THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: If signs are any indication, all will not be well next summer as monsoon rains until Thursday have failed to recharge Peppara dam as it used to during good rains. A few days ago, the levels had touched a maximum of 99.95m in the dam which has a sanctioned maximum drawable limit of 107.5m . With scarce rain it has come down again to 99.6 this week. This is seen as an alarming trend as usually, the first set of monsoon showers in June fills up Peppara dam.
“Normally, showers from July ensure that water need not be released frequently from Peppara to Aruvikkara reservoir downstreams. This year, nothing has worked out. Unless we get strong showers, we could face another consecutive year of drought,” said a senior official. In Kerala, there has been a 24 per cent deficit in monsoon rains this season.
“An above average North East Monsoon can save the situation. However, since there is no guarantee, the district administration has already started anti-drought activities,” said a revenue official said. There has not been a state government-level move on the possibility of raising the water level to 110.5 m. This will require the approval of the Ministry of Environment and Forest as the level of water in catchment areas across Peppara wildlife sanctuary will go up.
