Despite a fall in the water level in Idukki reservoir, the water release from the Cheruthoni dam will continue in the same volume in view of the rainfall forecast for two days. Though the water level in the Idamalayar showed a slight decline, there were chances of releasing more water to the Periyar in the coming days.
An official of the KSEB told The Hindu on Sunday that there were chances of increased inflow into the Idamalayar dam following more release of water from the Pooyamkutty and Peringalkuthu dams.
The water level in the Idukki dam at 4 p.m. on Sunday was 2,398.68 ft which was 0.10 ft higher than the level an hour before. The hourly inflow into the reservoir was 408 cumecs. The discharge of water to the Moolamattom Power House was 116 cumecs and the release of water through the Cheruthoni dam was 750 cumecs.
The water level had increased to 2,401.76 ft at 4 p.m. on Friday. The full reservoir level is 2,403 ft.
The water level in the Mullaperiyar dam on the upstream of the Idukki reservoir on Sunday was 135.20 ft. The maximum storage level is 142 ft. Tamil Nadu was drawing water at the level of 2,200 cse (cubic feet per second), while the inflow in to the dam was 2,588 ft.
The Idamalayar water level was remaining stable now at 168.91 m. As much as 300 cusecs of water was released into the Periyar. The gross inflow was 731.68 cusecs and the discharge for power generation was 65.84 cusecs.
The water level had crossed its full reserve level of 169 m resulting in opening all three shutters. After the water level slowly fell, the release of water was reduced to 100 cumecs.
District Collector K. Jeevan Babu on Sunday visited the relief camps and enquired about the facilities arranged there. As many as 17 relief camps were opened at Devikulam and Idukki taluks following the rain havoc and release of water from the Idukki reservoir. As many as 1,058 persons were shifted to relief camps — 11 in Idukki and six at Devikulam.
The KSRTC would operate a few bus services from Kattappana to Cheruthoni from Monday after the Thodupuzha services through Cheruthoni was suspended from Friday following the overflow of dam water there. The bus services on Puliyanmala-Thodupuzhan State Highway were conducted via Erattayar, Thopramkudy and Chempakapara which took nearly two hours extra to reach Thodupuzha. An official of the KSEB depot at Kattappana said that circular services would be conducted near to the Cheruthoni bridge from Monday. This would help the general public and students, especially in the isolated areas such as Maniyarankudy, he said.