IDUKKI: Causing great anxiety and fear in the minds of people residing on the banks of Periyar, the water level in the Mullaperiyar rose to 140.80 feet, a foot short of the maximum level, on Friday. As the water level is inching towards the maximum level of 142 feet as directed by the Supreme Court, the Mullaperiyar Subcommittee, constituted by the Supreme Court-appointed High Power Supervisory Committee, would visit the dam on Saturday and Sunday.
The water level which was marked at 140.50 feet on Friday morning, rose to 140.80 feet by evening, as the catchment area continued to receive heavy rain on the day. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu continued to draw 511 cubic feet water per second as against the promise it made to the High Power Supervisory Committee on November 30 that it would draw more water from Mullaperiyar dam. However, it is expected that once the water level touches the maximum mark, Tamil Nadu would start drawing more water from the dam like last year. As Tamil Nadu is not allowing the state to bring down the water level in the dam, a large amount of water would have to be released to the Idukki dam once the water level touches the maximum mark. Meanwhile, the 16-member National Disaster Response Force commenced its awareness programmes and mock drill at Vazhathoppu St George Higher Secondary School and students were taught about the different precautions to be taken when disaster strikes.