For the first time in this month, water level in the main Idukki dam on Wednesday went up to 2,399.48 ft, just inches away from its full capacity of 2,403 ft.
“There are no immediate plans to open shutters even as there is constant inflow of water into the reservoir,” K K Karappankutty, Chief Engineer (Dam Safety), told Express. The tentative date of the water reaching its full-level mark is September 22.
The dam currently has 96 per cent of its capacity. The water level was monitored thrice in the day in view of the steady inflow. The catchment area had received 70-mm rainfall in the last 24 hours. The total inflow was enough to produce 41 million units of power. All the six generators are in operation.
The water level will be monitored on an hourly basis from Thursday. This has become necessary due to the sudden spell of rains after a lull of about a month.
“If the present situation persists, the water in the dam might reach its full capacity mark, forcing the KSEB to open shutters of Cheruthony dam,” he said.
There are five shutters in the Cheruthony dam which would be lifted one by one depending upon the exigency, the Chief Engineer said.
The water from Cheruthony dam would first inundate Karimban, then Chelachuvadu, Panamkutty and enter the reservoir of Lower Periyar dam.
The water released from the dam, which has a capacity of 180 MW, would also reach Bhoothankettu in Ernakulam district.