Mullaperiyar dam water level at 121.70 ft, well below 142-ft cap

The Water Resources Department on Saturday released the daily water level report for major reservoirs in the region, indicating that the Mullaperiyar dam stands at 121.70 feet against the maximum permissible level of 142 feet. The dam recorded an inflow of 238 cusecs and a discharge of 800 cusecs.

Mullaperiyar dam, located in Kerala's Idukki district, is operated by the Tamil Nadu government under a lease agreement. It is one of the oldest dams in India, completed in 1895, and has been a subject of periodic safety reviews. The current water level, which is roughly 20 feet below the permitted maximum, points to a comfortable storage position as the monsoon season progresses.

Meanwhile, the Vaigai dam in Tamil Nadu reported a water level of 38.75 feet against its full capacity of 71 feet. The inflow stood at 281 cusecs while the discharge was 86 cusecs. The combined storage in the Periyar credit account was recorded at 3,763.40 million cubic feet (mcft).

Rainfall recorded in the 24 hours ending at 6 a.m. on Saturday included Madurai at 18.4 mm, Peranai at 15 mm, and Kuppanampatti at 5 mm. These showers are part of the seasonal weather pattern that typically feeds the reservoirs in the Tamil Nadu catchment areas.

Authorities continue to monitor the reservoir levels and weather forecasts, particularly given the inter-state nature of the Mullaperiyar dam and ongoing concerns over its structural stability. However, no alerts have been issued, and the present storage does not pose any immediate concern.

The daily bulletins are aimed at keeping the public informed and ensuring transparency in water management. Farmers and residents in the region rely on these reports to plan their activities, especially in districts dependent on irrigation from these reservoirs.

Further updates will be provided as new data becomes available.