Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Safety first: On Dam Safety Authority

Safety first: On Dam Safety Authority

The Dam Safety Authority (प्राधिकरण, अधिकार) might be able to monitor the safety aspects of the Mullaperiyar dam

The Central Water Commission (CWC)’s proposal to let the Mullaperiyar dam’s Supervisory Committee continue for a year essentially means status quo (यथास्थिति, वर्तमान स्थिति) continues. The proposal makes the Chief Secretaries of Tamil Nadu and Kerala accountable (responsible, liable, answerable, chargeable) and provides for the participation of technical experts as panel (committee, board, council, advisory group) members. The proposed arrangement (व्यवस्था, योजना, प्रावधान), presented before the Supreme Court on Tuesday, has become necessary as the CWC is of the view that the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) (राष्ट्रीय बांध सुरक्षा प्राधिकरण), the regulatory (नियामक, नियंत्रक, प्रबंधकीय) body envisaged (कल्पना करना, परिकल्पना करना) under the recently enacted Dam Safety Act, will require one year to become fully functional (कार्यात्मक, संचालन कर रहा है). On Thursday, the two States are expected to inform the Court of their response. Given (दिया गया, विचार करना, ध्यान में रखना) the features of the 126-year-old Mullaperiyar dam and the controversies surrounding its lime and mortar (a mixture of sand, water, and cement to bind building blocks such as stones, bricks, and concrete masonry units together) structure, both States would have nothing much to complain about regarding (से संबंधित, के बारे में ) sticking to (abide by, keep, adhere to, hold to) the existing arrangement for some more time although they differ in the way they approach the dam. Located in Kerala, it is used by TN for multiple purposes. While TN is keen (इच्छुक, उत्सुक) on getting the strengthening work completed to raise the water level to 152 ft from 142 ft, Kerala wants a new dam built. In the backdrop (पृष्ठभूमि, स्थिति, परिदृश्य) of landslides (भूस्खलन) in Kerala after heavy rain, fears, though misplaced (गलत, गुमराह), have arisen over the dam’s structural stability (स्थिरता, दृढ़ता, सुरक्षा, मजबूती). Regardless of (irrespective of, without regard to, without reference to, notwithstanding, no matter, disregarding) these apprehensions (आशंका, अनुभव, चिंता) being addressed (tackle, deal with, attend to, try to sort out) through technical and scientific bodies, the issue of safety crops up (happen, occur, arise, arrive, surface) time and again (frequently, often, repeatedly, again and again, time after time). What this underlines is that there should be no room (scope, chance, leeway, freedom, latitude, opportunity (for something to happen)) for complacency (carelessness, laziness, laxity; self-satisfaction, smugness, self-regard) about the dam’s safety. It is for this purpose that the apex court too has been addressing the issue of having a stronger institutional mechanism (system, arrangement, regime, apparatus) than the existing Supervisory Committee (group, body, council, board, commission) which has been rendered (make, cause to be, cause to become) almost toothless (lacking effectiveness; powerless, ineffectual).

Ideally (preferably, if possible, as a matter of choice, much rather) speaking, the authority would have been well suited to handle issues concerning the Mullaperiyar, as the Act empowers (authorize, permit, allow) the body to perform the role of the State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO) (The State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO) is required to keep perpetual surveillance, carry out inspections and monitor the operation and maintenance of specified dams under its jurisdiction to ensure their safety and to classify each dam under their jurisdiction as per the vulnerability) in this context (circumstances, conditions, situation, background, atmosphere) because the NDSA assumes (take control of, take charge of, take over) the role of SDSO for a dam located in one State and owned by another. But, as more time is required to have the authority fully in place (in position; exist; establish, set up), the Centre has chosen to rely on (depend on; resort to, have recourse to) the existing structure, with the respective (corresponding, relevant) Chief Secretaries being made accountable. With a sub-committee functioning under the Supervisory Committee and one more panel under the National Disaster Management Authority (The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), headed by the Prime Minister of India, is the apex body for Disaster Management in India. Setting up of NDMA and the creation of an enabling environment for institutional mechanisms at the State and District levels is mandated by the Disaster Management Act, 2005), the oversight (supervision, surveillance, superintendence, inspection, administration, management) mechanism appears to be fine. Still, however well-designed (well-planned, well-developed) the scheme might be, it is for the authorities (officials, officialdom, the people in charge, the government, the administration, the establishment, the bureaucracy, the system) to make sure (make certain, ensure, check, confirm) their actions instil (fill, inject, impart, add) public confidence during the monsoon, when the issue of safety in Kerala acquires precedence (priority, preference, first place, primacy). It is also their duty to ensure there is no panic and to deal with scaremongers (a person who spreads threatening reports/rumours deliberately to make people feel worried or frightened).

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - राष्ट्रीय बांध सुरक्षा प्राधिकरण
English Meaning - a regulatory body to implement the policy, guidelines and standards for proper surveillance, inspection and maintenance of specified dams and address unresolved points of issues between the State Dam Safety Organization (SDSO) of two states, or between the SDSO of a state and the owner of a dam in that state. seeks to maintain standards related to dam safety, prevent dam-related disasters and resolve inter-State issues.

2.authority (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्राधिकरण, अधिकार
English Meaning - An organization that is having power/control in a particular area of activity.

3.status quo (noun)

Hindi Meaning - यथास्थिति, वर्तमान स्थिति
English Meaning - the present situation, the current state, the existing state of affairs.

4.arrangement (noun)

Hindi Meaning - व्यवस्था, योजना, प्रावधान
English Meaning - planning, provision, preparatory measures.

5.regulatory (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - नियामक, नियंत्रक, प्रबंधकीय
English Meaning - organizational, managerial, supervisory.

6.envisage (verb)

Hindi Meaning - कल्पना करना, परिकल्पना करना
English Meaning - visualize, imagine, envision.

7.functional (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - कार्यात्मक, संचालन कर रहा है
English Meaning - working, running, operative, operating.

8.given (preposition)

Hindi Meaning - दिया गया, विचार करना, ध्यान में रखना
English Meaning - considering, taking into account, bearing in mind.

9.regarding (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - से संबंधित, के बारे में
English Meaning - concerning, as regards, with regard to.

10.keen (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - इच्छुक, उत्सुक
English Meaning - enthusiastic about, interested in, attracted to.

11.backdrop (noun)

Hindi Meaning - पृष्ठभूमि, स्थिति, परिदृश्य
English Meaning - situation, scenario, context.

12.landslide (noun)

Hindi Meaning - भूस्खलन
English Meaning - a landslide is defined as the movement of a mass of rock, debris, or earth down a slope. Landslides are a type of “mass wasting,” which denotes any down-slope movement of soil and rock under the direct influence of gravity; landslip, rockfall, mudslide, earthfall/slip.

13.misplaced (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - गलत, गुमराह
English Meaning - misguided, misconceived, ill-advised, ill-considered, ill-judged.

14.stability (noun)

Hindi Meaning - स्थिरता, दृढ़ता, सुरक्षा, मजबूती
English Meaning - firmness, solidity, secureness, strength.

15.apprehension (noun)

Hindi Meaning - आशंका, अनुभव, चिंता
English Meaning - anxiety, worry, nervousness, disquiet, tension, concern, panic, fearfulness.

16.National Committee on Dam Safety (noun)

English Meaning - the National Committee on Dam Safety, constituted by Dam Safety Act, 2021, is to prevent dam failure-related disasters and to maintain standards of dam safety. The committee will evolve dam safety policies and recommend necessary regulations as may be required.

17.Central Water Commission (CWC) (noun)

English Meaning - a premier Technical Organization of India in the field of Water Resources and is presently functioning as an attached office of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India. The Commission is entrusted with the general responsibilities of initiating, coordinating and furthering in consultation of the State Governments concerned, schemes for control, conservation and utilization of water resources throughout the country, for purpose of Flood Control, Irrigation, Navigation, Drinking Water Supply and Water Power Development.

18.accountable (adjective)

English Meaning - responsible, liable, answerable, chargeable.

19.panel (noun)

English Meaning - committee, board, council, advisory group.

20.body (noun)

English Meaning - association, organization, group.

21.Dam Safety Act, 2021 (noun)

English Meaning - An Act to provide for surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of the specified dam for prevention of dam failure related disasters and to provide for institutional mechanism to ensure their safe functioning and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

22.lime mortar (noun)

English Meaning - it is composed of lime and an aggregate such as sand, mixed with water.

23.mortar (noun)

English Meaning - a mixture of sand, water, and cement to bind building blocks such as stones, bricks, and concrete masonry units together.

24.stick to (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - abide by, keep, adhere to, hold to.

25.regardless of (phrase)

English Meaning - irrespective of, without regard to, without reference to, notwithstanding, no matter, disregarding.

26.address (verb)

English Meaning - tackle, deal with, attend to, try to sort out.

27.crop up (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - happen, occur, arise, arrive, surface.

28.time and again (phrase)

English Meaning - frequently, often, repeatedly, again and again, time after time.

29.underline (verb)

English Meaning - emphasize, highlight, accentuate.

30.room (noun)

English Meaning - scope, chance, leeway, freedom, latitude, opportunity (for something to happen).

31.complacency (noun)

English Meaning - carelessness, laziness, laxity; self-satisfaction, smugness, self-regard.

32.institutional (adjective)

English Meaning - arranged in the form of institutions; procedural, formal, systematic, methodical.

33.mechanism (noun)

English Meaning - system, arrangement, regime, apparatus.

34.committee (noun)

English Meaning - group, body, council, board, commission.

35.render (verb)

English Meaning - make, cause to be, cause to become.

36.toothless (adjective)

English Meaning - lacking effectiveness; powerless, ineffectual.

37.ideally (adverb)

English Meaning - preferably, if possible, as a matter of choice, much rather.

38.empower (verb)

English Meaning - authorize, permit, allow.

39.State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO)

English Meaning - The State Dam Safety Organisation (SDSO) is required to keep perpetual surveillance, carry out inspections and monitor the operation and maintenance of specified dams under its jurisdiction to ensure their safety and to classify each dam under their jurisdiction as per the vulnerability.

40.context (noun)

English Meaning - circumstances, conditions, situation, background, atmosphere.

41.assume (verb)

English Meaning - take control of, take charge of, take over.

42.in place (phrase)

English Meaning - in position; exist; establish, set up.

43.rely on (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - depend on; resort to, have recourse to.

44.respective (adjective)

English Meaning - corresponding, relevant.

45.National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) (noun)

English Meaning - The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), headed by the Prime Minister of India, is the apex body for Disaster Management in India. Setting up of NDMA and the creation of an enabling environment for institutional mechanisms at the State and District levels is mandated by the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

46.oversight (noun)

English Meaning - supervision, surveillance, superintendence, inspection, administration, management.

47.well-designed (adjective)

English Meaning - well-planned, well-developed.

48.authorities (noun)

English Meaning - officials, officialdom, the people in charge, the government, the administration, the establishment, the bureaucracy, the system.

49.make sure (phrase)

English Meaning - make certain, ensure, check, confirm.

50.instil (verb)

English Meaning - fill, inject, impart, add.

51.precedence (noun)

English Meaning - priority, preference, first place, primacy.