SACHIN JAIN
Certified Energy Manager
GVK Technical Consulting & Services Pvt. Ltd.
E:- sachin.jain@gvk.com
Mob:- 9759700736

Floods, mainly caused by rain storms, cloud bursts, melting snow or longterm rainy weather, have represented a serious hazard for ages

Though meteorologists forecast such events with reasonable preciseness, it
is difficult to forecast intensive local rainfall

Expensive technical equipment required to monitor weather conditions, and
monitor water levels of various, otherwise inconspicuous, creeks and
potential waterways.

Storm water can represent very sudden danger- it is necessary to warn
people in danger very fast and efficiently.

More than 80% of large dams in India are >25 years old and their health and
safety are of paramount importance.

It is also necessary that we are prepared to face any emergencies caused
by a dam failure.

Need for a foolproof warning system to alert downstream habitats before
release of water from the dam spillways.

The warning system must be backed up by alternate power sources to
work in case of power failure.

Regular testing process to ensure all time functioning of system.

WNS solution devised and designed as an integrated monitoring, warning
dissemination and notification system.

Warn riparian communities of an imminent release of water when significant
increase in water level and/or flow rate
The system comprises of :
– Multiple Electronic Sirens (e.g. 2, or 20, or 2000)

– Each mounted on standalone Towers or Poles erected on roof-tops.

-- Control Centre (also called “Dispatching Centre”)

– Small System of 2-3 Sirens covering a small dam

– 200 Sirens covering the coast line of an Indian state

– 2,000 Sirens for a National Warning system in Europe

Siren has 3 options:- hooting / play pre-recorded messages / relay live voice
announcements

Comprises of Horn array

Each Siren power rating selected to cover audio distance based on different
vulnerable locations to be covered, e.g., one Siren could cover 500 m and
another 2 Km audio distance

Vulnerable points where people are fishing, collecting water, washing
clothes or bathing along the margins of the river, or where there are
settlements / villages close to the river banks which could be exposed to the
risk of water surge

Features like auto-testing functionality, in Silent Mode

Generate warning from internal Battery during power failure

Solar Panels to recharge internal batteries

multiple wireless communication channels like GSM/ GPRS VHF (Radio),
VSAT (Satellite), TCP/IP (Ethernet / Optic Fibre), RDS, Wi-Fi, Blue Tooth,
Zig Bee etc,

Authorized User selectively activate Sirens from control centre

Send out SMS & Email notifications to designated authorities,

Store operator logs of various commands given to ensure accountability,
and legal evidence

The authorised operator will login to computer and give command by
selecting Sirens on GIS Map.

The system can integrate with various sensors and data loggers so water
level and water flow thresholds from upstream dams or river can
automatically trigger the Sirens.

False alarm elimination is important

IDEAL SYSTEM - small and mid-size Dams - 2 to 10 Sirens

Large Dams - 15 to 30 Sirens

Pr. Channel through GPRS and Sec through VHF Radio / OFC

Time taken to receive acknow of activated Siren <30 Seconds

VSAT for remote locations / high altitudes
Type of
Alert
Alert Level
Engineer in Charge
Action
SITUATION
No immediate detection of anomalies in the dam.
Response
system
Measures to solve
problem.
or other events that do not compromise the structural
dam safety and do not make unviable the dam observation Give internal alert
signal of blue level.
system.
Situation is stable or developing very slowly.
Internal
Alert
BLUE
Inform to
O & M Head
No consequences are expected in the valley downstream
of the dam .Upstream water level is below FRL of 605.50m
and above MDDL 603.00m and discharge is 616 – 716 Engineer In Charge
SHEP Dam
cumecs.
Small earthquake observed by SMA-800 and seepage Make notification
as per channel
discharge increased marginally.
Leakage observed from spillway
Locations than permissible limit.
radial gates
Direct
Command
System
Type of
Alert
Alert Level
SITUATION
Engineer in
Charge Action
Response
system
Existence of anomalies or events that might compromise up
Measures to
to some degree & assuming that eventual small
solve problem
consequences downstream can happen.
Reservoir Level approaching FRL of 605.5m, Flood discharge
in the range of 1590 – 11705 cumecs are coming
Internal
Alert
YELLOW Existence of adverse meteorological condition Stress meters
in dam giving compressive stress higher than permissible
limit
Earthquake of mag ±0.01g observed when reservoir is
FRL 605.50 and seepage discharge increased in dam
galleries
Give internal
alert signal of
yellow level
Make
notification as
per channel
Inform to
O & M Head
Engineer In
Charge SHEP
Dam
Direct
Command
System
Type of
Alert
Internal
Alert
Alert Level
YELLOW
SITUATION
Engineer in Charge Action
Leakage observed through power house
machines
Member/Irrigation/CWC
Leakage from strut gallery Plug/hoist
chamber plug/diversion tunnel plug or in
galleries of dam
Excessive leakage from spillway radial gates
Fresh cracks observed in some galleries within
dam body
Response
system
Type of
Alert
External
Alert
Alert Level
ORANGE
SITUATION
Engineer in
Charge Action
Situation with high probability of dam failure. It may not
be possible to control the situation and might cause
serious consequences downstream of the dam.
Measures to
solve problem
Reservoir Level approaching FRL of 605.5m, Flood
discharge in the range of 11705- 20942 cumecs are
coming and heavy floods is likely to impinge as per IMD
fore casting.
Give external
alert signal of
Orange level
Make notification
One of the spillway gate is inoperative.
as per channel
Implement
Earthquake observed of mag. 0.07g when RWL above
incident
605.50 resulting into increased seepage from galleries
command
within dam body.
system
Response
system
Indirect
Command
System
Type of
Alert
Alert Level
SITUATION
Heavy land slide near dam abutment upstream
External
Alert
ORANGE
Heavy leakage observed in strut gallery plug/hoist
chamber plug/D/Tunnel plug or in other galleries
due to unknown reasons Wide crack observed in
foundation gallery with heavy leakage.
Uplift pressure pipes showing pressure more than
the permissible limit at some locations and plumb
line deflection exceeded the permissible limit
Sabotage/Bomb threat and situation developing
serious.
Engineer in Charge
Action
Inform to
O & M Head
Engineer In Charge
SHEP Dam
Member Irrigation,
CWC, DM, SDM
Response
system
Indirect
Command
System
Type of
Alert
Alert Level
SITUATION
Engineer in Charge
Action
Situation of inevitable catastrophe
Warning-Population
Response
system
Reservoir Level above FRL 605.5m and less than MWL Downstream dam ready
609.8m still rising after opening of the entire radial & to Evacuate- Local police,
under sluice gates. Discharge between 20942 – 26400 Indian Army, Navy, Air
cumecs.
Force.
External
Alert
RED
Indirect
Severe Damages to the spillway apron portion due to
Give external alert signal Command
continuous running of spillway gate over a long period
of Red level.
System
of time.
One of the spillway radial gates washed away when
RWL above FRL.
Make notification in
chart No.2
One of the spillway gate is inoperative when Heavy
uncontrollable flood expected.
Implement incident
command system
Type of
Alert
Alert Level
SITUATION
Engineer in Charge
Action
Earthquake observed of mag. ±0.1g & plumb line reading Inform to O & M
has suddenly increased & crossed the permissible limit Head & Engineer In
and stress meter showing value more than permissible
charge DAM
limit.
External
Alert
RED
Uplift pressure pipes in Block showing pressure more than
the permissible limits.
Heavy leakage observed through power house machines Member Irrigation,
which is increasing rapidly
CWC, DM, SDM
Heavy land slide occurred near dam abutment upstream
when RWL 605.50 and above causing heavy wave action &
turbulence and level approaching 609.8 (MWL)
Response
system
Indirect
Command
System
Type of
Alert
Alert
Level
SITUATION
Engineer in Response
Charge Action system
Heavy leakage observed through Power a house machine which is
increasing rapidly.
Emergency arising due to accidental fire in cable galleries.
External
Alert
RED
Heavy leakage observed in strut gallery Plug/ Hoist chamber
plug/Diversion tunnel plug or from galleries & is increasing rapidly.
Potential emergency situation developed due to sabotage/bomb
threat and flooding in Dam galleries imminent
Indirect
Command
System

June 2014, Larji hydropower on Beas river - 24 students swept away

Two weeks later, 10 men marooned for >12 hours in Damodar river in
Jharkhand, from the Tenughat dam 55km upstream

18 April 2011, three girls in Teesta river at Bardang in Sikkim

27 March 2013, five members of a family drowned in Bhavani river in
Tamil Nadu, from the Pilloor dam, 20km upstream.

8 Jan 2012, nine people drowned in the Cauvery river in Erode, Tamil
Nadu, from the Vendipalayam Bhavani Kattalai hydro project barrage

6 Dec 2011 Three men drowned in Netravati river from the Shambhoor
hydropower project in Karnataka. Eight others have been killed since
2009

The Maneri Bhali hydel project on Uttarakhand's Bhagirathi river has been
blamed for >5 deaths, in 2006, 2007 and 2011

1 October 2006, at least 57 pilgrims were washed away while walking
across the Sind River in MP, from the Manikheda dam

7 April 2005, >70 pilgrims drowned at Dharaji in MP when the Narmada
swelled from the Indira Sagar power project.