Idukki dam to be opened early

IDUKKI: Excess water from Idukki dam will be released before the water level reaches the maximum level of 2,400 feet, power minister M M Mani said here on Saturday.
Addressing an emergency review meeting at the collectorate, the minister added that more water will not be kept in the dam for power production.

“Chances are that Idukki dam may get more water in the coming months.Now, the dam safety wing plans to open its shutters part by part. As a precautionary measure, the shutters will not be opened in the night,” Mani said.
“The KSEB dam safety wing has already completed all arrangements to raise the shutters. The government will issue necessary warning alerts before opening the shutters. A field survey is continuing to gauge the impact on the number of people if the shutters are opened. Revenue principal secretary P H Kurian will co-ordinate the safety measures," the minister said.
“Considering the present heavy rain and flood situation, we plan to open the shutters of the Cheruthony dam when the water level reaches 2,397 or 2,398 feet. We will issue the 'orange' warning when it reaches 2,395 feet and 'red' warning, if needed, at 2,398 feet and release the water,” KSEB chief engineer (dam safety) Bibin Joseph said.
The district administration has already completed all arrangements to avoid causalities when the dam is opened, Idukki district collector Jeevan Babu K said.
“Fifteen minutes before opening the dam’s shutters, the district administration will sound a warning siren and alert the people over public announcement systems,” the collector said.
The police have arranged parallel facilities to divert the traffic via Cheruthony - Thodupuzha route before opening the shutters of the dam, he said.
"In case Cheruthony bridge is destroyed due to release of the water, the traffic will be diverted via Kochukarimban route. If the route is also submerged, the traffic will be diverted via Elappara-Vagamon and Kumily,” he added.
A 20-member official team on Saturday conducted a survey of the water-flowing routes of Cheruthony dam. They surveyed the area from Cheruthony to Panamkutty town.
They collected details of the houses and buildings on the river side, power lines, farm lands and residents.
Additional chief secretary Kurian and Idukki RDO M P Vinod visited the Periyar river side areas and reviewed the present condition.
Idukki MP Joyce George, Idukki MLA Roshy Augustine, Thodupuzha MLA P J Joseph and district panchayat president Kochuthresia Paulose also attended the review meeting.
Meanwhile, the water level in Mullapperiyar rose to 135.95 feet on Saturday and it may soon reach 136 feet.
"The government hasmade all arrangements to assure the security of the residents on Mullapperiar river side and relocate those who are staying downstream the Periyar river. The government has already requested Tamil Nadu to conduct Mullapperiyar council meeting,” the power minister said.
“The district administration has sought the shutter-operating manual from Tamil Nadu. Once we get it, the district administration will issue warning messages. Control rooms will be opened in village offices and national disaster management authority officials will be deployed,” the district collector said.