Storage increases by 2 per cent in Idukki reservoir

Even though the district has witnessed moderate to heavy rainfall over the past three days, storage in the Idukki reservoir, the State’s major hydroelectric power station increased by only 2%. According to data from the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) Dam Safety Wing, the water level in the dam reached 2,330.90 feet (31% capacity) on Friday, compared to 2,375.98 feet (70% capacity) on the same day last year. On Wednesday, storage in the reservoir stood at 29%, with a water level of 2,328.62 feet.

“If the current rainfall continues, the reservoir will gain sufficient storage in August. In 2020, the reservoir experienced low storage levels in July, but reached full capacity in August with the arrival of heavy rains. Looking back at 46 years of historical data, there have been many instances where July storage was low, yet the reservoir reached full capacity in the following months,” a KSEB Dam Safety Wing official explained.

Currently, the water level in the Idukki reservoir is 45.67 feet lower than it was on the same day last year. Meanwhile, driven by heavy rainfall across the district, total storage across the State’s major hydroelectric dams rose to 33% of capacity on Friday. In contrast, the water level in the Mullaperiyar dam stood at 112.45 feet on Friday, compared to 135.15 feet recorded on the same day last year.