India Dams Conference 2026 – Overview
The India Dams Conference 2026 is scheduled for 27 and 28 October 2026 at the ITC Grand Chola hotel in Chennai. The two‑day event is organised under the theme “Advancing India's Journey Towards a Secure Water Future” and aims to bring senior government officials, engineering professionals, infrastructure developers and industry experts together to discuss the future of dam infrastructure in India.
Key Participants
The conference will feature insights from several prominent figures: R Giridhar, Regional Director of the National Dam Safety Authority (Southern Region); Dr. M. Selva Balan, Additional Director and Scientist E at the Central Water and Power Research Station, Ministry of Jal Shakti; Ashok Kumar, Director (Hydro Power) at the Ministry of Power; former National Dam Safety Authority Chairman Anil Jain; and Biju Ponnaratta, General Manager of Tata Consulting Engineers Limited. Their participation is intended to blend regulatory perspectives with technical and industry viewpoints.
Core Themes
The agenda centres on four principal areas: (1) strengthening dam safety through modernisation of ageing infrastructure and adoption of advanced monitoring and preventive‑maintenance technologies; (2) improving reservoir management to address changing rainfall patterns and water availability; (3) promoting sustainable hydropower development by exploring technical innovations and new project opportunities; and (4) fostering cooperation between government bodies and the private sector to create knowledge‑sharing platforms and partnership models for resilient water infrastructure.
Expected Outcomes
By convening policymakers, engineers and industry specialists, the conference seeks to generate practical solutions for extending the service life of existing dams, reducing operational risks, and supporting new dam and hydropower projects through improved planning and technical collaboration. The event also aims to reinforce India’s broader water‑security objectives by aligning technical advancements with national policy priorities.
For further information, the conference website is https://indiadams.com.