and Central or State public sector undertakings. Under Section 31 of the Dam Safety Act, every owner of a specified dam is required to conduct annual pre-monsoon and post-monsoon inspections and submit reports to the concerned State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO), which examines the findings and recommends remedial measures wherever required.
The Government also informed Parliament that comprehensive dam safety evaluations are progressing nationwide. Independent Panels of Experts have so far inspected 1,090 specified dams, while Comprehensive Dam Safety Evaluation (CDSE) reports have been completed for 468 dams.
The Centre reiterated that the statutory deadline for completing Comprehensive Dam Safety Evaluations for specified dams across the country remains December 2026.
Nationally, Maharashtra has the highest number of specified dams at 2,713, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 1,370 and Gujarat with 524. The pre-monsoon inspection exercise covered nearly all operational specified dams, with only 32 inspections remaining across the country.
