Repair work for breaches on the right bank protection structures of the Moolathara dam will start next week. Repairs will also be done on the weir and regulator-cum-bridge of the Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP) system at Chittur after the ongoing rain recedes.
Top officials of the Water Resources Department led by Chief Engineer K.K. Ramesh from Kozhikkode inspected the damaged areas of the Dam on Monday and worked out a plan for its immediate repair.
The Executive Engineer of Chitturpuzha Irrigation Division V.K. Mahanudevan has said that the repair work of the breached section of the earthen bund will be complete before December 15, 2009.
“Though it is a massive earth work it will be completed on a war footing. Water released from the Aliyar Dam under the PAP agreement could then be regulated through the Moolathara weir by constructing a temporary bund for the purpose,” Mr. Mahanudevan said.
The Executive Engineer also said that repair works would not interfere with irrigation for paddy cultivation in the Chitturpuzha irrigation scheme areas. A small bund will be constructed to release water to the farmers.
Monitoring water levels
Deputy director of Joint Water Regulation Sub Division of PAP at Parambikulam K. Sudheer has said that the officials at Aliyar are closely monitoring the water flow to the Dam. Now 440 cusecs water is being released from the Dam to prevent it from reaching the Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of 1050.09 feet. The water level remained at 1049.9 feet on Monday.
However, former Chuttur M.L.A , K. Krishnankutty paid a visit to the dam sites at Aliyar and Thirumurthy alleged that officials were absent at important dam sites of PAP group of reservoirs.
