The Idukki dam, which is mainly reserved for power generation during the peak summer season when demand escalates, has only 31 percentage of its full reservoir level of 2,403 ft now, probably indicating that all the discussion about another dam cannot move forward without addressing the questions that dams like Idukki raise.
Asia’s biggest dam and the one that produces over 40% of the total power generated in the State today has hit one of its lowest water levels. The Periyar, the waters of which give the dam its life and relevance, is the one that has the largest number of reservoirs in the State. The flow of the river has stopped, especially in the downstream areas of many of the dams. The river in these parts would soon dry up unless there is a good rain fall in the coming days.
Power generation at the Moolamattom power house has been deliberately kept low to keep the generation going till June. That has raised questions on the viability of hydroelectric projects in the State at a time when the annual rainfall shows a declining trend. Besides supplying water to the hydel reservoirs, the Periyar also meets the drinking water and irrigation needs of people living downstream and the cardamom and tea plantations. Water level in the reservoirs of Kundala, Mattupetty, Anayirangal, Ponmudy, Neryamangalam, Lower Periyar, Perinjamkutty and Mullaperiyar has also reached alarming levels.
Poor monsoon
An official at the Dam Monitoring and Research Station, Vazhathoppe, told The Hindu that the water level of Idukki dam was quite low when the last southwest monsoon set in. The poor monsoon only aggravated the situation. As a result, power generation at the dam has been kept at a controlled level and the State has been depending more on outside sources for power. Sourcing of power from outside has been key to power management and this has helped the State avoid power cut and load-shedding.
The possibility of tapping wind energy by setting up a farm at Ramakkalmedu is still at a nascent stage. Though the government has plans to take up small hydroelectric projects, a hydel unit at Mankulam in the district which is over a decade old is still incomplete. When not even Idukki is an answer to the State’s power woes, the wisdom of more such projects is coming under question.
As the water level in Idukki falls by each notch, those questions will get sharper.
