THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state was in the preparatory mode for the possibility of opening the shutters of the Idukki dam. The water level in the dam by Saturday evening stood at 2,395.48 ft against the full reservoir limit of 2,403 ft.
Revenue Minister E Chandrasekharan told ‘Express’ the situation is under control and the government has directed police, fire force, Navy and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to get prepared to face any kind of eventuality.
The state government is analyzing the situation and the shutters of the dam would be opened only after the water level in the reservoir reached the 2,397 feet on a trial-run basis. If the shutters are opened by 40 cm, the water level can be reduced considerably by discharging around 60 cubic feet of water from the reservoir. Further raising of the shutters of the dam would be taken only if the level rises any more, which is unlikely in the present scenario, he added.