Latest news with #DamSafetyAct
New Indian Express
03-06-2025
- New Indian Express
Kaleshwaram scam: Action advised against 57 engineers, L&T JV
HYDERABAD: The State Vigilance Commission has advised the Irrigation department to take action against 57 engineers, both serving and retired, for irregularities in the construction of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme. It has also recommended action against the contractor, L&T-PES JV, including recovery of the cost of replacing Block-7 of the Medigadda barrage. The commission's report, submitted in March, was made public on Monday. The state government had ordered a Vigilance probe into the scheme's irregularities in January 2024. Alongside recommending action against officials and the contractor, the panel issued guidelines for future projects. It faulted the department for engaging newly recruited, inexperienced engineers in the Kaleshwaram works. Criminal proceedings have been advised against 17 engineers whose actions allegedly led to the sinking of the Medigadda barrage and caused substantial financial loss. The commission cited provisions under Sections 120(B), 336, 409, 418, 423 and 426 of the IPC, along with relevant provisions of the PC Act, 1988, the Dam Safety Act, 2021, and the PDPP Act, 1984. Additionally, it recommended initiation of major penalty proceedings under Rule 20 read with Rule 24 of the TCS (CC&A) Rules, 1991 against 33 engineers. Similar action was suggested against seven retired officials. The government was advised to entrust the case to the Commissioner of Inquiries at an appropriate stage.
Hindustan Times
03-06-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Himachal: Dam authorities asked to remain on high alert during monsoon season
Director-cum-special secretary, revenue and disaster management DC Rana on Monday directed the dam authorities in the state to remain on high alert during the monsoon season and adhere to established safety standards without fail. He was chairing a high-level virtual meeting to ensure the safety of dam infrastructure during the monsoon season. The senior officers from 23 dam authorities along with officers from the energy department participated in the meeting held to assess the current status of dam safety measures across the state, said officials. The implementation of safety norms in accordance with the Dam Safety Act, 2021, and guidelines issued by the Central Water Commission (CWC) was reviewed in the meeting, said a statement issued here. Special emphasis was laid on maintenance of dam structures, readiness and regular updating of emergency action plans (EAPs) and strengthening coordination among concerned departments for an effective and quick response during extreme weather events. A progress on critical safety components mandated by law, including the installation and operational status of early warning systems such as hooters and voice messaging setups, dam break analysis and the establishment of Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) was also reviewed, the statement added. The discussions were also held regarding the availability of I-SAT phones with docking stations in dam control rooms and barrages to ensure uninterrupted communication during emergencies. Rana highlighted the importance of robust inter-departmental coordination, real-time data monitoring and prompt dissemination of alerts to people staying downstream. He said that the state government was committed to minimizing disaster risks and safeguarding both lives and property through timely preparedness and strict compliance with safety protocols. Detailed presentations were also made during the meeting on the structural and operational safety status of major dams in the state.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Kaleshwaram: L&T, Afcons write to government on NDSA report
Hyderabad: After the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) submitted its final report suggesting investigations, repairs and rehabilitation works at Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages of the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation scheme (KILS), L&T-PES JV, which constructed Medigadda, and AFCONS-VIJETA-PES-JV, which constructed Annaram barrage, have written to the govt on the investigations and rehabilitation. The state govt earlier shared the NDSA report with the agencies seeking their opinion on going ahead with repairs and rehabilitation of the three barrages. Medigadda barrage contractor L&T has said there were certain inconsistencies in the NDSA final report on various issues. In the letter (May 24), L&T said there were contradictory points in the report, including inadequacy in geo-technical investigations for design to find out the variability of the foundation strata and related geotechnical uncertainties, deficiencies in model studies by TSERL, inadequacy in hydraulic and structural design aspects, specifically regarding the design of energy dissipation mechanisms and structural components, lapses in operation and maintenance (O&M), absence of an O&M manual, lack of quality control and O&M challenges, non-compliance with provisions of the Dam Safety Act, 2021. For instance, on the quality control issues, it had submitted to the NDSA in March last year itself along with reports on quality control manual report submitted to irrigation department in 2016, method statement for secant pile made as quality manual handover to the irrigation department during the construction, proof of regular quality checks and also irrigation department and customer satisfaction report issued by the department on quarterly basis and third party quality checks. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Click Here - This Might Save You From Losing Money Expertinspector Click Here Undo The letter quoted the reports and, in the executive summary of the report, the NDSA commented "lack of quality control measures during construction of the secant pile cutoffs. No quality control procedures were implemented to ensure the water tightness of the cutoff walls," the agency said. Afcons, which constructed Annaram barrage, said the NDSA has recommended holistic rehabilitation design, which includes detailed assessment of the structural health and safety of the barrages, comprehensive geo-technical studies and advances geo-physical assessment, etc. For carrying out that, the agency asked the irrigation department to engage an irrigation department designer or qualified agency and design consultant for taking up rehabilitation works as suggested by the NDSA. It also asked drilling pattern, depth, diameter, location of holes etc., to be drilled for geo-technical studies and other investigations. "After finalisation and approval of the design and drawings, the contractor is also prepared to execute the construction under a separate agreement," the letter on May 23 said. Afcons also requested the govt to release 176 crore pending payment, 4.45 crore towards NDSA recommended interim measures and works and also release 43 crore back guarantee.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Punjab, Bhakra board face off: CM Bhagwant Mann draws flak for questioning farmers' absence
BATHINDA: The farmer organisations and environmentalists, mainly those raising their voices against the contamination of Buddha Nullah, have expressed their anger over the outbursts of aimed at the farming community of Punjab. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The farmer organisations stated that the CM, through his outbursts, had shown his 'dislike' for the farmers and other activists who were fighting for the farming community and the water issues concerning the state. Mann, while addressing the protesters outside the office of the (MBMB) at Nangal on Sunday, said: 'Where are the farmer organisations now? They have not issued even a single statement for saving the water of Punjab, but we are not bothered, we will fight alone." Mann had made it clear that their (farmers) thinking was limited to holding sit-ins and disrupting the highways. 'They should have come here, but we have no need of them. They should come to us tomorrow; we are saving the water for their fields. They used to call themselves saviours of water, but where are the so-called saviours of water?' the CM asked. 'Sometimes they used to sit at Buddha Nullah and sometimes at other places. Now,they will also have to face opposition. It will not be me (Mann), but the public will oppose them. People will come to know who stands where in this fight for Punjab waters,' Mann had added. He also said the farmers did not visit the protest site here as there were no air-conditioned trolleys (trailers). 'Without AC, it is tough for them; this needs to be highlighted,' he added. Reacting to the CM's outbursts, Kirti Kisan Union leader Rajinder Singh Deep Singh Wala said: 'We held protests against the Dam Safety Act and against the BBMB in 2022, but the AAP govt did not take the Dam Safety Act seriously and now, Punjab is paying the price for it." Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarvan Singh Pandher said: 'Farmers do not botherabout holding protests under the scorching sun in the summers or chilly winter nights for their rights, and using AC is not a sin as the CM too remains in the AC all the time. We regularly raise the water issue. The CM is misleading the public.' The Public Action Committee (PAC) Mattewara – a pro-environment organisation, in a sharp rebuttal to the CM's comments against Budda Dariya activists exposed his govt's 'hypocrisy and negligence'. The committee representatives stated: 'The CM has questioned our absence from the dharna site at Nangal. He also asked why we did not issue a statement on the issue. He (Mann) is lying. We have many times issued statements in support of the right of Punjab on its waters. Also, it is surprising as to why the CM expects activists and farmers to help him in his dharna when they are busy fixing problems created by him.' 'Our team is fighting multiple NGT cases against the Govt of Punjab, including those of illegal common effluent treatment plants (CETPs) and reverse boring by a distillery. The CM and his govt are not following even the NGT orders to shut the illegal CETPs. He has not ordered the permanent closure of a distillery despite its clear indictment by the Central Pollution Control Board for reverse boring polluted effluent into the groundwater. We don't have time for photo ops. We are fixing the mess this govt has created,' said committee members Amandeep Bains, Col J S Gill(retd), Kuldeep Singh Khaira, Kapil Dev, and Jaskirat Singh. The committee also took note of a post on social media by Mann on Saturday that the Rajasthan govt demanded water from Punjab's quota for the drinking needs of personnel from the defence forces who were on duty for national security. 'Whenever it is for national interest, Punjab never lags behind,' they said. The committee said the water through the Indira Gandhi canal goes via Satluj, mixed with effluents of Buddha Dariya. So, Punjab has provided heavily polluted water to our armed forces for their drinking water needs, which contains chemicals from dyeing and electroplating industries of Ludhiana, they added.
Hindustan Times
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
BBMB row, repeal of Dam Safety Act: A hardening stance behind Punjab's firm resolution
When the Punjab government moved a resolution in the state assembly on Monday for the immediate repeal of the Dam Safety Act, 2021, the demand not only came more than three years after the legislation was enacted, but it also marked a shift in the state's position. While several farmer unions in Punjab opposed the Act from the outset, arguing that it infringed upon the state's rights over water resources, the state government complied with and implemented the measures mandated by the legislation, despite having some reservations. The state, however, has now hardened its stance to seek repeal of the Act after a row erupted with the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), which regulates water distribution from Bhakra, Nangal, Pong and Ranjit Sagar dams, over sharing of water from the Bhakra with Haryana, said people in the know of the matter. The resolution, which said that the 2021 Act empowers the central government to directly control the rivers and dams of states and undermines the sovereign rights of states like Punjab over their water, was unanimously passed by all MLAs present in the state assembly, cutting across party lines. Water resources minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said the state government was opposed to the Act from day one and kept conveying its concerns. 'The central government tried to take control of our dams. When the situation became unbearable due to the actions of BBMB, we had to do something and brought this resolution for repeal of this Act among other things,' he said. State set up dam safety panels under DSA The Dam Safety Act, which came into force on December 30, 2021, mandated that states set up a State Committee on Dam Safety (SCDS) and a State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO) within 180 days. The state's water resources department established SCDS on May 13, 2022, under Section 11 of the Act with chief engineer, SDSO, as chairperson and chief engineers, canal, ground water, dams and design hydel projects, as ex-officio members for monitoring and supervision of dam safety related activities, assessing probability of dam failure, supervising the functioning of SDSO, etc. Chief conservator of soils; chief engineer, hydel projects of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited; chief engineer, project-cum-arbitration, HP Power Corporation Limited, and one director of Central Water Commission were among the members, according to a notification issued by principal secretary, water resources. Another notification was issued on June 13, 2022, to constitute an eight-member State Dam Safety Organisation under an officer of the rank of chief engineer, designated as its technical head, for inspection of dams, safety review, risk assessment, emergency preparedness, enforcement of safety regulations. One of the officers quoted above said the two panels were constituted in accordance with provisions of the legislation, and the officials were also attending meetings, workshops and following up on dam safety guidelines. 'However, there have been concerns. Water is a state subject as per Entry 17 of State List in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution and dam safety has been traditionally managed by states. There is also Section 56, which allows the central government to unilaterally prescribe rules without mandatory with states,' said the official. The Union Jal Shakti ministry is of view that the legislation has been enacted to ensure dam safety by providing an institutional mechanism for prevention and mitigation of dam failure disasters through proper surveillance, operation and maintenance. 'The central ministry has been saying that the Act does not encroach upon the power of states and adequate representation has been provided to state governments at all levels and there are Constitutional provisions which give Parliament the power to legislate on dam safety,' said another official.
