IDUKKI: Power Minister M M Mani on Friday said Tamil Nadu and Kerala should enter into a compromise pact to open the shutters of the Mullaperiyar dam before it reaches 142 ft. Else, citizens of Tamil Nadu will die of drought while Keralites will die of flooding.
Mani was speaking to reporters after visiting the Idukki dam on Friday morning to assess the present water level in the reservoir. The water in the dam rose considerably since the southwest monsoon started lashing the state.
On Idukki dam, Mani said as per the estimates available with KSEB officers, the dam’s shutters are expected to be opened within seven days, as the water level is expected to cross 2,400 ft by the time. “However, the government will take maximum efforts to avoid the opening of the shutters if water inflow into the reservoir reduces,” Mani said.
The flow of water into the reservoir rose considerably on Friday with catchment areas of the dam receiving 37.4 mm rainfall. The water level in the dam stood at 2,392.42 ft on Friday and the inflow was 58.78 million cubic meter. A total of 13.562 million unit of power was produced at the Moolamattam powerhouse in the past 24 hours.
The power production on Thursday was 14 million units. Though the maximum power production at the station is 18 million units, it could not be achieved as one of the machines is not functional.
Though Kerala State Electricity Board officers are producing maximum power, the water flow into the dam is double than the water required for generating power.