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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1911
ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026
STRENGTHENING THE WATER STORAGE CAPACITY AND SAFETY OF THE KAKRAPAR
DAM IN SOUTH GUJARAT
1911 # SHRI GOVINDBHAI LALJIBHAI DHOLAKIA:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Central Government is currently working on any plan/measure in coordination with the State
Government of Gujarat to increase the water storage capacity of the Kakrapar dam located in South Gujarat
and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether steps are being taken by the Central Government, in collaboration with the State Government, to
ensure the structural, hydrological and seismic safety of the Kakrapar dam; and
(c) whether the Central Government proposes to conduct inspection of Kakrapar dam by a joint team of
experts in consultation with the State Government and if so, the timeline thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) to (c) ‘Water’ being a state subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient management of
water resources are primarily undertaken by the respective State Governments. In order to supplement the
efforts of the State Governments, Central Government provides technical and financial assistance to them
through various schemes and programmes such as Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY),
Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) etc.
The Central Government is not presently engaged with the Government of Gujarat in any initiative to
augment the capacity of the Kakrapar Dam. However, desilting operations such as the removal of sand, silt
and associated materials are undertaken by the Water Resources Department, Government of Gujarat, on a
need basis in upstream areas. To safeguard the continued safety and structural integrity of the Kakrapar
Dam, the Government of Gujarat adheres to the provisions of the Dam Safety Act, 2021. Under the Act, the
primary responsibility for dam inspection, operation, maintenance, and safety audits rests with the dam
owners. In compliance with the provisions of the Dam Safety Act, 2021, pre and post-monsoon inspections
of the Kakrapar Dam are being conducted regularly to identify any anomalies or deficiencies in the dam.
Further, as mandated under the provisions of the Dam Safety Act, 2021, dam owners of the specified
dams are required to undertake a Comprehensive Dam Safety Evaluation (CDSE) through an Independent
Panel of Experts. The CDSE encompasses critical assessments, including structural, hydrological, seismic
and operational safety of the dams. These evaluations form an integral part of the implementation
framework of the Act.
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