Bill on dam safety in budget session likely

With several dams across the country being nearly half-a-century old, the Centre has planned a legislation for their safety.

With several dams across the country being nearly half-a-century old, the Centre has planned a legislation for their safety.

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The proposed bill on safety of large dams is likely to be introduced in the budget session of Parliament beginning tomorrow.

"We have prepared a legislation which aims to establish an institutional system to regularly monitor the safety of large dams," Water Resources Secretary U N Panjiyar told PTI.

He said while some states like Bihar have their own dam safety laws, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh have authorised Parliament to enact a law in this regard.

"As per constitutional provisions, if two or more states authorise Parliament to make a law on a state subject, the Centre can pass a law," he said, adding that other states can pass a resolution in their legislatures to adopt the Central law. Water is a state subject.

With several private players now involved in operating dams, they would also be covered under the proposed law.