Education Tours to Dams and Reservoirs- Important precautions and

Safety measures

P. Madanaiah,
Consultant, Centre for Good Governance

The unfortunate incident on Sunday, June 8, 2014, in the Beas river, Thalod village in
Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh that
lead to washaway and loss of life of
young innocent, helpless, enthusiastic
engineering students form Hyderabad
during their educational tour to
Himachal Pradesh calls for deep
reflection on the mandated safety http://www.telanganatalkies.com/tag/largi-dam/
regarding educational tours and the ground reality for the same. This sad man made
incident, which could have been checked, should be an eye opener for every educational
institution and organizations in conducting such tours to ensure that incidents must not be
reoccurred at any stage. The basic feature in conducting educational and industrial tours
for students is that the organizers shall prepare the detailed plan of their program duly
associating the experienced and knowledgeable persons or agencies well versed with the
places of visits, local conditions, technical and ecological aspects .

The following are some of the guidelines which are very much known to the organizers but
should be drafted carefully, for each tour in detail and followed scrupulously to avoid any
possible mishaps, loss of life and sufferings and heavy cost and expenditure to the
exchequer on the post incident operations in addition to mental agony of the families.

1. Plan the Tour Program

• The purpose of tour program shall be defined explicitly including the technical and
recreational features
• The tour program and route map shall be designed, which shall include the places
of visit, date and time duration for each place of visit.
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 • Projects, reservoirs and structures located in high risk zones and Security controls
should not be planned for visits
• Obtain all necessary permissions from the authorities concerned for visiting the
engineering structures, water bodies, power houses, hydraulic gates, tunnels and
instrumentation units, etc. If permissions are not granted such tours shall not be
undertaken at all.
• The Contact numbers including local administration and emergency mitigation units
in the area of visit shall be shared with all widely.
• List out the clothing needs and essential protection gear as required for visiting
dams and machinery etc.
• Divide the tourists in groups of 10-15 and each group shall be headed by a senior
leader/Teaching staff/ authorized guide
• Conduct the visit under the guidance and supervision of the representative of
respective project authorities only
• Engage Reliable Local transport and alternatives
• Ascertain whether conditions before starting to the place or from one place to
another
• Ensure to have First aid kits
• Have an emergency preparedness plan and demonstrate to the participants
• Ascertain the plans of Security and Patrolling by the respective Project or other
statutory bodies during monsoon and periods for tourist movement and contact for
further directions and guidelines.
• Copies of the planned program and all micro details shall be explained before
commencing the tour and at each visiting area and spot
• In addition, brief the participants before and after the day of visits on the activities
and safety aspects along with changed plans, if any.

2. Visits to Hydro power and Irrigation Projects

All dams and water bodies are designed to store flow and flood waters, primarily for the
benefit of human beings. Overflow from the reservoir is controlled by suitable flow
regulating devices like hydraulic gates, valves etc. located on the spillway crest, tunnels,

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and sluice at lower levels as per the discharge and design requirements. In case of
Hydropower reservoirs which are different from other lakes, as they typically requires
water level to be kept at minimum design level to store as much energy as possible for
daily hydropower generation as well as to prevent any spillage at dam. In addition,
demand for electricity generation may rise or fall throughout the day and night, and
accordingly the project authorities regulate the water requirements .This results in
frequent and rapid changes in reservoir water levels and flows downstream of generating
stations that may affect the safety of those who move around.

In northern India many Rivers originate from Himalayan glaciers and also from other
mountains, carry waters always in considerable quantities unlike some south Indian rivers.
Hence there is a variable flow in the downstream especially in hydro power projects which
regulate water releases through spillway gates and other outlets and tail race after power
generation.

• Generally all areas within or surrounding the dam and reservoir are restricted for
public and there are strict barriers for entry by unauthorized persons. The
authorities provide barriers, and/or sign boards installed to check the entry of
unauthorized persons at all such places, in addition to stationing security personal
• The Instructor or group leader shall contact the respective project authorities duly
showing the permit and draw the details of the visit and time of visiting.
Focal areas of educational visit by engineering students normally include one or
more of the following structural components
o Concrete/Masonry/Earth Dam Dams
o Spillway ,Bucket , Apron, Wing walls
o Inspection Galleries and Tunnels
o Head regulators and flow regulation mechanism
o Spillway and gates
o Silt flushing/Deep sluice gates
o Hoisting equipment and controls
o Power houses and controls
o Power Distribution Stations
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 o Canals and regulatory structures
o Gantry cranes
o Jack wells and Water supply systems, Other important structures on
upstream / down stream
o Project Control room/centeretc.

• Ensure that experienced project engineer accompanies each group.

• Follow her/his instructions and take all the safety measures including wearing tight
cloths, shoe and protection gear.
• Leave the belongings, food items, etc. if any, with security check posts and carry
only a scribbling pad and pen
• Have your ID card and exhibit.
• Non swimmers shall not be allowed near the upstream reservoir waters and
flowing or non-flowing down stream water
• Do not touch any electrical switches, cables or circuits
• Always move in groups.
• Since there might be restrictions regarding dissemination of data and photos
scribbling the details of the system or photographing should be done only after
ensuring that it is permitted.
• Be alert for sirens sounds and warning lights etc, used by project authorities to
indicate that the river level is rising and in other emergencies
• Also be alert for changes in water levels and stay in safe areas
• Do not lean or put your weight on safety hand railings
• Reservoir Waters:
o Ensure for any inflows /floods or
discharges which may cause unsafe
raise or in reservoir levels respectively
o Do not enter into upstream reservoir
waters as the surface is slushy and
slippery
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 o Stay back from the edge of a waterway where footing may be slippery
o If permitted by authorities take the safe steps and ramps for your
movements
o If boat riding is permitted, ensure for the license and availability of required
safety gear. Avoid overloaded and overpowered rides
o Avoid Illegal charters and rides
o Do not put your hand or legs in water as aquatic species like crocodiles,
snakes etc, may hurt you
o Do not make hasty movements in boat as it may cause imbalance and lead
to accident
• Downstream Waters precautions
o Entering the downstream river course and its banks of the Dam is not
permitted and no approaches are provided in general. If permitted use the
stairs with safety hand railing usually provided
o View only from the road along the bank if provided and unrestricted. If
warning and restricted signs are exhibited don’t venture to get down and
have fun and photographs
o In case of River flows in downstream valley, any attempt to enter into such
areas shall be strictly avoided. The authorities exhibit the inundation area
depending on the flood conditions, flow velocities and turbulences etc.
o During water flows, mud and slush accumulates on the banks and is highly
dangerous for the visitors. Avoid such ventures.
o The rocks and boulders may house some water living creatures which may
endanger or create panicky

3. Visit to Surrounding recreational or places of Interest

• Engage a local authorized guide and follow his guidance scrupulously

• Do not enter the Restricted Areas: for any reason knowingly or unknowingly
• Follow the Warning signs showing the denial of entry and indicated precautionary
measures
• Do not enter Forest area or Reserved Forests

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 • Do not walk bare foot and always wear shoe for protection
• Carefully watch the slushy and water logged areas and abstain from such areas
• Avoid boating or other recreational activities organized by unauthorized unlicenced
agencies
• Always move in groups under the guidance of tour manager or authorized persons
4. Role of Project Authorities
• The project authorities must establish that all areas within or surrounding the dam
and reservoir from which unauthorized persons are restricted should be displayed.
• It is also required to list out describe, and outline such restrictions on a map in local
and National languages.
• The Restricted areas include the potentially hazardous to or subject to damage by
the public. It also includes Active landslide areas, chutes, power houses, pump
houses ,flow control structures etc
• Install barriers and sign boards all along the route and prominent areas to keep out
unauthorized persons.
• Post patrolling, and enforcing personal to enforce such restrictions and guide the
visitors.
• Public access should be restricted into the areas surrounding hydraulic structures
intakes and reaches of outlet channel adjacent to discharge structures subject to
surging or rapid changes in water surface elevation during releases
• No swimming allowed in the reservoir waters
• Fence the slushy and land slide areas to avoid any possible mishap and watch
constantly and maintain
• Ensure to have an emergency preparedness plan in case of unprecedented
floods, structural failure and the threat of a dam failure. The plan shall primarily aim
on the measures to prevent loss of life and damage to property.
• The Project authorities after detailed examination of the application of the
Institutions proposing visit of the infrastructure may grant permissions at the right
and safe time.If the situation is not favorable such permissions could be denied or
alternate dates could be indicated

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 • No visits shall be allowed in the night times or in unfavorable weather conditions
• The detailed common and special guidelines are provided for each project
depending upon many factors before releases of water from the reservoirs.The
important prerequisites are,
• Blowing Sirens and hooters sufficiently in advance and audible to the distant
places preferably 5 kms
• Alert dwellers residing near the banks of river and reservoir areas by
communicating effectively through local PRIs, Radios and Televisions as frequently
as possible. The cattle and other animals let out for grazing shall be brought to the
safe areas
• Alert the security and patrolling personnel to ensure to keep away the trespassers
and others from the area
• No unauthorized boating activity shall be allowed in upstream or downstream side.

Note: For each project tour, a comprehensive program and check lists shall be prepared, based on
the project specific conditions, weather forecasts, and other circumstances