Concerns are being voiced regarding water discharge: Has it been planned and regulated properly? Could the damage have been lessened with preventative action? The Dam Safety Act of 2021 has received attention as a result of the floods since it contains requirements for monitoring, inspecting, operating, and maintaining dams in order to ensure their safe operation and avert disasters caused by dam breakdown.
Source: Babushahi.com
According to the Act, all dam owners, which are typically state governments and Central/state public sector undertakings, are required to set up an emergency warning system for potential flood-affected areas downstream of the dam in addition to a well-designed hydro-meteorological network and inflow forecasting system. Before enabling the reservoir to be filled for the first time, each owner of a certain dam is required to create an emergency action plan and update it frequently.
Because neither frequent risk assessment studies nor effective action plan implementation have been done, it is obvious that things have gotten out of hand. The Kerala floods of Julyu2013August 2018 were significantly exacerbated by poor reservoir management. According to reports, it was decided to abide by the rule of thumb that reservoirs should only be filled up near the end of the monsoon season.
Source: The Indian Express
Dams, which Jawaharlal Nehru famously referred to as the temples of modern India, have the power to help mitigate floods in downstream areas, provided that these crucial national resources are handled wisely to limit human and financial losses. At the same time, it’s important to closely monitor how hydroelectric power plants affect the environment. Although hydropower is a significant source of renewable energy, there are risks involved in its production that should not be disregarded.
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