Early Warning Systems (EWS) launches by CMD NHPC

Faridabad : Shri A.K. Singh, CMD, NHPC launched an Internet cloud based software application for Early Warning System on 8^th August 2022 at NHPC Corprate Office, Faridabad. Shri Y.K. Chaubey, Director (Technical), Shri R.P. Goyal, Director (Finance) and senior officers from NHPC’s Regional Offices, Power Station, Projects and units also participated in the programme through video conferencing. The software will enable tight monitoring of water levels/discharge of tributaries/rivers along with close coordination with the Project/Power station at upstream and downstream of such identified vulnerable projects on real time basis. It shall further issue alerts/warnings to concerned Project authorities/Stakeholders and local administration to give time to the people to react during floods, enabling local administration and people to evacuate or shelter before a flood.

Hydroelectric projects are usually located in mountainous areas and are vulnerable to many types of disasters like Landslide, Cloudburst, Flood, Avalanche, GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Floods) and LLOF (Landslide Lake Outburst Floods etc. In recent years, the Himalayan region has witnessed several calamities, resulting in flash floods in the downstream areas, in which many lives have been lost, hydroelectric projects and other infrastructure have been damaged. A natural calamity took place in Feb’ 2021 at Chamoli District of Uttarakhand wherein few hydroelectric projects were also damaged badly and there was great loss of human lives and property. The Ministry of Power(MoP) subsequently constituted a committee for Short Term & Long Term Weather Forecast and Early Warning System to be put in place in such vulnerable projects. Thereafter, Central Electricity Authority (CEA) identified 47 nos. of vulnerable projects across the country, which are generally located above elevation of EL 1500 m or those which are first in the basin. Out of these, 10 nos. belong to NHPC Limited and 2 nos. belong to CVPPPL (A Joint Venture Company between NHPC and JKSPDC). As per the guidelines issued by CEA/MoP, such projects were directed to establish Early Warning Systems (EWS) in the form of Automatic Water Level Recorders (AWLR) with telemetry at Gauge & Discharge sites at appropriate distance upstream of Dam / Barrage or maintain close coordination with upstream projects (if any) so that the sufficient lead time is available to project authorities for taking safety measures in case of any disaster.

NHPC was also given the responsibility for setting up Master Control Room facility for monitoring the functioning of EWS of such vulnerable hydroelectric projects in the country belonging to Public /State/ Private sector. The software application has been integrated with inputs from Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on real time basis for strengthening the forecasting / alerts. Presently all projects associated with NHPC and CVPPPL have been configured with this application and are getting benefitted. Hydroelectric projects belonging to other developers can also take advantage of this software portal in future.

 Besides the launch of EWS Software, NHPC witnessed major milstones at its 2000 MW Subansiri Lower Project wherein the Non-overflow block L4 of Dam successfully achieved top level of EL 210 m and Turbine works of Unit-3 were started with the lowering of first part of Lower Pit Liner on 08.08.2022. The diameter of lower pit liner is 7.8 mt. and each part weighs 5.5 ton. 2000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project is one of the most ambitious hydroelectric projects of India as well as of NHPC.