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The Hindu
a day ago
- Climate
- The Hindu
SCADA project to automate Chennai reservoirs operation makes slow progress; WRD aims to complete by Northeast monsoon
The project to automate the operation of the city reservoirs and develop decision support for water management has slowed down, as the Water Resources Department awaits the release of the National Disaster Mitigation Fund. Though the project was chalked out a year ago, it has not made significant progress in terms of instrumentation installation. However, the department is confident of completing the work by the onset of the Northeast monsoon, which brings in a major share of annual rainfall to Chennai. The opening of the floodgates of reservoirs, including Chembarambakkam and Red Hills, renews concerns on impending inundation in the downstream areas during every Northeast monsoon. In a key effort to reduce flooding, increase response time, and enable transparency in sharing reservoirs' storage data, the department will introduce the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) based integrated reservoir automation system. Officials said work is in progress, however at a slow pace, for automated flood control and real-time monitoring of the storage. The project aimed at fixing automatic water level recorders, flow sensors, and gate sensors to automate shutters operation, manage water discharge during peak inflow, and reduce flood risk in low level areas. The department is constructing an integrated command control centre at Chepauk and connected with sub-control centres in Red Hills, Poondi and Chembarambakkam reservoirs. When the SCADA based system is in place, reservoirs' shutters can be operated remotely from Chepauk and analyse inflows and changes in water levels to control flood discharge. The integrated command centre would have graphical representations of the reservoirs' network-inflow rate from various points, outflow level, position of sluice gates and storage. Various real-time data would be analysed to assess the exact time required for the reservoirs to fill up and need to store or release water. The decision support system would also allow real-time sharing of information with other institutions and government agencies and enhance flood management. The Rs. 32 crore project will help accurately predict reservoir capacity and optimise water resource management during summer months, officials said. A 'Near line disaster recovery centre' is also being established in Alandur that would function as a backup location for critical data recovery and operation during extreme weather events. On the delay in project, officials said efforts are being taken to implement the project by this upcoming monsoon.
News18
30-05-2025
- General
- News18
Monsoon Is Here: Bengaluru Civic Body Allocates Rs 65 Lakh For Flood Relief Equipment
Last Updated: While the BBMP will continue to collaborate with other departments, officials believe the new equipment will prove valuable during emergencies. As the rainy season approaches, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has initiated last-minute preparations for heavy rainfall, acknowledging the limitations of its infrastructure in managing such events. The civic body plans to procure flood-relief equipment, including inflatable boats, life jackets, centrifugal pumps, and other emergency gear, anticipating potential flooding. This follows severe flooding in areas such as Sai Layout, ST Bed, and HBR Layout, and indicates the BBMP's recognition that this year's monsoon could pose similar, if not greater, challenges. The BBMP has allocated approximately Rs 65 lakh from the National Disaster Mitigation Fund to acquire nine types of flood-response equipment. This includes four inflatable boats equipped with outboard motors (each with a capacity of 12 passengers), 48 life jackets, 16 centrifugal pumps for draining stagnant water, chainsaws for clearing fallen trees, bolt cutters, ropes, and handheld torches. For the first time, the BBMP is independently procuring flood-management equipment, marking a departure from its previous reliance on State and National Disaster Response Forces (SDRF/NDRF) and Fire Department personnel for rescue and relief operations during floods. While the BBMP will continue to collaborate with other departments, officials believe the new equipment will prove valuable during emergencies. A senior BBMP official explained that previously, they had to improvise, using earthmovers to deliver food and tractors to evacuate residents in areas like Sai Layout. However, this move has attracted criticism, with some describing it as a reactive measure that fails to address the underlying causes of flooding. RTI activist BH Veeresh criticised the BBMP, stating that the civic body had ample opportunity to address fundamental issues such as desilting stormwater drains, removing encroachments, and promoting rainwater harvesting, rather than simply preparing for the consequences. 'Instead of tackling these fundamental problems, the BBMP is preparing only for damage control," he said. Veeresh also highlighted alleged irregularities in the Storm Water Drain (SWD) division, which he claims remain uninvestigated. First Published: May 30, 2025, 14:50 IST
