DAM Safety: Illusion and Reality

Water is an important element for origin and development of human life. Therefore it has special importance. The different civilizations flourished on the banks of rivers are the evidence of the relationship between water and human being. There is no alternative to water for the existence of human civilization till today. During the evolution of human being, an attempt to damn the uncontrolled flood is the first attempt for development. Though the first dam built one thousand years BC is a matter of research, the existing oldest dam is the world was built 1500 years ago in Spain. In India dam on Cauvery River built during ‘Choul’ dynasty called as ‘Grand Anicut’ is the first known attempt. This paper describes the perception of Dam safety as an Illusion and reality. The causes of failure of Dams and analysis of failure are also described. A novel idea of ‘Dam Insurance’ is also explained at the end.