Idukki dam orange alert issued; Countdown begins to Cheruthoni shutter opening

With the catchment areas of the dam receiving heavy rainfall over the past several days, the water level in the dam has been increasing considerably.
A scene of Idukki Dam from the Hill View Park in Idukki. (File photo | Vincent Pulickal/ EPS)
A scene of Idukki Dam from the Hill View Park in Idukki. (File photo | Vincent Pulickal/ EPS)

IDUKKI: An orange alert is out, with the District Collector Jeevan Babu K issuing it at 9.10 pm on Monday. Should the rain remain incessant, people settled downstream of Cheruthoni Dam - particularly in the Thadiyampadu, Karimban and Injivarakkuth areas on the banks of the Cheruthoni River - have two or three days to move out of their homes and shelters.

While clarifying there was no need to panic, the district administration issued the alert after the water level touched 2395 ft. With the catchment areas of the dam receiving heavy rainfall over the past several days, the water level in the dam has been increasing considerably.

"The water level is inching towards the full reservoir mark," said a Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) officer.

"It has now reached ....... 2,395 ...... ft and is going up by 0.06 to 0.08 ft every two hours. The rise in the level by two more feet will lead to declaration of the Red Alert. The full reservoir level is 2,403 ft, but we will start opening the shutters when the water level goes above 2,397 ft. If the inflow into the reservoir continues at the current rate, we may have to open the shutters within two days."

The district administration said that four relief camps have already been set up to accommodate people in case of evacuation.

"Of the 200 families living downstream, preparations are under way to evacuate 40 of them to relief camps," Jeevan Babu said.

"A control room has been functioning from Sunday night and red alert message signifying the extreme gravity of the situation will be issued 24 hours before the opening of the shutters."

The District Collector has also assured people living downstream that water will be released only during the day time, with all necessary precautionary measures having been taken to ensure security.

People have been restrained from visiting the area to see the opening of the Cheruthoni shutters. As estimated, the opening of the shutters at Cheruthoni - part of the Idukki dam project - will lead to water gushing to the Lower Periyar Dam and on to the Bhoothathankettu Dam. From there, water will flow through River Periyar along Kalady and Aluva before merging with the Arabian Sea. Water is estimated to take nearly six hours to reach the Arabian Sea once the Cheruthoni shutters are opened.

First such situation during Southwest monsoon

If the shutters were to be opened, it will be the first time during the Southwest monsoon since the construction of the dam in 1973.

Twice in the past, the shutters had to be opened. But they were during the Northeast monsoon (October to December).

The first instance was in 1981 (when the shutters were repeatedly opened and shut between October 29 and November 13) and the second time in 1992 (when they were kept open for 12 days from October 12 to 23). On both occasions, the water level in the dam touched the brim only when the storage built up during the Southwest monsoon (June to September) was augmented by the inflow received following heavy downpour early in the Northeast monsoon.

Warning issued

The Idukki district administration has issued warning notices to the households and shops located downstream of the Cheruthoni Dam.

Many people who have cultivated crops on their agricultural land near the banks of the Cheruthoni River have started harvesting them, even though they have not reached maturity. Others have started to pack up their essentials to leave their houses, in case the red alert is issued.

Ali, a resident of Cheruthoni town told Express he had to shift his family to a relative's house at Kattappana the last time (1992) water from the reservoir was released, and that he is ready to send them there this time too. Similar is the case with many other families on the banks of the Cheruthoni and Periyar rivers.

The District Collector said officers have been instructed to shift people living downstream in case of an emergency.

"Evacuation will be conducted only if the situation further intensifies with heavy rain," he said.

He said a public warning will be issued prior to the opening of the dam shutters.

"The water will be released in small amounts only 15 minutes after sounding the siren," he said.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com