Section 24:
Jurisdiction of State Dam Safety Organisation and Authority.
(1) Without prejudice to the
provisions of this Act, all specified dams, shall fall under the jurisdiction of the State Dam Safety
Organisation of the State in which such dam is situated in matters relating to dam inspections, analysis
of information, investigation reports or recommendations regarding safety status, and remedial
measures to be undertaken to improve dam safety; and in all such matters, full co-operation shall be
extended by the owner of the specified dam:
Provided that where a specified dam is owned by a Central Public Sector Undertaking or where a
specified dam is extended over two or more States, or where the specified dam in one State is owned
by another State, then the Authority shall be construed as the State Dam Safety Organisation for the
purposes of this Act:
Provided further that in all such dams where the Authority takes up the role of State Dam Safety
Organisation, the Governments of the States within the jurisdiction of which such dams are located
shall have access to all information relating to these specified dams as available with the Authority.
(2) The authorised representative of the Authority or concerned State Dam Safety Organisation for
the purposes of making any inspection or investigation necessary for the implementation of the
provisions of this Act, may enter upon any part of the specified dam or its site as and when required
and apply such investigation methods, as may be considered necessary.
(3) After making inspection or investigation under sub-section (2), the representative referred to in
that sub-section is of the opinion that certain remedial measures are required to be taken, he shall
report such remedial measures to the officer-in-charge of such specified dam and to the concerned
State Dam Safety Organisation.
(4) The Authority and concerned State Dam Safety Organisation, in cases of specified dams being
found to be distressed on account of their age, degeneration, degradation, structural or other
impediments, shall suggest such remedial measures on such operational parameters (including
maximum reservoir level, maximum spillway discharge and maximum discharges through other
outlets) as it may consider necessary.
(5) Nothing contained in sub-sections (1), (2), (3) and (4) shall absolve the owner of specified dam
or any other authority or person from any of the responsibilities or obligations entrusted upon it under
the provisions of this Act and the provisions of sub-sections (1), (2), (3) and (4) shall be in addition to,
and not in derogation of, any other provision of this Act.