KOCHI: Even as Kerala had begun to heave a sigh of relief with the fall in water levels in Idukki dam reservoir, a next dam crisis appears to be looming further upstream as the Mullaperiyar dam's water levels have crossed 136 ft. first level alert was issued around 4am on Tuesday. At 10am, the lake level in Mullaperiyar dam rose to 136.40 ft. The total capacity of the dam in 142 ft. There have been heavy rains in the forest and hilly terrain in the area and the water level is steadily rising.All through the Idukki dam crisis, what had kept the officials and locals less tense was the fact that Mullaperiyar dam waters had been keeping low and the crisis had to be managed of the Idukki dam alone in the last couple of weeks of heavy rains. The waters from Mullaperiyar is used by Tamil Nadu state though the dam is located in Kerala.In 2011, when the water level rose in Mullaperiyar, it had generated a 'damophobia' all the way downstream till Aluva Periyar in Ernakulam. There is still a constant fear in Kerala that this old dam cannot withstand the pressure of high water level.However, the Tamil Nadu government which undertook some of the repair work in the cracks that were detected says that the dam is safe and there is no threat to its structure. The concern among locals in Idukki has been that in the event of any damage of breakage in the Mullaperiyar dam, it would overflow and reach Idukki dam area and consequentially would affect the entire downstream.Following heavy rains, the shutter of Mattupetty dam have been opened to 30 cms height and 12.50 cumecs of water is being discharged. A high alert has been given in Munnar, Muthirapuzha, Kallarkutty, lower Periyar regions, Idukki district collector informed.Meanwhile, the dam safety officials of KSEB have decided to reduce the water release to 3 lakh litres per second from 4.5 lakh litres per second from 11am on Tuesday.At 10am, the water level at Idukki reservoir was 2396.88 ft at 10am on Tuesday. Two shutter remained closed since yesterday evening and three are downed at 1.50m. The cumulative water released after power generation and through the shutters is 237.872 million cubic metre. The Idamalayar dam water level is at 168.71m at 10am on Tuesday. Four lakh litres of water is being released from 4 shutters at 1m height here

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