India's Dam Safety Audit: A Crucial Step to Prevent Disasters

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India is taking a critical step towards ensuring public safety by conducting a comprehensive risk assessment of its dams. With the country hosting the world's second-largest number of dams, the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) has developed a digital tool to screen and prioritize dams based on their fragility, vulnerability, and downstream impacts. Following a spate of devastating dam-related flooding disasters, including the 2023 incidents in Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh, the NDSA has launched a nationwide risk prioritization exercise. The audit will directly aid states in prioritizing rehabilitation and risk-mitigation investments to ensure public safety. The database, prepared for the first time since the National Dam Safety Act, shows that India has 6,545 operational dams and 83 under-construction ones. As of November 25, 2025, 1,853 dams have been screened and verified. The NDSA has also issued mandatory protocols, including a pre-filling standard operating procedure to ensure safe reservoir filling of newly constructed dams. According to experts, climate change-induced glacial melt poses significant risks to dam safety, as seen in the 2023 South Lhonak lake overflow in Sikkim. To comply with the Act, the NDSA has issued a detailed template for states and dam owners to ensure uniform, high-quality technical evaluations. The authority has also issued model terms of reference for recasting of drawings and emergency action plans to prevent avoidable incidents. The exercise is a crucial step towards ensuring public safety and preventing disasters in a country that is heavily reliant on hydropower projects. The NDSA's efforts are aimed at standardizing safety evaluations and ensuring compliance with the Act, which will ultimately benefit the people of India.