With the Southwest monsoon gaining strength and heavy rains continuing in Idukki district and the catchment area of the Periyar river, shutters of four dams coming under Idukki and Ernakulam districts have been opened.
One shutter each of the Kallarkutty and Pambla dams, two shutters of the Malankara dam in Idukki and nine shutters of Boothathankettu dam situated in Ernakulam district were opened on Friday.
Those living along the banks of the Periyar River and its tributaries have been asked to be cautious as there is a possibility of water levels rising exponentially if heavy rains persist.
Kallarkutty Dam, part of the Neriamangalam hydro electric project is built across the Muthirappuzha River and has a reservoir spread of 0.648 sqkm and has a 6.88 million cubic meter capacity. One shutter of the dam was opened by around 5pm when the water level reached 455.70 feet. The shutter has been raised 10 cm and water is discharged at a rate of 10 cubic meter per second (cumec). Authorities have also granted permission to release 10 cumec water if level increases further.
Meanwhile, a shutter of the Pambla dam was opened by around 8.13 am on Friday. As of Friday night, the water level in Pambla night was at 252.60 feet and 15 cumec water is being discharged through the open shutter.
Irrigation department has also opened two shutters of Malankara dam situated across Thoduppuzha River, a tributary of Muvattupuzha river. As the water level reached 135.30 feet, two shutters of Malankara dam have also been opened and 26.77 cumec water is being discharged from the dam.
Boothankettu situated across the Periyar River in Ernakulam district, with a capacity of 169.7 million cubic meter, as of Friday afternoon had water level of 29.70 m.
With the experience of last year’s deluge and the criticism over mismanagement of dams, the state government machinery is now on high alert as Southwest monsoon is strengthening.