In India, there are about 30000 dams with 4050 large dams as per National Register of Large Dams - 2002. Emergency Action Plans (EAPs)/Disaster Management Plans (DMPs) are, however, not available for most of the completed large dams. The National Water Policy, 2002, recognizing this deficiency, has stressed for preparation of EAPIDMP for all large dams. Ministry of Environment & Forest through its Environment Impact Assessment notification S.O.60(E), dated 27/01/1994 under Environment (Protection) Rules 1986 has made Disaster Management Plan or Emergency Action Plan a mandatory requirement for obtaining statutory environmental clearance for all river valley projects. The Disaster Management Act 2005 lays emphasis on integration of prevention of disaster or mitigation of its effects on developmental plan & projects and also co-ordination of enforcement and implementation of the policy and plan for disaster management. The emphasis is on multi-hazard risk management and sustainable recovery plans at community, Panchayat and other administrative levels (Block/Taluka, District and State) in some of the most multi-hazard prone states and districts, and strengthening institutions responsible for disaster preparedness, response, prevention and mitigation.
Therefore, Disaster Management Planning need to be carried out for Dam break situations in integration with State (regional)/District (local) Disaster Management Framework for effectively dealing with disaster situations arising out of dam break events. As such, formal guidelines are needed to help dam owners to effectively develop and implement EAPs/DMPs for dams in consultation with local emergency management authorities. The present paper outline the procedures and evolves a format for preparation of a Disaster Management Plan in Dam break situations integrating with the disaster management system in India taking the case study of Lakya dam in Karnataka.
