# India dam safety rules deadline unrealistic, experts warn 2026-08-08T12:54:24+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet India must urgently reform dam safety regulation after a spate of disasters, a senior expert has warned. The New Indian Express reports that a government deadline to complete Comprehensive Dam Safety Evaluations (CDSE) by December 2026 risks producing flawed reports. Dr Brijendra Kumar Mishra, a National Dam Safety Authority empanelled expert, said the rush undermines scientific rigour. A proper CDSE requires three to five months of field visits and geological study. Nearly 6,628 large dams exist in India, the third-highest globally, with over a thousand older than 50 years. The World Bank-funded Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project covers only a fraction of them, leaving thousands without repair funding. Recent dam-related disasters include the Chamoli-Rishiganga breach (2021), the Teesta-III glacial lake flood (2023), and a tunnel collapse at Teesta-IV in July 2026. ## Coverage - newindianexpress.com Tags: Central Water Commission, dam safety, Dam Safety Act 2021, flood disasters, infrastructure Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/india-dam-safety-rules-deadline-unrealistic-experts-warn/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/india-dam-safety-rules-deadline-unrealistic-experts-warn/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.