The Indian government on Tuesday announced plans to develop an early warning system for vulnerable hydroelectric projects and power stations in the Himalayan region.
The state-owned Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) will assist the federal Ministry of Power in implementing measures to mitigate the “risks of avalanches, landslides, glaciers, glacial lakes, and other geo-hazards.”
“The expertise of DRDO will also be utilized in developing comprehensive Early Warning System for vulnerable hydro projects/ power stations in hilly regions,” the Ministry of Power stated.
The early warning system is designed to reduce disaster risks by monitoring, forecasting, and predicting hazards, assessing disaster risks, and enabling timely communication and preparedness.
Last year, in February, around 200 people were killed in a glacier burst near a hydroelectric project in Chamoli.
In response to the accident, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) released detailed findings and advised the government not to rely on hydropower. The NDMA also held the central government responsible for the lack of early warning systems.
Currently, 207 hydroelectric projects (with a capacity of 25 MW or more) with a total installed capacity of 46,209.20 MW (including Pumped Storage Scheme) are in operation in India.