After a lull, southwest monsoon set for final surge

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The southwest monsoon, which has wreaked unprecedented havoc in the state, causing one of the worst floods in the state’s history, is expected to bring isolated heavy rainfall to the state this week after a lull.
The India meteorological department (IMD) has predicted isolated heavy rainfall in the state on Tuesday and Wednesday. IMD officials said that an upper air cyclonic circulation is persisting over north coast of Karnataka and neighbourhood between 2.1 and 4.5km above mean sea level.“This will trigger isolated heavy rainfall in the state,” they said.
According to the IMD website, districts such as Pathanamtitta, Idukki and Wayanad will witness heavy rainfall (64.4mm to 124.4mm) in isolated places on Tuesday. There will be heavy rainfall in districts such as Idukki, Thrissur, Wayand and Palakkad on Wednesday.
These districts have been put on ‘yellow alert,’ the state disaster management authority said.
Sholayar shutters opened
The shutters of Sholayar reservoir were opened on Sunday to release 1,700 cusecs of water after heavy rain of 7 to 11 cm was forecast in the area starting from the next 24 hours, said Sudheer Padikkal, joint director of joint water regulatory board (JWRB) of interstate Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP) agreement.
He said that they have received a weather forecast stating that the area will receive heavy rain in the next 48 hours and to maintain a flood cushion the water was released from the reservoir to bring it to three feet below the full reservoir level (FRL) of 2,663 ft.
“The water level at Sholayar dam on Sunday was 2,662.5ft and by releasing 1,700 cusecs we hope to bring down the water level to a safe position of 2,660ft to contain the inflow in case of heavy rains as predicted,” Padikkal said.
He said that the JWRB has directed the Tamil Nadu government to keep the water level at Parambikkulam reservoir at 1,823ft against the FRL of 1,825ft to accommodate the inflowing water. “Already Tamil Nadu is diverting water from Parambikkulam reservoir to Thirumurthy dam through counter canal. But we want to keep the water level at 1,823 so that we could manage if there is heavy inflow,” he said.
Meanwhile, following the opening of two shutters of Sholayar dam, the Thrissur district administration has issued an alert to people living on the banks of Chalakkudy River. “There is nothing to be worried. The water level in the river has been dropped considerably after the flood. Revenue department officials are keeping a close watch along the river banks. The shutters have been opened expecting rain from Tuesday as per the IMD forecast,” said Thrissur deputy collector Babu Xavier.
(With inputs from Kochi and Palakkad)