The National Dam Safety Authority has issued a show-cause notice to the Narmada Valley Development Authority over serious safety violations at the Bargi Dam in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur district.
According to a report by Down to Earth, the dam’s operation violates the Dam Safety Act, 2021, and threatens public safety downstream. A joint inspection by NDSA and Central Water Commission officials found multiple deficiencies that have persisted for years without proper remediation.
The most critical issue is heavy leakage from the dam’s masonry spillway gallery. The Central Water Commission first identified this problem in a letter dated April 6, 1988, and recommended corrective measures. Despite this early warning, the leakage has continued and been regularly reported since 2018.
No concrete remedial action has been taken in 37 years. The NDSA calls this serious negligence. The authority warns that prolonged leakage weakens the dam’s structural integrity and increases pressure on its foundation, potentially causing a major disaster for downstream populations.
Other Safety Failures
The Bargi Dam lacks an adequate instrumentation system to monitor structural health, seepage behavior, and stress parameters. Modern dam management requires such systems, and their absence increases operational risks.
Security arrangements are also inadequate. Unauthorized persons can freely access sensitive areas like the gallery. The NDSA describes this as a serious breach of security protocols unacceptable for critical infrastructure.
During pre-monsoon and post-monsoon inspections, officials classified the Bargi Dam as Safety Category III, indicating only minor deficiencies. The NDSA calls this classification grossly negligent and inconsistent with the dam’s actual condition. Such categorization downplays genuine risks when serious issues clearly exist.
Who’s Affected
The Bargi Dam is a major multi-purpose structure on the Narmada River. It provides irrigation, water supply, and power generation for Jabalpur and surrounding districts. Any breach would impact millions of people across a large geographical area.
The NVDA has 30 days from receipt to respond to the show-cause notice. If mandatory provisions of the Dam Safety Act, 2021 are not followed and dangerous conditions persist, the NDSA may initiate legal action under Sections 41 and 42 of the Act. These sections include penal provisions for responsible officials.
The Dam Safety Act, 2021 mandates regular inspections, risk assessments, emergency action plans, and modern monitoring systems for all designated dams. The NDSA’s role is ensuring compliance nationwide.
This notice raises broader questions about dam safety across India. Experts note that climate change brings excessive rainfall and increasing pressure on aging infrastructure. Any negligence regarding dam safety could prove catastrophic for vulnerable downstream communities who depend on these structures daily.
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