The 11 shutters of Mullaiperiyar dam were opened by one feet, on Wednesday as the storage crossed the maximum allowed level of 142 feet on Wednesday.
The Mullaiperiyar Dam which touched the maximum permitted storage of 142 feet
Madurai:
The Tamil Nadu government opened the shutters on Wednesday at 2:30 pm, releasing 4,490 cusecs. Despite the discharge from the dam, the inflow continues to rise in the wake of unprecedented downpour in the catchment and western ghats region. Officials have advised people living on the banks of Mullaiperiyar to shift to safer places as the discharge might be stepped up. The district administration and the State Disaster Management Authority have taken all necessary precautions.
This was the third time the storage in the dam has attained its maximum permitted level. In November 2014, soon after the Supreme Court order, the level rose to 142 feet. Similarly, the dam reached its peak in December 2015. Earlier, the dam’s permissible storage level was 136 feet and after the intervention of Supreme Court, its level was increased to 142 feet. The Southwest monsoon, which has been intensified, brought copious rain to catchment areas and subsequently the level in the dam touched a new high.
According to Public Works Department (PWD) sources, the significant rise in level was recorded at 12.50 pm. The dam had a discharge of 8,000 cusecs in the morning. Until 1 pm, the dam had an inflow of 16,000 cusecs and discharge of 14,000 cusecs to Kerala and 2,000 cusecs to the Vaigai dam through penstock, sources said.
Theni Collector M Pallavi Baldev, when contacted said that the maximum of 2,200 cusecs from the dam had been withdrawn and channelised through Cumbum valley and to Vaigai dam. As per directive of the Supreme Court, the maximum level of water storage was allowed up to 142 feet. As the water level began to rise since Tuesday, shutters of the dam were opened at 2.30 am, on Wednesday, hours before alerting the Idukki district administration, which was advised to take precautionary measures adequately.
Flood warning was issued to wayside villages in Idukki and some people were evacuated to safer places. However, the situation was safe in Theni. The Theni district administration is also in constant touch with the Idukki district administration to monitor this situation. The dam had an inflow of around 25,000 cusecs in early hours of Wednesday and there’s fluctuation in its quantum. However, the PWD officials were at the dam site and monitoring the situation, the Collector said.
Karaikudi man dies in Munnar
Thiruvananthapuram: A person from Tamil Nadu was killed in landslide at Munnar. The victim has been identified as Madhan Kumar (29), hailing from Karakudi in Tamil Nadu. While the army is clearing the debris, the civil administration is engaged in rescue operations at Hotel Sarvana Bhavan in Munnar, which was severely affected by rain and flood. The staff bed room of the hotel was destroyed in the incident.
Swollen Cauvery keeps officials on toes in most places
With the combined discharge from Karnataka reservoirs crossing a record two lakh cusecs, the western districts are on high alert against possible flooding in low lying areas.
Vehicle movement has been cut off on the arterial Mettur – Edappadi road, which has come under gushing waters from river Cauvery. The vehicles were diverted to prevent any untoward incidents.
Meanwhile, the Salem district administration issued a fresh flood alert as about two lakh cusecs of surplus water discharged from Kabini and Krishnasagar dams, is expected to reach Mettur by Wednesday night.
Salem district Collector Rohini Bhajibhakare said that the entire quantum of water flowing into the Mettur dam will be discharged and people in low lying areas were advised to move to safer regions. The Collector also made visits to Chekkanur barrage, Mettur dam’s 16 eye sluices area and few low lying residential neighbourhood to check their preparedness. Besides Mettur dam, the Bhavanisagar dam in Erode district has also reached its brim and over 45,000 cusecs of water have been discharged causing flooding. People thronged the dam site to watch the splendid sight reservoir reaching its brim after 11 long years.
Water entered into more than 100 houses located along scores of villages on the Cauvery banks in Sathyamangalam. Many handloom units functioning in Thottampalayam village got submerged and crops raised in thousands of acres along the watercourse were washed away in the flooded Bhavani. In another development, the sluice gates of Kodiveri dam were damaged due to flooding and people have been barred from visiting the tourist spot for bathing and coracle rides.
Owing to the downpour in Kerala and Karnataka, the water release from Mettur, Amaravati and Bavanisagar dams are high and the combined water flow in Cauvery river is likely to touch two lakh cusecs, said Revenue Minister, R B Udayakumar, in Chennai, on Wednesday.
Addressing the media, minister said that the Collectors of the districts were alerted about the increase in water flow in Cauvery river and had directed them to follow safety measures.
“People should avoid taking photos near the riverbanks. Fishing, bathing and traveling across the bridges across the rivers are banned and if people attempt to do them, they will be arrested. The state government is more committed in saving the lives of the people,” said Udayakumar. He also said that the water flow in Mettur dam had crossed 1.2 lakh cusecs and it is increasing steadily. Along with water from Mettur dam, water from Amaravati and Bavanisagar dams were also released and the combined flow will touch 2 lakh cusecs soon.