Kollengode, Palakkad: Kerala seems to be finally acting on the bitter lessons learned after the biggest calamity in nearly a century ravaged the state. Even as the government rejects charges that floppy dam management led to the deluge, authorities have initiated measures for more effective regulation of dam waters. A circular issued by the irrigation department chief engineer has directed that water should be kept below the first alert level, yellow.
The prompt action comes as the northeast monsoon is set to begin from mid-October.
Each dam's alert levels are decided on the basis of storage capacity. After the deluge, experts had pointed out that the scale of damage could have been reduced if the water was released when the level was at yellow rather than waiting for it to surge past the second level, orange, and finally to the third, red.
In a bid to avoid alleged lapses, the department has also directed that dam shutters should not be opened without getting consent from top officials and the district administration. And in any case, there should be no release of dam waters at night, the department insisted.
The circular says the local MLA, panchayat member and other representatives of the people should be promptly updated on the dam water level.
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