Kerala’s power sector plans crisis and disaster management framework in line with new Central Electricity Authority norms

New Crisis Management and Disaster Management Plans (CMP/DMP) and localised Emergency Management Plans (EMP) are being planned for Kerala’s power sector in line with the national-level guidelines issued by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).

The decision, taken by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), comes at a time when the State's power sector has been reporting heavy damage to its infrastructure in natural calamities and storms, especially during the monsoon months.

The KSEB directors handling power generation, transmission and distribution have been tasked with the formulation of the grassroots-level CMP and DMP in line with the national-level guidelines and ensuring that the localised EMPs are in place. The CEA’s updated CMP-2024 containing frameworks for handling emergencies in the power sector was circulated among power utilities in the country in December 2024. The CEA’s DMP is also in place.

The CEA had asked the utilities to update their own plans accordingly.

As part of these measures, the State-run power utility has also decided to ask the Kerala government to create a State-level Disaster Management Group (SDMG) and local-level Emergency Management Groups (EMG) for managing emergencies in the power sector.

According to a KSEB proposal, the SDMG should be headed by the Additional Chief Secretary (Power). It should have among its members the director of the Central Water Commission (for flood-related early warnings), representatives of the India Meteorological Department (for earthquake and cyclone early warnings) and the Ocean Information and Forecast Services Group (for tsunami-related warnings). A representative of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, the directors of the KSEB, representatives of health and welfare agencies, the Chief Fire Safety Officer and a police officer of the rank of Inspector General also should be among its members, according to the KSEB proposal.

The SDMG will liaise with regional and central Disaster Management Groups in the power sector, arrange for inter-agency coordination and, during emergencies, assess damage and facilitate restoration works.

EMGs will be created in the power generation, transmission and distribution wings at the level of power plants, sub stations and electrical circles.