Dam safety a shared national obligation: Karnataka CM

Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramiah said that the safety of dams is not the responsibility of a single department, but a shared national obligation demanding coordinated institutional action.

Speaking at the International Conference on Dam Safety – 2026 in Bengaluru on February 13, Mr. Siddaramiah said that, as dams become digitally operated, cyber security and protection against technological sabotage must be treated as core elements of national infrastructure security.

Vulnerable asset

“Critical water infrastructure remains vulnerable to terrorism and strategic disruption, demanding constant vigilance and coordinated intelligence mechanisms. Methane emissions from reservoirs remind us that sustainability and climate responsibility must inform future dam planning,” Mr. Siddaramiah said.

He added that India today has 6,628 specified dams, making it the third-largest dam-owning nation in the world, and Karnataka, with 231 specified dams, ranks sixth in the country.

“Nearly 70% of these dams are over 25 years old, underscoring the urgent need for systematic safety evaluation, modernization, and risk-informed operation. We face climate-driven hydrological extremes. Seismic vulnerabilities, reservoir sedimentation, and the stresses of aging infrastructure create complex, interlinked risks. Dam safety is no longer a technical afterthought, it is a national security imperative,” he added.

He also said that governments at the Union and State levels should ensure periodic inspections and safety audits.

“First, governments at the Union and State levels must move beyond just compliance to comprehensive culture-building, ensuring that periodic inspections, safety audits, and Emergency Action Plans are not treated as formalities, but as living instruments of risk governance,” he said.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said that Karnataka is currently implementing Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Programme (DRIP) Phase-II and Phase-III, covering 58 dams with an approved outlay of ₹1,500 crore, focusing on structural safety, surveillance and long-term 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 following a favourable judgment from the Supreme Court in November 2025.

“This project is a lifeline for Bengaluru, designed to meet growing drinking water needs while ensuring stipulated Cauvery water deliveries, and generating approximately 400 MW of power,” said Mr. Shivakumar who is also Minister for Water Resources.

On the Upper Krishna Project – Stage III, he said that a consent award mechanism has been formulated to ensure transparent and farmer-friendly land acquisition

500-metre rule

The Deputy Chief Minister called on the Central Government to reconsider the blanket 500-metre restriction under National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) guidelines.

“Tourism downstream of dams contributes to local economic development. Tourism-related activities typically do not involve deep structural excavation affecting dam safety. On behalf of the government of Karnataka, I respectfully request reconsideration of the blanket 500-metre restriction under NDSA guidelines, allowing flexibility while ensuring uncompromised safety standards,” he said.