Kerala State Electricity Board plans to peg Idukki dam level at 2,400 ft

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala State Electricity Board Ltd, caught unawares by the unexpected inflow into the Idukki dam in the past two days following torrential rainfall in catchment areas, plans to maintain the storage level at an optimum 2,400 ft by keeping shutters open. The shutter would remain open till the storage is maintained at the optimum level.

The last such operation was 26 years ago but this is the first time during the southwest monsoon. Two previous instances of opening were during the northeast monsoon in October–December.

A top official told DC that the discharge through shutter no 3 at Cheruthoni dam, which regulates Idukki storage, has been 50 cubic metres per second. The increase in the discharge rate would depend on the increase in the inflow into the Idukki dam.