The water level in the Idukki reservoir on Thursday was at 11.81% of its capacity, one of the lowest of the season in the recent years.
An official at the Dam Monitoring and Research Station, Vazhathoppe, said each day the recorded drop in the water level increased as it was approaching the dead storage level.
The water level in the dam on Thursday was 2,302.38 ft compared to 2,316.36 ft the same day last year. The water level touched a low of 2,302.87 ft in 2013. The water level in 2015 was 2,339.18 ft and in 2014 it was 2,321.7 ft. The power generation recorded at the Moolamattom power house in the past 24 hours was 8.92 million units.
With the Indian Meteorological Department’s prediction of an early onset of southwest monsoon, dam authorities hope for a safe passage of the summer season, when consumption is at its peak. The official said rainfall during the summer season could not make much of an impact on the water level in the dam owing to the poor northeast and southwest monsoons last year. Only a rain spell lasting two to three days would make an impact on the water level.
The coming season will be a challenge as the water level is at one of the lowest levels now. Of the two monsoons, only the southwest monsoon makes an impact on the water level in the reservoir. So, a copious southwest monsoon will go a long way in allaying the concerns on the power front.
