3 months ago
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Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramiah said that the information of dams is not the work of a azygous department, but a shared nationalist work demanding coordinated organization action.
Speaking astatine the International Conference connected Dam Safety – 2026 successful Bengaluru connected February 13, Mr. Siddaramiah said that, arsenic dams go digitally operated, cyber information and extortion against technological sabotage indispensable beryllium treated arsenic halfway elements of nationalist infrastructure security.
Vulnerable asset
“Critical h2o infrastructure remains susceptible to coercion and strategical disruption, demanding changeless vigilance and coordinated quality mechanisms. Methane emissions from reservoirs punctual america that sustainability and clime work indispensable pass aboriginal dam planning,” Mr. Siddaramiah said.
He added that India contiguous has 6,628 specified dams, making it the third-largest dam-owning federation successful the world, and Karnataka, with 231 specified dams, ranks sixth successful the country.
“Nearly 70% of these dams are implicit 25 years old, underscoring the urgent request for systematic information evaluation, modernization, and risk-informed operation. We look climate-driven hydrological extremes. Seismic vulnerabilities, reservoir sedimentation, and the stresses of aging infrastructure make complex, interlinked risks. Dam information is nary longer a method afterthought, it is simply a nationalist information imperative,” helium added.
He besides said that governments astatine the Union and State levels should guarantee periodic inspections and information audits.
“First, governments astatine the Union and State levels indispensable determination beyond conscionable compliance to broad culture-building, ensuring that periodic inspections, information audits, and Emergency Action Plans are not treated arsenic formalities, but arsenic surviving instruments of hazard governance,” helium said.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said that Karnataka is presently implementing Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Programme (DRIP) Phase-II and Phase-III, covering 58 dams with an approved outlay of ₹1,500 crore, focusing connected structural safety, surveillance and semipermanent resilience.
On Mekedatu and UKP
On the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir and Drinking Water Project, Mr. Shivakumar said the State Government is actively pursuing statutory clearances pursuing a favourable judgement from the Supreme Court successful November 2025.
“This task is simply a lifeline for Bengaluru, designed to conscionable increasing drinking h2o needs portion ensuring stipulated Cauvery h2o deliveries, and generating astir 400 MW of power,” said Mr. Shivakumar who is besides Minister for Water Resources.
On the Upper Krishna Project – Stage III, helium said that a consent grant mechanics has been formulated to guarantee transparent and farmer-friendly onshore acquisition
500-metre rule
The Deputy Chief Minister called connected the Central Government to reconsider the broad 500-metre regularisation nether National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) guidelines.
“Tourism downstream of dams contributes to section economical development. Tourism-related activities typically bash not impact heavy structural excavation affecting dam safety. On behalf of the authorities of Karnataka, I respectfully petition reconsideration of the broad 500-metre regularisation nether NDSA guidelines, allowing flexibility portion ensuring uncompromised information standards,” helium said.
