TrivandrumLife>> As two months have passed since the onset of the south west monsoon, the district has received 5 % deficient rainfall in the season. All major dams remain open as the district received heavy rainfall in the past few days. India Meteorological Department is expecting an increase in rainfall activity from August 3 as a low pressure is likely to form over the north Bay of Bengal by August 4.
On Thursday, the Kerala Water Authority and the Irrigation department officials received direction from the district administration to open the shutters of the Peppara and Neyyar dams respectively. Subsequently, the KWA raised 2 shutters to 10 cm each while two shutters at Aruvikkara were raised to 50 cm each. At Neyyar dam, four shutters were raised to 15 cm each and it was further raised to 20 cm each on Friday. Though the rainfall activity has reduced in the district, the shutters were kept raised so as to prevent sudden action at the time of emergency, as it has created flash floods on the banks of the rivers in the past.
Currently, the dams are managed as per a scientific calculation known as rule curve, which is a graph that specifies the amount of water that could be allowed in a reservoir at a particular time of the month.
Currently, water level at Peppara dam is 107.05 metres, while its maximum permissible level is 107.5 metres. The full reservoir level of Peppara dam is 110.5 metres. However, the KWA needs permission from the Union ministry of Environment and Forest to allow water till that level. The KWA has submitted applications to raise the water level and the forest department has recommended raising till 109.5 metres at the time of heavy rainfall after a recent inspection. However, the final decision is still awaited.
The current water level at Neyyar dam is 82.05 metres, while only 81.80 metres is permitted as per rule curve. The maximum level of Neyyar dam is 84.75 metres. In accordance with the rule curve, the Irrigation department has been keeping shutters of the dam 1 inch opened since June 1. It was further raised on the direction of district administration on July 29.
The average rainfall in the state during this south west monsoon season was 23 % deficient. Though it is 5 % deficient in Thiruvananthapuram, it is considered normal by meteorologists.
JS
Jisha Surya is a media professional with over a decade of experience in various media houses including The New Indian Express and Times of India. She covers city infrastructure, social issues, and lifestyle stories.
