With Idukki witnessing a 62% rain deficiency as on August 23 this year, the water level in the Idukki reservoir is nearing the lowest level recorded in August in many years. The water level in the reservoir on Wednesday stood at 2,330.34 ft. On August 23, 2012, the level had touched 2,319.42 ft.
Wednesday’s water level is 30.41% of the total storage capacity. The level on the same day last year was 2,384.46 ft, 78.79% of the storage capacity. Compared to the previous year, there is a shortage of 54.12 ft of water.
In the past 25 years, only in three years did the water level drop below 2,331 ft in August. According to Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) dam safety wing data, the water level dropped below the mark in 2002, 2003 and 2012. A senior KSEB dam safety wing official said that on August 23, 2002, the water level in the Idukki reservoir was 2,329.81 ft and on August 23, 2003, it was 2,325.07 ft. “The water level had dropped to a deficient level of 2,319.42 ft in 2012,” said the official.
