Bill on dam safety in budget session likely

New Delhi, Feb 21 (PTI) With several dams across the
country being nearly half-a-century old, the Centre has
planned a legislation for their safety.
The proposed bill on safety of large dams is likely to be
introduced in the budget session of Parliament beginning on
Monday.
"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.
"While the Centre will carry out the overall monitoring,
states will have to set up their institutional system to
ensure dam safety," Panjiyar added. PTI NAB
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