Manohar Lal Launches DRIPS Portal for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure in Power Sector

The DRIPS portal is designed to serve as a comprehensive platform for the rapid identification and deployment of necessary resources during disaster situations.

In a significant move towards enhancing disaster preparedness and response in India's power sector, the Union Minister of Power and Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal, today launched the DRIPS (Disaster Resilient Infrastructure for Power Sector) online portal at a ceremony in New Delhi.

The recent spate of natural disasters in India, including Cyclone Fani in Odisha, severe floods in Jammu & Kashmir, and extensive flooding in Kerala, has starkly exposed the vulnerabilities of the nation's infrastructure, particularly in the power sector. Coastal states and Union Territories such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, and Puducherry are especially susceptible due to their geographical locations. These events have underscored the urgent need for a robust disaster preparedness and response strategy, prompting the development of the DRIPS portal.

Key Features of DRIPS:

The DRIPS portal is designed to serve as a comprehensive platform for the rapid identification and deployment of necessary resources during disaster situations. This online system aims to minimize human error and enhance the coordination and effectiveness of the power sector's response during emergencies. It will benefit not only power generators and distributors but also consumers by ensuring a quick restoration of services.

The portal will act as a single point of contact for all designated nodal officers from the various departments within the power sector, as well as other relevant agencies in affected districts and states. It will manage an inventory of specific power system equipment and critical supplies, a crucial component of emergency response efforts. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has been tasked with developing and hosting this inventory on the National Power Portal.

Minister's Remarks:

At the launch, Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal emphasized the critical importance of the DRIPS portal, stating, "The launch of the DRIPS portal will enable transparent, coordinated, and effective functioning of the power sector during adverse situations. The online system is the need of the hour to reduce human error during exigencies."

The Minister also highlighted the necessity of a well-organized Disaster Resource Inventory for the power sector, stressing that it is vital to safeguard lives, property, and critical services during and after natural disasters. He praised the CEA team for developing the portal in-house, noting that it serves all three areas of the power sector: generation, transmission, and distribution.

Implementation and Success:

To utilize the DRIPS portal, nodal officers must complete a registration process that includes verification and approval by the CEA and timely updates of spare inventory by entities such as GENCOs, TRANSCOs, and DISCOMs. Currently, 61 stakeholders are registered on the portal.

The success of the DRIPS portal depends on the participating utilities consistently updating their resource inventories. This will ensure that during a crisis, the necessary resources are accessible to all stakeholders, minimizing the impact of disasters and facilitating the swift restoration of the power system.

With the launch of the DRIPS portal, India takes a significant step forward in building a more resilient and effective response system for the power sector, protecting the nation from the devastating effects of natural disasters.