Idukki Dam may not be Opened

September 22, 2013
Thiruvananthapuram

Shutters of the Idukki arch dam may not need to be opened just yet, with the catchment areas witnessing a substantial weakening of monsoon rain and inflows reducing to a trickle. Water level in Kerala’s largest reservoir now stood at 2401.7 feet overnight on Sunday, merely 0.8 feet away from the threshold.

Inflows are down to a trickle after the rains relented since Saturday, earning a much-needed respite for officials manning the three-dam structure.The spillways of the Idukki reservoir are built into the Cheruthoni dam, located 1 km west to west of main arch dam. There are five shutters here, of which two are to be opened when required.

The full reservoir level is 2,403 feet at Idukki, but the impounded water will not be allowed to get to that level, according to the Kerala State Electricity Board, which owns and operates the dam.

The State government and the electricity board have been watching the situation closely and had sounded a warning to the district administrations of Idukki and Ernakulam. K.K. Karappan Kutty, Chief Engineer (Dam Safety), is leading a team of officials keeping a vigil at the dam site.

Source-http://www.thehindubusinessline.com

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