Malanakara dam shutters opened for major repair works

The shutters of the Malankara dam, nether the Muvattupuzha Valley Irrigation Project (MVIP), person been opened to facilitate large repair work.

According to an MVIP official, the dam’s h2o level indispensable beryllium lowered to 36.9 m for the attraction to begin. To execute this, h2o organisation done the project’s canal networks was suspended connected Wednesday, and 4 spillway shutters were afloat raised. The h2o level has presently dropped to 40 m.

“The repair enactment volition commence erstwhile the reservoir hits the 36.9-m mark. The attraction is estimated to instrumentality astir 2 weeks, though it could beryllium completed somewhat up of oregon aft the scheduled clip frame,” an authoritative said.

The attraction works see replacing the shutter screws and installing caller rubber seals. “Our nonsubjective is to implicit these large structural repairs earlier the accomplishment of dense monsoon rain,” the authoritative added.

The Malankara dam chiefly stores tailrace h2o released into the Muvattupuzha stream from the Moolamattom powerhouse aft energy procreation astatine the Idukki reservoir. With the Malankara shutters wide open, this h2o tin nary longer beryllium impounded and volition travel straight downstream into the Muvattupuzha river. Officials noted that the drawdown and consequent discharge are besides apt to temporarily deed powerfulness procreation astatine the Malankara tiny hydroelectric project.