Ten people who were stuck in a boat at Koldam dam in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district due to a rise in water level were rescued around 3 am in the morning, news agency ANI reported citing Mandi District Administration.
Earlier on Sunday, 10 people were stuck in the Koldam dam due to a rise in water level amid incessant rainfall. This comes as the Himachal Pradesh government has found that 21 out of the 23 dams in the state have violated safety norms. The government had said it will take punitive measures against the management responsible for these breaches. The negligence of government agencies in adequately monitoring the dams has also been identified as a contributing factor to these violations.
Himachal Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena informed that a total of 21 dams have failed to adhere to safety protocols, and legal actions will be pursued against the implicated parties.
"As many as 21 dams have not adhered to the safety norms and legal action will be taken against them," Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena told news agency PTI on Sunday, adding that officers have been directed to compile a comprehensive report detailing the extent of damage resulting from the disregard exhibited by the dam operators.
Among the dams found to be in violation are the Larji hydropower project in Mandi and Jateon in Sirmaur, operated by the HP State Electricity Board, as well as the Sawra Kuddu project in Shimla and Sainj in Kullu, run by the HP Power Corporation.
Himachal Pradesh is host to 23 hydel projects with a collective capacity of 9,203 megawatts, managed by various entities including the National Hydro Power Corporation, National Thermal Power Corporation, Bhakra Beas Management Board, Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited, and Independent Power Producers. Additionally, there are six ongoing projects with a combined capacity of 1,916 MW.
As per PTI's report, the officials highlighted that only the Kol Dam in Bilaspur and the Karcham Wangtoo project in Kinnaur have adhered to the prescribed water release guidelines. The urgency of reinforcing the early warning system was underscored after a tragic incident in 2014, where 24 students from Andhra Pradesh lost their lives due to the sudden release of water from the Larji Dam without prior notice.