Heavy rains lashing Kerala's hydro-electric project area of Idukki district for the last few days have made the water level in the Idukki reservoir to touch 90 per cent. While this is a matter of concern to people living on the banks of the Periyar, it brightens the energy scenario of the state, which relies heavily on hydel power.
Closely monitoring the situation, the Idukki district administration has called a meeting of the officials concerned on Monday to decide whether the shutters of the major dam are to be opened with safety measures required by the situation, official sources said on Sunday.
The water level in the reservoir reached 2396 feet, which was less than 10 feet of the capacity level of 2403 ft. The flow into the reservoir was continuing as the catchment areas received good rains on Sunday morning before a let-up by the afternoon. It was after a gap of 13 years that the water level in the reservoir was touching the near-capacity mark.
As many as 17 smaller dams in different parts of the state, including Idukki and the adjoining Pathanamthitta districts, had already been opened after the water levels rose steadily in heavy downpour lashing the eastern upland tracts.
The low-lying Kuttanad and adjoining areas of Alappuzha and Kopttayam districts are under water as the swollen Pampa river and its tributaries flow through them. Though several families have been affected, no casualties have been reported.
According to the meterological offfice here, the current spell of rains was expected to continue till Monday. Since the onset of the south-west monsoon this year, the state had received 4 per cent higher rainfall than the normal amount, sources said.
