Low rainfall keeps most of the Pazhassi reservoir gates closed

On 18 June, two sluices of the Pazhassi reservoir were temporarily opened following light rains in the basins on 17 June, while all other sluices remained closed. | Photo credit: File photo for representational purposes only

Low rainfall has forced authorities to close most of the sluices opened in the Pazhassi Irrigation Project after the inflow into the reservoir fell sharply, raising concerns about the availability of drinking water in Kannur district.

On Thursday (6/18), two closures were temporarily opened following light rains in the catchments during the night of Wednesday (6/17), all other closures remained closed. Officials said rainfall in the basin between June 1 and June 18 was almost 50% less than during the corresponding period in previous years.

The decision was taken as the water level in the reservoir has dropped significantly despite the onset of the southwest monsoon. Authorities have resumed water storage to ensure drinking water supplies. Officials noted that this is the first time in the project’s history that the tide has remained so low past mid-June.

Six of the project’s 16 shutters were opened on June 4 after warnings were issued to residents living along the Valapattanam river basin. The move was to release water stored during the summer into the river as part of monsoon safety measures. However, the basin has received very little rainfall since the onset of the monsoon.

According to a senior Pazhassi Irrigation Project official, 24.7 cm of rainfall was recorded between June 1 and June 18 this year compared to 54.92 cm during the same period last year. Officials said the reservoir level was at 21.02 meters when the floodgates were first opened. Pazhassi reservoir supplies drinking water to nearly two-thirds of Kannur and Mahe district through 10 drinking water systems that operate from the reservoir.

Officials said water can be pumped only if the reservoir level remains above 18 meters. Due to the lack of rainfall and the water level approaching the critical mark, the gates were closed and water conservation measures were initiated. When the locks closed on Tuesday (June 16) morning, the water level was around 18 meters. Even after all-day storage, the water level rose to only 18.75 meters by Wednesday morning.

However, rainfall received on Wednesday night raised the water level to 21 meters, forcing officials to open only two gates of the dam. Under normal monsoon conditions, the reservoir is expected to reach its full storage level of 26.52 meters within a short time after the onset of rains.

The situation revived memories of 2011, when a delay in opening the gates at the start of the monsoon led to the reservoir overflowing within a day, inundating parts of Iritta town and nearby residential areas and causing losses worth several crores. Since then, authorities have routinely opened one or two sluices whenever warnings of heavy rains are issued to release excess water into the Valapattanam River.

The area has been experiencing intense heat in recent days, and isolated showers are mostly absent in the catchments of the dam. The reservoir mainly depends on tributaries from Barapole River, Bavali River and several smaller streams. Rainfall was also below normal in the Brahmagiri forest area near Makkoottam, a key source area for the Barapole river.

Officials and residents are closely monitoring the situation as continued deficit rainfall could affect the availability of potable water in the coming weeks.

Published – 18 Jun 2026 23:26 IST