A new office of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) was recently inaugurated to strengthen dam safety governance in India. During the event, several digital initiatives developed by NDSA were launched to promote data-driven decision-making and improved monitoring of dam safety across the country.
Key Digital Initiatives Launched
Official NDSA Website
The official NDSA website was launched in accordance with DBIM 3.0 (Digital Brand Identity Manual) guidelines.
Key Features
- A GIS-based “Specified Dams” section.
- Map-based interface displaying:
- Locations of dams
- Key features and technical details of specified dams across India.
The platform provides a centralised digital interface for accessing dam safety information.
NETRA (AI-Based Monitoring Platform)
- NETRA stands for – NDSA Engine for Tracking and Review using AI.
- It is an AI-enabled platform developed by NDSA in collaboration with the Weapons and Electronics Systems Engineering Establishment (WESEE), a research laboratory of the Indian Navy.
Key Features of NETRA
- Provides a conversational AI interface for quick access to dam safety information.
- Allows retrieval of information from:
- Dam Safety Act regulations
- Policy guidelines and official documents.
- Integration with DHARMA Platform: NETRA is integrated with the DHARMA Platform, which serves as the national repository of dam safety data.
- DHARMA contains:
- Information on over 6,600 specified dams in India
- Thousands of inspection and monitoring reports.
- DHARMA contains:
- This integration enables faster data access, analysis and safety review.
Rashtriya Bandh Suraksha Darpan
- Developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).
- Purpose:
- Provides a visualisation platform for Dam Break Analysis (DBA).
- Helps simulate potential dam failure scenarios.
- Key Benefits
- Improves risk assessment and disaster preparedness.
- Supports better planning for emergency response and mitigation measures.
About National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA)
- It is a statutory body established in 2022 under the Dam Safety Act, 2021to ensure the safe functioning of dams across India.
- Headquartered in New Delhi
- Parent Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti
- Mandate: It is responsible for:
- Implementing provisions of the Dam Safety Act 2021.
- Regulating, supervising, inspecting, and setting standards for dam safety,
- Providing technical guidance to states on dam safety measures.
- Functions:
- Regulation & Inspection: Overseeing, inspecting, and regulating dams, with the authority to intervene in cases involving inter-state disputes.
- Accreditation: Granting accreditation to agencies working on dam design, construction, or alteration.
- Technical Guidance: Providing technical assistance to State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs) and resolving issues between states or with dam owners.
- Emergency Planning: Ensuring that disaster management, surveillance, and emergency response protocols are in place.
- Structure: The NDSA is headed by a Chairperson appointed by the central government, assisted by five specialized wings: Policy and Research, Technical, Regulation, Disaster and Resilience, and Administration and Finance.