Normally projects are planned and designed taking into consideration the latest design norms that are framed with lessons drawn from past disasters. A disaster management plan helps to deal with such disasters promptly without any confusion on role and responsibility.
Power sector is vital for any country because economic growth of a nation depends on it. The hydropower projects have to face natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and cyclones. In addition, they are subjected to man-made disasters such as bomb explosions, fires, and terrorist attacks. Such disasters generally result in extensive damage to the infrastructure and cause loss of lives and disruption of electric supply, which in some cases may be for a long period of one year or even more.
Disaster is defined as an unwarranted, untoward, and emergent situation that results in heavy toll of life and property and is a calamity sometimes caused by ‘force majeure’ and also by human error. Identification of all types of disaster involves a critical review of the ground reality and study of past disasters in similar situations. In India, the Disaster Management Act, 2005 lays down institutional, legal, finance, and coordination mechanism at various levels, namely, national, state, district, and local.
Disaster Management
A proactive approach is necessary to avoid/minimize any disaster. The Central Electricity Authority has issued a Disaster Management Plan (DMP), ‘generic document for developing crisis and disaster management plan for hydropower stations’, for hydroelectric power projects. DMP aims at minimizing the damage and restoring of the normal life at the earliest.
It is felt that in order to avoid/ minimize the probability of disasters in power houses, possibilities of the following may be explored: » Bulk oil devices (e.g., OPU) may be separated from main machine by a strong partition wall.
» In underground power plants, diesel/ petrol vehicles may be replaced by battery-operated vehicles.
» There should be a review of existing hydel power stations (surface/ semi-underground power plants) for provision of emergency exit at the other end of main entrance. In existing hydel projects, emergency exit is rarely provided as the other end is near a river bank.
» Installation of batteries for emergency lighting should be above the maximum flood level so that emergency lighting supply is not disrupted during longer periods of disaster.
» There should be provision for fireproof clothing for power plant personnel so that they can escape in case of fire disaster depending on its severity.
» Fibre boats may also be kept for evacuation of power plant personnel during a flood disaster. The ‘dos or don’ts’ instructions to be followed during disaster may be depicted on daily approach route, working place, all floors, control room, and so on. Its awareness among workers of power stations may be checked periodically.
» Wireless walkie-talkie as an alternate communication system may be provided.
Continue reading your story on the app
Continue reading your story in the magazine
RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
Molten Salt Tower echnology for India
Power generation is the backbone of India’s solar sector. Sheela K Ramasesha highlights the merits of considering the solar molten salt tower technology in the country’s power mix to achieve a quicker and more efficient way of power production.
LPG ADOPTION BY RURAL HOUSEHOLDS: Financial Instrument to Push Refills
One of the major health hazards in India stems from household air pollution. The use of the traditional cooking stove, called chulha, involves burning of biomass, thereby releasing smoke that is a leading cause of illness and death. In this article, Debajit Palit, Martand Shardul, and Deborshi Brahmachari discuss the advantages of replacing biomass stoves with LPG and recommend an innovative financial instrument for increasing the uptake of LPG refills by rural households
JAPAN ENERGY FIRM INPEX SETS 2050 NET-ZERO EMISSION GOAL
Inpex Corp, Japan’s biggest oil and gas producer, said it is targeting net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 through the expansion of renewable and hydrogen energy as well as the use of carbon capture technology.
INDIA TO WITNESS FASTEST RISE IN ENERGY DEMAND BY 2040: IEA
In a report titled, ‘The India Energy Outlook 2021’, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said, the rapid expansion of solar power combined with favourable policies is transforming India’s electricity sector, allowing the country to offer clean, affordable, and reliable power to a growing number of households and businesses.
EMISSIONS CONTROL IN THERMAL POWER STATIONS: A Long Road to Cross
In this article, Raghav Pachouri brings out the current situation and the challenges confronting us regarding emissions control in thermal power stations (TPSs) in India. While analysing the impact of the power sector on air pollution levels, he highlights the current status of compliance in India (especially Delhi-NCR and critically polluted areas) till June 2020 after revised emission norms for TPSs came into effect on December 7, 2015. He also dwells on the major roadblocks in the timely compliance of emission norms and also offers a few solutions.
Managing Air pollution From Crop Burning
The perils of crop-residue burning contribute to major environmental degradation. In this article, TCA Avni and Sunil Dhingra discuss how the practice of stubble burning is responsible for poor air quality and loss of agricultural biodiversity. They highlight the importance of managing paddy residue and offer sustainable solutions, incentives, and alternatives to crop burning.
GOVERNMENT EXTENDS TENURE OF CENTRAL ELECTRICITY REGULATORY COMMISSION CHIEF, MEMBERS TILL NEXT YEAR
The government has issued order for extension of the tenure of former Gujarat cadre bureaucrat Pradeep Kumar Pujari as chairperson of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) till mid-next year.
CHINA SET TO ADD 140 GW RENEWABLE ENERGY CAPACITY IN 2021
China is expected to add 140 GW of renewable energy power generation this year as its electricity consumption continues to grow, according to forecasts from the China Electricity Council (CEC).
Air Pollution In India: Major Issues And Challenges
As per a study published in The Lancet Planetary Health Journal, in 2019, air pollution ‘caused more than 16.7 lakh deaths in India — over ten times more than the country’s COVID-19 death toll so far’. In this thought-provoking article, Dr Bhola Ram Gurjar foregrounds the challenges India is currently facing to bring the level of air quality to a certain standard and discusses solutions that could be adopted to combat the national crisis.
Dead Storms and Literature's New Horizon: The 2020 Neustadt Prize Lecture
During the Neustadt Prize ceremony on October 21, 2020, David Bellos read the English language version of Kadare’s prize lecture to a worldwide Zoom audience.
California Earthquake Warning App Sends 1st Public Alert
California’s new earthquake early warning cellphone app issued its first public alert when a modest tremor occurred this week in a rural area of the state, a newspaper reported.
Could Fukushima Happen Here?
U.S. nuclear plants weren’t built for the growing risks of climate change
Toshiba Unveils Robot To Probe Melted Fukushima Nuclear Fuel
Toshiba Corp. unveiled a remote-controlled robot with tongs that it hopes will be able to probe the inside of one of the three damaged reactors at Japan’s tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear plant and grip chunks of highly radioactive melted fuel.
How To Get Ready For Hurricanes, Tsunamis, Floods, and Earthquakes
Seismologist Lucy Jones is on a crusade to prepare us—and our infrastructure—for the next Big One.
Losses From Natural Disasters Surge Over Last 20 Years
The U.N. office for disaster risk reduction said that worldwide reported economic losses from earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, hurricanes and other climate-related disasters surged to total nearly $2.9 trillion over the past 20 years.
What People Really Need After a Natural Disaster
Emergency earthquake relief is vital but short-lived. The Dzi Foundation brings Nepails aid that lasts.
Earthquake Risk Signs of Nature Should Not be Ignored
In this article, Baseera Rafiqi talks about earthquake risk factors in Jammu and Kashmir while reiterating that ignoring signs of nature could prove detrimental for the region in the long run.
Recycled Plastic Bricks
Some Environmental Initiatives
Arising From The Rubble: How The Quake Changed Our Lives
A decade on, cantabrians still struggle with the tragic event