Malankara dam gates opened for major repairs

The floodgates of the Malankara Dam in Idukki were opened on Wednesday for major repairs. | Photo credit: H. VIBHU

Malankara Dam gates under the Muvattupuzha Valley Irrigation Project (MVIP) have been opened to facilitate extensive repairs.

According to an MVIP official, the water level in the dam needs to be brought down to 36.9m for the maintenance to begin. To achieve this, water distribution through the project’s canal networks was suspended on Wednesday and four spillway gates were fully lifted. The level has currently dropped to 40 m.

“The repair work will start once the reservoir reaches 36.9m. The maintenance is estimated to take two weeks, although it could be completed slightly before or after the planned time frame,” the official said.

Maintenance work includes replacement of cap screws and installation of new rubber seals. “Our aim is to complete these major structural repairs before the arrival of heavy monsoon rains,” the official added.

The Malankara Dam primarily stores the waste water released into the Muvattupuzha River from the Moolamattom Power Station after the generation of electricity in the Idukki Reservoir. When the Malankara sluices are wide open, this water can no longer be contained and flows directly downstream into the Muvattupuzha River. Officials noted that the pumping and subsequent discharge is also likely to temporarily affect power generation at the Malankara Small Hydropower Project.

Published – 20 May 2026 20:06 IST