Water
level in Idukki dam touches 2401.3 ft, likely to be opened
Cheruthoni:
The water level in the Idukki reservoir rose steadily on Saturday and
touched an all time high of 2401.3ft, which is 98 % of the dam's
total capacity. The full reservoir level (FRL) is 2,403 ft. On
Saturday, the increase in level was 1 ft. If the water level
increases by 1 more feet, the dam would be opened. The increased
level of water drawn by Tamil Nadu from the Mullaperiyar dam was a
key factor in keeping the level in Idukki dam almost static till it
rained heavily in the catchment areas in the past days.
There were efforts to avoid opening of the dam as power generation at the Moolamattom powerhouse was also raised to the maximum level to keep the water level under control and by storing more water in other small dams. However, with the increased production level, there was high inflow of water causing a sudden spurt in the reservoir level. Dams safety authority chief engineer K K Karuppan will examine dam on Saturday and only after that a decision would be taken.
Idukki is an arch dam and has no shutters so extra water would be flown out through shutters of Cheruthoni dam, which has five shutters. If a shutter is being opened in 2 feet high, it will carry 1200 cubic feet water and that will reach Arabian sea passing though Cheruthoni, Lower Periyar and Aluva. The dam which was presented to the state in 1976, was opened only twice in the past, in 1981 and 1992. The district administration has made preparations to open the dam shutters in case the water level rises above the FRL.
