IDUKKI: After a gap of 25 years, Idukki dam is all set to release its water, as the water level has reached a record 2,390.98 ft (at 2 pm on Thursday) due to the incessant rain that has been lashing the district since May.
According to an official monitoring the dam, the shutters of the Cheruthoni dam will be opened once the water level reaches 2,400 ft. We have already issued a blue alert to the people living in the downstream of the Cheruthoni dam, which forms part of the Idukki irrigation project, as the water level has crossed 2,390 ft on Thursday.
The KSEB officials expect the water level will reach 2,400 ft within 10 days. “The catchments of the reservoir have been receiving good rain since the second week of May, and the meteorological indications on Thursday were in favour of continued rain in the high ranges, which will mean heavy inflow into the reservoir for the coming days as well,” said KSEB executive engineer Chandrasekharan.
The inflow into the dam on Thursday was 39.35 mm cub, out of which 9.123 mm cub was taken for power generation at Moolamattam power station. “Thus, around 30 mm cub of water is daily stored in the reservoir,” he said. The catchment areas of the dam recorded 54.2 mm rainfall on Thursday.
Twice in the past, the shutters of Asia’s biggest arch dam had to be opened. But it was during the northeast monsoon (October to December) on both occasions. However, this will be for the first time water from the dam is being released during Southwest monsoon.
The KSEB executive engineer has sent a warning notice to the District Collector that the shutters of the Cheruthoni dam would be opened anytime within 10 days or when the water level reaches 2,400 ft.
However, the KSEB official told Express no panic situation presently exists on the dam premises. Once the water level reaches the maximum level, necessary action will be taken to shift people living downstream.