Power Ministry And DRDO Partner To Develop Early Warning System For Vulnerable Hydro Projects In Hilly Regions

The Ministry of Power on Tuesday (27 December) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for Implementation of early warning system for vulnerable hydro projects and power stations.

EWS is an integrated system of hazard monitoring, forecasting and prediction, disaster risk assessment, communication and preparedness for timely action to reduce disaster risks in advance of hazardous events.

The MoU was signed by Power Secretary Alok Kumar and DRDO chairman Samir Kamat.

"The Ministry of Power and DRDO will jointly work towards developing suitable mitigation measures against avalanches, landslides, glaciers, glacial lakes and other geo-hazards," an official statement said.

"The expertise of DRDO will also be utilised in developing comprehensive Early Warning System for vulnerable hydro projects/power stations in hilly regions," the Ministry of Power said in the statement.

Separate and specific tasks will be formulated between DRDO and respective project developer(s) in agreement with broad understanding developed through this MoU, the ministry added.

The ministry said that it has taken the initiative of implementing Early Warning System (EWS) in the hydro power projects especially those located in upper reaches of hilly regions.

The ministry has already signed MoUs with CSIR-NGRI, IMD, WIHG and NRSC-ISRO for implementation of EWS, it added.