India Meteorological Department has stated on Thursday that a depression over the southeast Arabian Sea was "very likely" by October 5. Given this state of high alert, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has decided to begin controlled release of water from the Idukki dam once the water level reaches 2388 feet. The level on Thursday has touched 2387.76 feet. On August 9, the shutters were opened only when the water level touched 2398.99 feet.
A decision taken at an emergency meeting held here on Thursday said that the Idukki dam shutters should be opened when the water level comes 15 feet short of the full reservoir level of 2403 feet. A red alert has already been issued for Idukki on October 7. KSEB will also keep a close watch on the level of water in all its reservoirs.
Mattupetty, Kundala and Ponmudi dams, where the water level is already above 90 percent, have been opened. Already one shutter of the Sholayar dam and two of sluice gates of Poringalkuthu dam have been slightly opened to allow controlled water release. The sluice gates of Idamalayar dam, too, will be opened, though the water level in the reservoir is below 74 percent.
If the need arises, there will be controlled release of water from the Banasurasagar and Kuttiadi dams in Wayanad and Kozhikode also; yellow alert has been sounded in both these districts. Release of water from Kakki and Pamba dams would be tricky as it could affect the restoration works being carried out in Pamba.
KSEB and Water resources officials have been told not to lift the dam shutters before informing the district authorities and the state disaster management authority.
IMD intensifies warning
The IMD's dire prognosis is based on the spotting of a cyclonic circulation over southeast Arabian Sea and adjoining Lakshadweep and Maldives areas extending up to the middle tropospheric level on Thursday morning. "It is very likely to concentrate into a depression and move northwestwards during subsequent 36 hours. It is also very likely to intensify further into a cyclonic storm thereafter and move towards Oman coast," an IMD release on Thursday said.
Thunderstorm accompanied by “moderate to heavy rain” is likely to affect Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam and Kasaragod districts. 'Heavy' (7-11 cm in 24 hours) to 'very heavy' (12-20 cm in 24 hours) rainfall is most likely to occur at one or two places in the state till October 9. As predicted earlier, there will be extremely heavy rainfall on October 7.
