THRISSUR/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Following heavy rain, all shutters of Peechi dam were opened on Friday. The last time the shutters were opened was in 2014. The dam, which is more than 60 years old, caters to the drinking water and irrigation needs of people in Thrissur.
The executive engineer of the dam has issued an alert to the people staying near the right and left canals of the dam on Friday morning. Two alerts have already been issued in the previous days.
The dam’s maximum capacity of 260 feet was achieved by 2 pm on Friday after water from different hill regions reached the dam. The reservoir is situated 22 km away from Thrissur town. At present, the four shutters of the dam were opened only 1 inch. Depending on the water level, this would be raised further, authorities said.
A large crowd gathered near the dam to see water gushing through the opened shutters.
The dam has a catchment area of about 1,300 hectares with an established Peechi Wildlife Sanctuary. Due to the grave drought the state experiences in the previous years, the dam had not opened its shutters. Last year, the highest water level achieved was 192.19 ft on July 27, 2017.
Peechi dam used to operate boating for tourists which was cancelled after the Kumarakom boat tragedy. An extensive garden is maintained along the dam which always invites local tourists during weekends and vacation.
Government to conduct survey
With the water level in the Idukki dam touching 2,392 ft, the state government has launched measures to ascertain the consequences of releasing water from the dam.
A review meeting convened by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan decided to conduct a survey to ascertain the number of people who will be affected and the nature of the blockages in the channels through which the water would drain out. The survey will be conducted jointly by the KSEB, Revenue Department and Water Resources Department. Instructions have been issued to the Idukki and Ernakulam Collectors in this regard.
Using satellite imagery, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has compiled data on buildings that stand within 100 m of the river. The government is now collecting details on the people who reside in them on a war-footing.
As per data released on Friday evening, the water level has touched 2,392 ft. The capacity of the dam is 2,403 ft. Water flow into the dam is strong with rain continuing. This had prompted the government to consider releasing it in small volumes.
Water from the Idukki dam was released last in 1992. This is the first time since then that such high water levels have been recorded in the dam.
So far this season, Idukki has received 192.3 cm of rain. This is 49 per cent in excess of the expected rainfall for the period.
