Lok Sabha Question No. 309 (STARRED), answered on 2015-08-11
Subject: State of Security and Stability of Dams and Glaciers
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: BHARATENDRA SINGH

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO.*309

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11 TH AUGUST, 2015/SHRAVANA 20, 1937 (SAKA)

**STATE OF SECURITY AND STABILITY OF DAMS AND GLACIERS**

*309.		KUNWAR BHARATENDRA:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has undertaken any study to monitor the state of security and stability of Dams and Reservoirs in the country and if so, the details and the outcome thereof;

(b) whether NDMA has also undertaken any study on the vulnerability of Himalayan region to disaster due to fragile geology and the glaciers and if so, the details and the outcome thereof; and

(c) the measures taken by the Government for strengthening the disaster management system in the country so as to mitigate the risks involved as a result thereof ?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) to (c):	A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*309 FOR 11.08.2015

(a) to (c):	The Government of India has taken a number of measures with the aim of strengthening the disaster management system in the country for mitigating risks associated with dams and reservoirs and for their safety and for monitoring glacial lake and water bodies in the Himalayan region. Some of the important measures undertaken are as follows:

1. A Dam Safety Organization (DSO) was established in Central Water Commission (CWC), in May 1979.  The National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS) under the chairmanship of Chairman, CWC has been constituted. NCDS is helping in assimilating the experiences, monitoring and guiding the dam safety activities in the country. Dam Safety Organizations have been formed in 17 States.

1. The Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) with financial assistance from the World Bank is under implementation. About 226 dam projects across the seven states of India namely, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Jharkhand (DVC) and Uttarakhand (UJVNL) would be rehabilitated under this project. DRIP has become effective from 18th April, 2012, and will be implemented over a period of six-years.

1. The contribution of Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) is taken into consideration in the design of the proposed projects so as to mitigate the risk involved due to occurrence of such an event and thus ensuring the safety of the structures.

iV)	CWC has taken up work of monitoring of Glacial Lake/Water Bodies (GL/WBs) in Himalayan region of Indian river basins under Plan Scheme “Development of Water Resources Information System (DWRIS)”. An inventory of Glacial Lakes/Water Bodies with water spread area more than 10 ha was prepared. As per inventory created in 2009, there are 2028 nos of glacial lakes/water bodies with more

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L.S.S.Q.NO.*309 FOR 11.08.2015

than 10 ha water spread area. Out of which 477 GL/WBs having water spread area more than 50 ha have been monitored on monthly basis for their variation in water spread area during monsoon season (June-October) from 2011-2014. In addition to above Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) study of South Lohnak Lake system (consisting of four lakes) in Teesta River Basin has been carried out by CWC.

The Government of India has also taken steps for development and strengthening of institutional mechanism, capacity building of stake holders, financial arrangements etc. for the purpose of strengthening the disaster management system in the country. Institutional framework has been created by establishment of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for policy & planning, National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) for capacity building and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for specialized response. 

To mitigate the vulnerability of the coastal people from the cyclone, the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) Phase-I which was sanctioned at a cost of Rs.1496.71 crores(Revised cost Rs.2331.71 crores) is under implementation in Andhra Pradesh & Odisha from 2010-11 to 2017-18. Further Phase-II of the scheme covering the States of Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and West Bengal has been also approved at a cost of Rs.2361.35 crores. This scheme is being funded by World Bank and likely to be completed during the period 2015-16 to 2019-20.

NDMA has so far issued 18 guidelines on various subjects (Annexure-I) of disaster management. The authority has also developed a compendium of relevant Acts/ Laws/ Rules/ Regulations on Disaster Management through the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences. The document is useful as a ready reference for all disaster managers especially for district level officials.

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**Page 1 of 1 of Annexure-I**

**L.S.S.Q.NO.*309 FOR 11.08.2015**

**Guidelines issued by NDMA**

1. Earthquakes;

2. Tsunami;

3. Cyclones;

4. Floods;

5. Urban Flooding;

6. Drought;

7. Landslides & Snow Avalanches;

8. Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies ( Part - I);

9. Chemical (Industrial) Disasters;

10. Chemical (Terrorism) Disasters;

11. Biological Disasters;

12. Medical Preparedness and Mass Casualty Management;

13. Psycho-Social and Mental Health Care;

14. Formulation of State Disaster Management Plans;

15. Incident Response System.

16. Information and Communication System.

17. Scaling, Type of Equipment and Training of Fire Services.

18. Guidelines on Hand Book for Training and Capacity Building of Civil Defence and Sister Organisations Part I   and Part II

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