Power Ministry and DRDO Sign MoU for Early Warning System

December 27, 2022

The Union Ministry of Power and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to set up early warning systems for vulnerable hydro projects or power stations in the hilly regions.

What is an early warning system?

An early warning system (EWS) is an integrated system of:

Hazard monitoring, forecasting and prediction
Disaster risk assessment
Communication and preparedness activities system
Processes that enable individuals, communities, governments, and businesses to take timely action to minimize disaster risks.

An effective early warning system has four key inter-related elements:

Disaster risk knowledge obtained by systematically collecting data and assessing disaster risks
Detecting, monitoring, analyzing, and forecasting hazards and their consequences
Dissemination and communication from the official source of timely, accurate and actionable warnings and related information on likelihood and impact of the disaster
Disaster preparedness at all levels to respond to the warnings received

These four inter-related components can be work effectively if they are coordinated within and across sectors and multiple levels and include a feedback mechanism for continuous improvement.

What is the objective of the MoU between the Power Ministry and the DRDO?

According to this MoU, the DRDO and the Ministry of Power will collaborate towards developing suitable mitigation measures against avalanches, landslides, glaciers, glacial lakes, and other geo-hazards.
The DRDO’s expertise will be used in developing a comprehensive Early Warning System (EWS) for vulnerable hydro projects or power stations in hilly regions.

Before this MoU was signed, the Union Power Ministry had signed similar contracts with the CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) and the ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) to implement the EWS.

Why is EWS necessary for hydro projects/power stations in hilly regions?

Currently, the majority of hydropower projects and dams in hilly regions do not have early warning systems. The necessity of the EWS was brought to the spotlight following the unprecedented floods caused by an avalanche in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli District in February 2021. The impact of the disaster was exacerbated by the destruction of two hydropower projects. Prior to the 2021 Chamoli disaster, another major flood in 2013 that occurred in Uttarakhand damaged at least 10 hydropower projects.

« Previous PostNext Post »