Tue Oct 07 13:28:30 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text followed by a news article version:

**Summary:**

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has formed a seven-member expert panel to conduct safety evaluations of its dams. This action is in compliance with the Union government’s Dam Safety Act of 2021. The panel consists of various experts, including those in geophysics, hydraulics, structural engineering, and seismology. The comprehensive evaluations, mandated by the Act, will review all aspects of dam safety, from design and construction to seismic risk. The Act requires evaluations every ten years or sooner if requested by the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA). The experts were chosen from a list published by the NDSA.

**News Article:**

**Kerala Forms Expert Panel to Evaluate Dam Safety**

**THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, October 7, 2025** – The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has announced the formation of a seven-member expert panel to assess the safety of dams under its management. This move is in direct response to the Dam Safety Act of 2021, enacted by the Union government to enhance dam safety across India.

The panel, led by J. Chandrashekhar Iyer, a former member of the Central Water Commission, comprises specialists in various fields critical to dam integrity. Expertise includes geophysical and geotechnical safety, hydraulic safety, hydro-mechanics and electrical safety, structural engineering, instrumentation, and earthquake safety.

The Dam Safety Act mandates a comprehensive safety evaluation of each dam within five years of the Act’s commencement. Subsequent evaluations are required every ten years, or sooner if directed by the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA). The evaluations encompass a thorough review of design, construction, operation, maintenance, performance, hydrologic and hydraulic conditions, a general assessment of seismic safety, and in certain cases, a site-specific seismic parameters study.

“The experts were carefully selected from a roster provided by the NDSA, ensuring the highest level of competence and impartiality,” stated a KSEB spokesperson. The Dam Safety Act underscores the owner’s responsibility in having Comprehensive Dam Safety Evaluation of each specified dam through an independent panel of experts. The Act also establishes a multi-tiered institutional framework at both the national and state levels to oversee dam safety operations.

The KSEB’s proactive approach to dam safety underscores its commitment to protecting downstream communities and infrastructure. The evaluations are expected to provide valuable insights into the current state of Kerala’s dams and identify areas for improvement.

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