Ministry of Jal Shakti Organizes Int’l Conference on Dam Safety at RIC, Jaipur

The International Conference on Dam Safety (ICDS), organized by the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, recently concluded at the Rajasthan International Centre (RIC) in Jaipur.

The conference's closing session, presided over by Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, emphasized the critical importance of dam health and safety in future dam management. The Union Minister expressed gratitude to all participants and expressed confidence that the outcomes of ICDS 2023 would play a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and longevity of vital dam infrastructure.

During the conference, the Union Minister proposed several actionable points, including the establishment of a joint action force in collaboration with the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) to advance Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) for dams. Additionally, he suggested the creation of a comprehensive strategy based on the conference's deliberations and outcomes. Furthermore, the Union Minister recommended organizing workshops to discuss dam safety incidents and failures, with a focus on disseminating these insights to all dam-owning agencies and relevant stakeholders to prevent future incidents.

ICDS 2023 featured various technical sessions over the course of two days, bringing together leading experts and industry leaders to bolster dam safety capabilities. Joint Secretary of the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Anand Mohan, summarized the conference's outcomes and shared recommendations generated during these sessions.

Notable presentations included the Government of India's initiatives on dam safety and management, an overview of the dam safety status in Maharashtra, regulatory practices in dam safety within the Australian State of New South Wales (NSW), collaboration between Denmark and India on water management, collaboration between Australia and India on water management, and insights into the World Bank's initiatives in dam management.

The second day of the conference featured technical sessions on topics such as dam rehabilitation, reservoir sediment management, operation, maintenance, and emergency management, as well as lessons learned from dam failures and incidents. These sessions provided valuable insights into best practices, case studies, and cutting-edge technologies in dam safety and management.

A significant emphasis was placed on risk assessment in dam safety and risk management, with presentations covering methodologies, frameworks, and case studies aimed at ensuring proactive approaches to safeguard the integrity of dams.

In the industrial session on dam rehabilitation techniques and materials, experts shared groundbreaking insights and advancements in the field, including innovative solutions for seepage reduction, underwater repair and rehabilitation, usage of synthetic geomembranes for waterproofing, and rehabilitation guidelines for large dams.