100 dams in 6 Himalayan states at risk of glacial lake outburst floods
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Dehradun: Over 100 dams in six Himalayan states are facing a heightened threat of flash floods triggered by glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), prompting the Central Water Commission (CWC), under the ministry of Jal Shakti, to issue new guidelines last week to mitigate these risks and safeguard dam infrastructure.
The advisory applies to dams across Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Jammu & Kashmir.
CWC director Shiv Kumar Sharma, in a LinkedIn post, said the guidelines followed consultations with stakeholders including National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, Tehri Hydro Development Corporation, Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd, Northeastern Electric Power Corporation, and Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation.
The directive came amid growing concerns about glacier melt and swelling glacial lakes due to climate change. Recent studies found over 329 glacial lakes larger than 0.05 sq km in the Indian Himalayas, with a nearly 70% increase in glacial lake area between 1990 and 2020. Many of these lakes are located near vulnerable downstream infrastructure.
India, which has over 6,000 large dams — the third-highest globally — has already witnessed disasters linked to GLOFs, including the 2021 Chamoli tragedy and the 2023 Teesta-III dam breach in Sikkim.
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In the Sikkim disaster, South Lhonak Lake breached after heavy rainfall, washing away the dam and causing extensive loss of life and infrastructure.
The CWC identified avalanche-triggered breaches, landslides, and seismic activity as potential triggers for sudden GLOF events. To address this, it recommended a mix of structural and non-structural interventions.
For new dams, the guidelines mandated spillways capable of handling peak flood loads and debris-heavy surges.
These must include high-speed sluice and surface spillways with gates driven by variable-speed motors capable of opening at 1.5 to 2 metres per minute to avoid overtopping.
Existing dams were advised to undergo retrofitting of hoists, reinforcement of piers, and added protection for gates, trunnions, and power packs. High-performance concrete and downstream sediment traps were recommended to manage heavy debris flow.
Additional protections for earthen dams included parapet walls and reinforced river channels.
At the source of GLOFs, the CWC advised structural interventions such as lake siphoning, artificial drainage channels, and debris-trapping weirs wherever possible. Chorabari glacier near Kedarnath, which retreated by 7 metres per year between 1976 and 2016, is one of several rapidly shrinking glaciers creating new lake hazards.
Non-structural measures included installation of early warning systems, SCADA-controlled gate operations, satellite-based communication, and preparation of emergency action plans. In cascaded hydropower setups, upstream reservoirs must maintain lower levels during monsoon to buffer possible surges, with cost-sharing between downstream operators.
The CWC also urged coordination with defence agencies for real-time surveillance and response to emergencies. Sharma said in a LinkedIn post, "While they fill a critical gap, these guidelines also highlight the need to update existing codal provisions."
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