For the first time since the southwest monsoon started, water level in the Idukki dam has crossed the last year’s storage level. The water level on Wednesday was 2,352.36 ft compared to last year’s level of 2,351.24 ft. this time.
This is 47.85% of the total reservoir level, which stood at 46.9 percentage on the same day last year.
According to an official at the Dam Monitoring and Search Station, Vazhathoppe, though there was no rainfall recorded on the catchment area for the past two days, there was good inflow through the main tributary, the Periyar.
The water level was lower than the previous year with poor rainfall during the initial period of the monsoon. The power generation at the Moolamattom Power House also remained at a low. The power generation on Wednesday was 5.32 m.u., which was 4.45 m.u. the previous day. (On Monday and Sunday it was 2.50 and 2.41 m.u respectively).
Though the water level still remained below the average level of the season, the minimum water level prior to the beginning of this monsoon was at a low of 2,299 ft. recorded on June 23, 2017. The official said that though the minimum water level normally would be above 2,300 ft, it fell further prior to this monsoon causing concern on a poor storage in the dam.
The generators and other equipment in the power house are undergoing a revamp reducing the generation level.
