NEW DELHI: India is currently undertaking one of the world’s largest dam rehabilitation and safety modernization programs, shifting its focus toward strengthening aging water infrastructure through comprehensive policy reforms, large-scale rehabilitation initiatives, and advanced digital monitoring systems.
With an impressive 6,628 specified dams, India boasts the world’s third-largest dam network, trailing only the United States and China. These critical structures are essential for irrigation, hydropower generation, drinking water supply, and flood control. However, the Jal Shakti Ministry notes that more than a quarter of the country’s dams are over 50 years old—specifically, 1,681 dams are older than 50 years, while 291 have surpassed a century in age. A study by the Central Water Commission also highlighted that reservoirs have lost an average of 19 percent of their gross storage capacity due to sedimentation.
The Flagship DRIP Initiative To tackle the mounting challenges posed by aging infrastructure, sedimentation, and climate variability, the government launched the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP). Following the successful completion of DRIP Phase I, which rehabilitated 223 dams between 2012 and 2021, the second and third phases have significantly expanded the program’s scope.
Operational since October 2021, DRIP Phases II and III cover 736 dams across 19 states and three central agencies, backed by a total financial outlay of ₹10,211 crore. This includes robust co-financing from the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). As of March 2025, rehabilitation proposals worth over ₹5,053 crore for 191 dams have already been approved, with major physical rehabilitation work completed at 43 dams.
Dam Safety Act and Digital Surveillance A cornerstone of this modernization effort is the Dam Safety Act, 2021, which established a legally enforceable, nationwide framework for the surveillance, inspection, operation, and maintenance of specified dams. Under the Act, all 31 dam-owning states have established State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs) to ensure strict compliance, regular inspections, risk assessments, and the creation of emergency action plans.
Technology plays a pivotal role in this new ecosystem. The Dam Health and Rehabilitation Monitoring Application (DHARMA) platform now securely hosts data for all 6,628 specified dams, supporting digital inspection records and continuous maintenance tracking. Authorities are now conducting nearly 13,000 dam inspections annually. Furthermore, rapid risk screening exercises have already been completed for 5,553 dams using web-based assessment tools designed to identify structural vulnerabilities and prioritize immediate rehabilitation needs.
Experts emphasize that the integration of the DRIP program, the legal oversight of the Dam Safety Act, and digital platforms like DHARMA represents a major leap toward creating a modern, data-driven dam safety ecosystem in India. These ongoing reforms are expected to drastically reduce disaster risks while improving the long-term sustainability of critical infrastructure that supports agriculture, energy, and urban water supply across the nation.
