The State Disaster Management Authority has issued an alert to residents along the banks of the Periyar river in Ernakulam, Idukki and Thrissur districts after the Kerala government received an intimation from Tamil Nadu that it was getting ready to release water from the Mullaperiyar reservoir considering the high inflow caused by rain in the catchment area.
“The State Relief Commissioner of Tamil Nadu has intimated that Tamil Nadu may release water to the Kerala side of the Periyar from the Mullaperiyar reservoir. Hence, the State executive committee of the KSDMA has decided to release more water from the Cheruthoni dam,” Chief Secretary Tom Jose said in an official press note issued here.
People living close to the Periyar banks in Ernakulam, Idukki and Thrissur have been directed to be ready to shift to relief camps and cooperate with the government machinery.
The Idukki District Collector has directed people downstream of the Mullaperiyar dam to be ready for evacuation by 9 p.m. on Tuesday. The water level in the reservoir was reported to have crossed the 138-ft mark at 8 p.m.
First alert at 4 a.m.
Earlier, the district administration sounded the first alert to the people downstream of the Mullaperiyar dam after the water level reached 136 ft at 4 a.m. on Tuesday. It rose from 135.40 ft at 2 p.m. on Monday to 137 ft at 2 p.m. on Tuesday. The maximum storage level is 142 ft and water will be released into the Idukki reservoir once it reaches the level.
It will affect the people living on the banks of the Periyar from Valakkadavu to Upputhara.