After heavy in a single day rains in catchment areas, six shutters of Mullaperiyar dam opened once more 

By Express News Service

IDUKKI: The Tamil Nadu authorities on Wednesday began releasing water from the Mullaperiyar dam by six shutters once more after the catchment areas acquired heavy rain since Tuesday night time.

The public works division of the Tamil Nadu authorities on Wednesday lifted all of the six shutters (V1, V2, V3, V4, V5 and V6) to a peak of 60 cm to launch 3005 cusecs water along with the tunnel discharge, officers stated. Though the six shutters of the Mullperiyar dam have been opened in two phases on Friday and Saturday, 5 shutters have been closed on Tuesday. But the heavy rains final night time have pressured the authorities to reopen the shutters once more, officers stated.

When all of the six shutters have been opened — in two levels on Friday and Saturday — it marked a uncommon occasion when all of the six shutters of the dam have been opened since 2018. Five have been closed on Tuesday after the water stage receded to 138.15 ft. Only one shutter (V3) was saved open — by 20 cm– to launch 158 cusecs (cubic toes per second) of water.

Tamil Nadu, which operates the dam, had opened the shutters final week to launch 2974 cusecs of water from Mullaperiyar after the water stage crossed 138 ft because of floodwater operating off its catchment areas as a result of heavy rain.

Inflow doubles

The water stage went up within the Mullaperiyar dam by Tuesday night because the influx doubled to 5082.54 cusecs as a result of heavy rain within the catchment areas. The catchment areas of the dam – Periyar and Thekkady — recorded 3.2 mm and 24 mm rainfall respectively on Wednesday at 6 am.

As per the info given by the Idukki district administration, the water stage within the Mullaperiyar dam had reached 138.95 ft towards the complete stage of 142 ft. Nearly 3005 cusecs have been let into the Periyar river by spillways from Wednesday.

“The Idukki reservoir, which carries the water released from the dam already has 94% of water capacity. With the water level inching close to 139.5 ft to be maintained at the Mullaperiyar dam till November 11 as advised by the Supreme Court, the surplus water had to be let out. A flood warning has been issued in areas downstream of the dam and along the Periyar River. The Idukki reservoir may carry up to 7,000 cusecs. This is minimal compared with its capacity,” stated an official. As towards the complete reservoir stage of two,403 ft, the Idukki reservoir water stage stood at 2,398.16 ft at 6 am on Wednesday.