Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) has drawn a three-pronged strategy to combat flood situations in Bengal and improve reservoir operations in the valley area spread over Bengal and Jharkhand.
The PSU has revised the guide curves to determine permissible water levels for its dams, unified the operations of Tenughat dam of the Jharkhand government with other reservoirs in the Damodar valley area and revamped the flood warning dissemination and flood forecasting system.
DVC had been criticised by the Bengal government for its inability to control floods in the lower Damodar basin. However, the central power utility has maintained that it cannot independently take a call on the release of water from its dams.
"DVC was faulted by the Bengal government in the past for floods. It is correct that we operate four reservoirs - Panchet, Maithon, Tilaiya and Konar - but the actual release of water is decided by the Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee (DVRRC), which has representatives from DVC, Bengal, Jharkhand and the Central Water Commission. Nevertheless, we have initiated various measures to improve our flood management system," said Andrew WK Langstieh, chairman of DVC.
"We have revised the guide curves taking rainfall data up to 2012. The Tenughat dam has been brought under the control of DVRRC. We have improved the flood warning system. The module will be available to all stakeholders and will be colour-coded based on the amount of water released. The system will give an idea that if water is released by what time it would reach various locations (in the downstream). We have installed a flood forecasting software at our Maithon office," he said. The module will be operational soon.
The chairman said a decision had been taken that if found necessary, the peak water level at the Maithon dam could be raised to 500ft from 495ft last year and at Panchet dam to 435ft from 425ft.
"I had a meeting with the chief secretary of Bengal on June 9 so that there is maximum possible coordination between the state government and DVC," he said.
Raghunathpur stake sale
DVC today said a divestment of stake in its 1,200MW Raghunathpur thermal power plant in Purulia is set to take shape soon. It is in discussions with Neyveli Lignite Corporation after talks with NTPC did not materialise.
The PSU has revised the guide curves to determine permissible water levels for its dams, unified the operations of Tenughat dam of the Jharkhand government with other reservoirs in the Damodar valley area and revamped the flood warning dissemination and flood forecasting system.
DVC had been criticised by the Bengal government for its inability to control floods in the lower Damodar basin. However, the central power utility has maintained that it cannot independently take a call on the release of water from its dams.
"DVC was faulted by the Bengal government in the past for floods. It is correct that we operate four reservoirs - Panchet, Maithon, Tilaiya and Konar - but the actual release of water is decided by the Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee (DVRRC), which has representatives from DVC, Bengal, Jharkhand and the Central Water Commission. Nevertheless, we have initiated various measures to improve our flood management system," said Andrew WK Langstieh, chairman of DVC.
"We have revised the guide curves taking rainfall data up to 2012. The Tenughat dam has been brought under the control of DVRRC. We have improved the flood warning system. The module will be available to all stakeholders and will be colour-coded based on the amount of water released. The system will give an idea that if water is released by what time it would reach various locations (in the downstream). We have installed a flood forecasting software at our Maithon office," he said. The module will be operational soon.
The chairman said a decision had been taken that if found necessary, the peak water level at the Maithon dam could be raised to 500ft from 495ft last year and at Panchet dam to 435ft from 425ft.
"I had a meeting with the chief secretary of Bengal on June 9 so that there is maximum possible coordination between the state government and DVC," he said.
Raghunathpur stake sale
DVC today said a divestment of stake in its 1,200MW Raghunathpur thermal power plant in Purulia is set to take shape soon. It is in discussions with Neyveli Lignite Corporation after talks with NTPC did not materialise.
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