Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Paatil inaugurates NDSA office, launches AI and digital tools for dam safety

Union Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Paatil on Tuesday inaugurated the new office of the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) at West Block II in R.K. Puram, New Delhi and launched several digital initiatives aimed at strengthening dam safety governance in India.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary, Secretary of the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation V. L. Kantha Rao, Chairman of the Central Water Commission Anupam Prasad and NDSA Chairman Anil Jain, along with other senior officials.

The minister inaugurated the new office by unveiling a plaque and conducting a walkthrough of the premises. A tree plantation drive was also carried out at the NDSA campus during the event.

During the programme, Paatil launched the official NDSA website, designed in line with Digital Brand Identity Manual (DBIM) 3.0 guidelines. The website features a GIS-based “Specified Dams” section, offering a map-based interface that provides information and details of specified dams across the country.

The minister also unveiled NETRA (NDSA Engine for Tracking and Review using AI), an artificial intelligence-enabled platform developed by the authority in collaboration with the Weapons and Electronics Systems Engineering Establishment (WESEE), a research laboratory of the Indian Navy.

The platform provides a conversational interface that allows users to quickly access information from key dam safety documents, including provisions of the Dam Safety Act and related policy guidelines. It is integrated with DHARMA, the national repository of dam safety data covering more than 6,600 specified dams and thousands of inspection reports, enabling faster analysis and review of safety information.

Another initiative launched during the event was Rashtriya Bandh Suraksha Darpan (RBSD), a visualisation platform developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC). The platform presents results of Dam Break Analysis (DBA) through digital mapping and visualisation tools, helping authorities better assess potential risks and plan mitigation strategies.

The minister also remotely inaugurated rooftop solar power plants installed across seven buildings of the Central Water Commission. Each facility has a capacity of less than 25 kilowatts, reflecting the government’s push towards clean energy in public infrastructure.

Addressing the gathering, Paatil praised the NDSA for adopting technology-driven initiatives to strengthen dam safety governance. He noted that over 13,000 inspection reports are generated annually during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon dam inspections and said integrating artificial intelligence with the DHARMA database would help analyse large volumes of data more efficiently.

The minister also highlighted the importance of digital tools such as dam break visualisation systems for modern risk assessment and disaster preparedness.

He expressed confidence that the new office and improved facilities would enhance the efficiency of the NDSA and strengthen its role in ensuring the safety of dams across the country.