Water level rises in Idukki, Mullaperiyar dams; Quantity of water to be released to go up    

IDUKKI: The water levels remain high in the Idukki and Mullaperiyar dams despite the release of water. The water levels have gone up to 2386.86 feet in Idukki and 139.55 feet in Mullaperiyar. In the wake of the rising water levels, 13 spillway shutters of the Mullaperiyar dam has been opened. Water is released at a rate of 8627 cumecs. Due to heavy rains in the catchment areas, there has been an increase in the flow of water into the dams. The release of water from Idukki Dam will be increased on Tuesday to regulate the water level.

As the water released from the Idukki dam increased, four houses in Tadiyambadu were flooded. The wall of one of the houses has collapsed. A total of three lakh litre water is released per second. The initial decision was to release five lakh litres of water per second, but it was withdrawn after water began to enter the houses. The final decision on whether to release more water will be made in a meeting. Following the release of water, residents of the area have been living in fear.

Meantime, considering the rise in water levels, the Idamalayar dam shutters will be opened at 10 am on Tuesday. Initially, fifty cumecs of water and then one hundred cumecs of water will be released from the dam. Although, the water level in Periyar will rise with the addition of water from Idamalayar dam along with Idukki dam, there is no need for any concern, said the authorities.

In the wake of the rising water levels, the shutter of several other major dams have been raised. The shutters of Malampuzha dam have been raised by 55 cm as rain continues to lash the catchment areas. The shutter of Siruvani Dam raised to 1.70 feet. The shutters of Kanjirapuzha dam have been raised by 1 cm.