UPSC Mains 2023 · GS III · Q7 · 10 marks · 150 words

Dam failures are always catastrophic, especially on the downstream side, resulting in a colossal loss of life and property. Analyze the various causes of dam failures. Give two examples of large dam failures.

हिन्दी में

बाँधों की विफलता हमेशा प्रलयकारी होती हैं, विशेष रूप से नीचे की ओर, जिसके परिणामस्वरूप जीवन और संपत्ति का भारी नुकसान होता है। बाँधों की विफलता के विभिन्न कारणों का विश्लेषण कीजिए। बड़े बाँधों की विफलताओं के दो उदाहरण दीजिए।

Disaster ManagementInfrastructure

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “Discuss how climate induced flood loads and reservoir level change may lead to dam failure. In what ways does the Dam Safety Act 2021 ensure prevention of dam failure-related disasters?”

Shreyansh SuranaAIR 413 · CSE 2022 · 222 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

Mention IPCC 6th Assessment Report for increased vulnerability of India due to climate induced changes in weather phenomena. [IPCC].

Body · points

Climate Induced flood loads & reservoir level change :-

  1. Heavy rainfall over short duration period → overwhelming capacity of dams

  2. Increased siltation due to soil erosion → reduced holding capacity of water bodies.

  3. Snow melting in Himalayan Region → Greater flows of water. (eg. GLOFs).

Leading to Dam failure:-

  1. Poor structural integrity [227 dams are > 100 years old].

  2. Non-maintenance and cracks in reservoirs (eg: polavaram old dam) → Reduced water bearing capacity.

  3. Lack of dredging before rains → high sedimentation deposits → ↓ water holding.

  4. Increased force of rivers may damage the dam walls and cause dam bursts [eg: suktawa river in parasdeh dam, mp].

Dam Safety Act ensure prevention of dam failures

  1. National committee on dam safety: ↳ Standards for dam safety to prevent dam failure

  2. National Dam Safety Authority ↳ inspection & investigation of dams

  3. Accreditation of dam construction Agencies

  4. Dam safety unit in each dam for timely mitigation measures.

  5. Regular Audit and evaluation of health of dams.

  6. State dam safety organisation

Close · a way forward

↳ monitoring operation & maintenance of dams

Phase II of DRIP (Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project) will go a long way in ensuring dam safety.

How toppers approach this question, and more on its topic: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2023, General Studies Paper III, Q7. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.