Chapter VIII EMEGENCY ACTION PLAN AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. (1) Every owner of a specified dam, in respect of each specified dam, shall, —
   • (a) establish well designed hydro-meteorological network and an inflow forecasting system;
   • (b) establish an emergency flood warning system for the probable flood affected areas downstream of the dam;
   • (c) test or cause to be tested periodically the functioning of systems referred to in clauses (a) and (b);
   • (d) install such scientific and technical instruments which are invented or adopted from time to time for the purpose of ensuring the dam safety and the life and property of people downstream;
   • (e) make available the information relating to maximum anticipated inflows and outflows including flood warning and an adverse impact of the same, if any, on persons and property towards the upstream or downstream of the dam, to the concerned district authorities and also make available the information in public domain; and
   • (f) render necessary assistance to the Authority in establishment and running of the early warning system for the exchange of real time hydrological and meteorological data and information related to the operation of reservoirs.
2. (2) Every owner of a specified dam, for each of its dam shall, carry out risk assessment studies at such interval as may be specified by the regulations and the first such study shall be made within five years from the date of commencement of this Act.

1. (1) Every owner of a specified dam, in respect of each of specified dam, shall,---
   • (a) prepare emergency action plan before allowing the initial filling of the reservoir and thereafter update such plans at regular intervals;
   • (b) in respect of the dam which is constructed and filled before the commencement of this Act, prepare emergency action plan within five years from the date of commencement of this Act and thereafter update such plans at regular intervals as may be specified by the regulations.
2. (2) The emergency action plan referred to in sub-section (1) shall,---
   • (a) set out the procedures to be followed for the protection of persons and property upstream or downstream of the specified dam in the event of an actual or imminent dam failure or to mitigate the effects of the disaster;
   • (b) include therein,---
     • (i) the type of emergencies which are likely to occur in the operation of any reservoir;
     • (ii) identification of the likely catastrophic flood in the event of any dam failure, along with probable areas, population, structures and installations likely to be adversely affected due to flood water released from the reservoir;
     • (iii) warning procedures, inundation maps and advance preparations for handling efficiently and in the best possible manner the likely adverse situations especially to avoid loss of human life;
     • (iv) such other matters which may having regard to the geographical conditions, size of the dam and other relevant factors as may be necessary.
3. (3) The emergency action plan under this section shall be put into action as and when conditions arise which are hazardous or likely to be hazardous to a specified dam or potentially hazardous to public safety, infrastructure, other property or to the environment.
4. (4) Every owner of the specified dam shall, while preparing and updating the emergency action plan, undertake a consultation process with all disaster management agencies and other Departments of the State entrusted with disaster management and relief in the area likely to be affected and owners of other dams in the immediate vicinity likely to be affected, so as to bring coordination and transparency and allay any unwarranted fear on dam safety issues.

Without prejudice to the provisions of this Act or liability of the owner of the specified dam and other organisations and authorities under this Act, every owner, organisation and authority shall render necessary assistance, if so required by any authority under any law for the time being in force to meet or mitigate any disaster or emergency arising out of the specified dams.