Ahmedabad: Dams and reservoirs are the most important sources of drinking water and irrigation in any state. Therefore, it is necessary to repair and maintain them periodically as per the guidelines of the Central Government. Under the National Dam Safety Programme, the repair and maintenance work of dams and reservoirs in irrigation schemes in Gujarat was completed at a cost of ₹333 crore during 2023–24 and ₹366 crore during 2024–25, totaling ₹699 crore, as stated in the list of the Water Resources Department, said an official statement.

Additionally, this work will continue in irrigation schemes in the current year, 2025–26, at a cost of ₹501 crore allocated in the state budget. These works include painting dam gates, repairing spillways and earth embankments, building security cabins, and installing state-of-the-art instrumentation related to dam safety.

There are a total of 1,115 dams under the Water Resources Department in Gujarat, of which 524 are specified dams, while 8 are specified dams under other departments. These specified dams fall under the Dam Safety Act. The Paneliya Dam, located on the Sukh Bhadar River near Kotda village in the Rajkot district, is the oldest specified dam in Gujarat. It is 640 meters long and 11 meters high, with a catchment area of 25.90 square kilometers and a total storage capacity of 3.44 million cubic meters. In contrast, the Sardar Sarovar Dam near Navagam in the Narmada district is the newest specified dam in the state.

Dam safety works carried out by the Water Resources Department, as per the guidelines of the Central and Gujarat State Dam Safety Organizations, improve water storage and irrigation capacity. By reducing water wastage due to seepage, more water becomes available for irrigation to farmers in the command area. Repairing dams and reservoirs increases their safety and lifespan.

It is worth noting that the Dam Safety Act was implemented by the Government of India in 2021 to oversee dam safety at the national level. Under this Act, the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) and the National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS) were established. The NCDS is responsible for formulating dam safety policies, recommending necessary regulations, and setting safety standards. The NDSA’s role is to implement and monitor these policies, rules, and standards for dams and reservoirs.

Following this, the Gujarat State Dam Safety Organization (GSDSO) was formed in 2022 by the Narmada, Water Resources, Water Supply, and Kalpsar Department. The organization is tasked with the inspection, operation, surveillance, and maintenance of each specified dam.

According to NDSA guidelines, implementation at the state level is ensured with a strong emphasis on dam safety, and a system is in place for periodic monitoring and review by the National Dam Safety Authority.

Details of major specified dams in Gujarat:

• Ukai Dam on the Tapi River near Ukai village in Tapi district is 4,927 meters long and 80.58 meters high. The catchment area is 62,225 sq km, with a total storage capacity of 7,414.29 million cubic meters.
• Dharoi Dam on the Sabarmati River near Dharoi village in Mehsana district is 1,207 meters long and 45.87 meters high. It has a catchment area of 5,475 sq km and a total storage capacity of 907.88 million cubic meters.
• Karjan Dam on the Karjan River (a Narmada tributary) near Jitgarh village in Bharuch district is 903 meters long and 100 meters high, with a catchment area of 1,404 sq km and a total storage capacity of 630 million cubic meters.
• Shetrunji Dam on the Shetrunji River near Rajasthali village in Bhavnagar district is 3,895 meters long and 32.02 meters high. Its catchment area is 4,317 sq km, with a total storage capacity of 415.41 million cubic meters.
• Madhuban Dam on the Damanganga River near Madhuban village in Valsad district is 2,870 meters long and 58.60 meters high. The catchment area is 1,813 sq km, and the total storage capacity is 567 million cubic meters.