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Journalism of Courage
After a gap of 15 years, water from the Idukki dam in Kerala will be released any time between the next two days following the rise in the water level.
The water-level touched 2399.62 ft following heavy rain in the catchment area on Sunday, Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) officials said. Shutters of the Cheruthoni dam will be opened once the water level reaches 2,401 ft. Cheruthoni dam forms part of the Idukki irrigation project.
The shutters of Asia’s biggest arch dam were last opened in 1992. Officials of the KSEB Research and Dam Safety said water-level was rising fast and if it reaches 2401 ft, then the shutters will have to be opened. Idukki District Collector Raju Narayanaswamy said people residing in the nearby areas have been put on alert. The authorities are checking the water-level each hour.
Earlier, there was confusion among the district administration and the KSEB Research and Dam Safety authorities regarding the water-level at which shutters need to be opened. While the district administration said water should be released if the water-level reaches 2401 ft, the KSEB said the shutters would be opened only if the water-level reaches 2403 ft. Later, it was decided to release water if it reached 2401 ft.
Assistant Executive Engineer Biju said all officials concerned are camping at the dam site in view of the situation and a full-time observation centre has been set up on the site.
