4,536 large dams without emergency action plan

Even as the Uttarakhand floods bring to the fore debate over strength of dams, there are over 4,500 such structures in the country which are operating without an 'emergency action plan' rendering huge area and property vulnerable to cascading effects of dam failure.

The Central Water Commission (CWC), which works under the Water Resources Ministry, had issued guidelines in May 2006 for development and implementation of emergency action plan (EAP) for large dams in the state.

Till September 2011, only eight states (or merely 4.06 per cent) have prepared EAP for 192 large dams against 4728 large dams in 29 states. "Thus, non preparation of EAPs by the project authorities in respect of 96 per cent of large dams renders huge area and property left vulnerable to cascading affects of dam failure," said a note circulated by Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to its members states.

PAC is currently examining a CAG report on disaster management in the country. In its performance audit report tabled in Parliament in April this year, the Comptroller and Auditor General said it has found that despite considerable progress in setting up institutions and creating funding arrangements, there are critical gaps in the preparedness level for various disasters. The PAC note points that the Crisis Management Plan (CMP) of 2009 had identified CWC as the authority responsible for sending first information regarding flood forecasts.