MoU signed to work on mitigation measures against avalanches, landslides, glaciers, glacial lakes and other geo-hazards.

NEW DELHI, Dec 27 (The CONNECT) – The Ministry of Power today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) under the Ministry of Defence for Implementation of Early Warning System for Vulnerable Hydro Projects/Power Stations.

Alok Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Power and Dr. Samir V Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence (R&D) & Chairman, DRDO, signed the MoU.

Ministry of Power and DRDO will jointly work towards developing suitable mitigation measures against 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. Separate and specific tasks will be formulated between DRDO & respective project developer(s) in agreement with broad understanding developed through this MoU.

Ministry of Power has taken the initiative of implementing Early Warning System (EWS) in the Hydro Power Projects especially  those located in upper reaches of Hilly regions. 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. Ministry of Power has already signed MoUs with CSIR-NGRI, IMD, WIHG and NRSC-ISRO for implementation of EWS.