Thenmala Dam

Last updated

Thenmala Dam
Thenmala dam.jpg
Thenmala Dam
India Kerala relief map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location of Thenmala Dam in Kerala
India relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Thenmala Dam (India)
Official nameKallada dam
Country India
Location Thenmala, Kollam, Kerala
Coordinates 8°57′14″N77°4′11″E / 8.95389°N 77.06972°E / 8.95389; 77.06972
PurposeIrrigation
StatusOperational
Opening date1986
Dam and spillways
Height85.35m
Length335m
Spillways 3
Spillway typeOgee with radial gate auxiliiary- Labyrinth
Reservoir
Total capacity524,000,000 m3 (424,814 acre⋅ft)
Maximum Water Level
115.82 metres, 380.0 ft
Active capacity507,000,000 m3 (411,032 acre⋅ft)
Catchment area 549 km2 (212 sq mi)
Surface area23 km2 (9 sq mi)

The Thenmala Dam is the second-largest irrigation project in Kerala, India. It impounds the longest reservoir in the state and water from the reservoir is also used for power generation.

Contents

The dam was started in 1961 under the Kallada Irrigation and Tree Crop development project with an original cost of Rs. 13.28 crores. The revised estimate of Rs. 728 crores at the 1999 schedule of rates made the cost escalation to be reported at 5,356 percent. The ayacut [1] targeted was 61630 hectares (net) and 92800 hectares (gross). [2] Though the project was targeted for completion, and priority in allocation was given during the Ninth Plan, it could not be completed and commissioned fully. [3]

It is now a centre of attraction at Thenmala and an ecotourism destination, with boating available on the reservoir, which is bordered on both sides by the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary. [4] This place has facilities like winding pathways, a sway bridge, an amphitheatre and a musical fountain. Visitors can also visit the traditional tree houses of the tribal in this area. There are also boating facilities in the reservoir. There is a rope bridge along with many trekking, mountaineering and biking opportunities. [5]

See also

Reservoir of Thenmala Dam Reservoir of Thenmala Dam, Kollam.jpg
Reservoir of Thenmala Dam

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kollam district</span> District in Kerala, India

Kollam district, is one of 14 districts of the state of Kerala, India. The district has a cross-section of Kerala's natural attributes; it is endowed with a long coastline, a major Laccadive Sea seaport and an inland lake. The district has many water bodies. Kallada River is one among them, and land on the east bank of the river is East Kallada and that on the west bank is West Kallada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pothundi Dam</span> Dam in Palakkad District, Kerala

Pothundi Dam is an irrigation dam near Pothundi village in the Palakkad district of Kerala state, India. Constructed in the 19th century, it is considered one of the oldest dams in India. It provides irrigation to an area of 5,470 hectares in the Palakkad district and drinking water supply to the Nemmara, Ayalur, Melarcode Panchayat. An unusual feature of the earth dam is the core wall, which is built with a mixture of jaggery and quick lime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malampuzha Dam</span> Dam in Palakkad District, Kerala

Malampuzha Dam is the second largest dam and reservoirs in Kerala, located near Palakkad, in the state of Kerala in South India, built post independence by the then Madras state. Situated in the scenic hills of the Western Ghats in the background it is a combination of a masonry dam with a length of 1,849 metres and an earthen dam with a length of 220 metres making it the longest dam in the state. The dam is 355 feet high and crosses the Malampuzha River, a tributary of Bharathappuzha, Kerala's second longest river. There is a network of two canal systems that serve the dam's reservoir of 42,090 hectares.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thenmala</span> Village in Kerala, India

Thenmala is a tourist destination in the eastern side of Kollam district in Kerala, India that is home to the first eco-tourism centre in India. The word 'Thenmala' means "Honey hill" in Malayalam language. It is known for its high quality honey export. The town is 66 km away from Kollam city, 69km from the state capital Trivandrum and is just 14 km away from Tamil Nadu state border. The interstate National Highway-744, connecting Kollam with Madurai in Tamil Nadu, and State Highway-2 of Kerala are passing through Thenmala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kallada River</span> River in South kerala

The Kallada River is the longest river in Kollam District, Kerala, India. The river originates in Kulathupuzha, in the Western Ghats, and flows west, reaching the Arabian Sea after traveling a distance of 120 km (75 mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhoothathankettu</span> Dam

Bhoothathankettu is a dam and tourist spot in Ernakulam district in Kerala,. It is situated outside the village of Pindimana, about 10 km away from the town of Kothamangalam and 50 km away from the main city of Kochi. The original natural dam has been supplemented by a modern dam impounding the Bhoothathankettu Reservoir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kulathupuzha</span> Village in Kerala, India

Kulathupuzha is a town in the eastern part of Kollam district of Kerala, India. It is one of the important pilgrim spots linked with the legend of Sabarimala. It is the birthplace of the Malayalam music composer Raveendran. Kulathupuzha is the source of the Kallada river, Thenmala Dam (KIP) is located on this river. As declared by the Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Kulathupuzha panchayat is the first in India to have achieved Constitution-literacy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chimmini Dam</span> Dam in Thrissur District, Kerala

Chimmini Dam is situated in Echippara in Chalakudy taluk of Thrissur District of Kerala state of India. It is constructed across Kurumali river, a tributary of the Karuvannur river. Chimmini is the largest dam of Thrissur district. The Chimminy Wild Life Sanctuary is located close to the dam. Construction of the 495-metre masonry and 686-metre earthen dam started in 1975 and it was completed in 1996. Total cost of the project was Rs 59.71 crore although the cost of construction of the dam was initially estimated at Rs 36.15 crore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary</span> Wildlife sanctuary in India

Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in the Western Ghats, India, located in Kollam district of Kerala and comes under the control of the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve. It was established on 25 August 1984 and comprises 172.403 square kilometres (66.565 sq mi). The name is a corruption of the Chengurinji, a tree endemic to the region. The sanctuary has an artificial lake of nearly 18.69Sq.km size and also surrounded by the reservoir of Thenmala Dam. The Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary is a treasure house of plant diversity. About 1257 species of flowering plants belonging to more than 150 families are reported from this sanctuary of which 309 species are endemic to Western Ghats. Birds from 267 species including migratory, endemic and endangered species have been reported here.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polavaram Project</span> Dam in Eluru district, Andhra Pradesh

The Polavaram Project is an under construction multi-purpose irrigation project on the Godavari River in the Eluru District and East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh. The project has been accorded National project status by the Central Government of India. Its reservoir back water spreads up to the Dummugudem Anicut and approx 115 km on Sabari River side. Thus back water spreads into parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha States. It gives major boost to tourism sector in Godavari Districts as the reservoir covers the famous Papikonda National Park, Polavaram hydro electric project (HEP) and National Waterway 4 are under construction on left side of the river. It is located 40 km to the upstream of Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage in Rajamahendravaram City and 25 km from Rajahmundry Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vilakkupara</span> Village in Kerala, India

Vilakkupara is a village in Punalur Taluk, Kollam District, Kerala State, India. Vilakkupara lies 58 km (36 mi) to the east of Kollam, the District headquarters, and 12 km (7 mi) to the southeast of Punalur on Kollam-Thirumangalam National Highway (N.H-744). It is 72 km (45 mi) north of Thiruvananthapuram, the State Capital. It belongs to the Yeroor Gram panchayat, Punalur Assembly Constituency, and is a part of the Kollam Lok Sabha constituency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idamalayar Dam</span> Dam in Ernakulam District, Kerala

Idamalayar Dam is a multipurpose concrete gravity dam located at Ennakkal between Ayyampuzha and Bhoothathankettu in Ernakulam district of Kerala on the Idamalayar, a tributary of the Periyar River in Kerala, South India. The dam however extends east as far as Malakkappara. Completed in 1985, with a length of 373 metres (1,224 ft) and a height of 102.8 metres (337 ft), the dam created a multipurpose reservoir covering 28.3 km2 (10.9 sq mi) in the scenic hills of the Anamalais.

The Pulichintala Project is a multi-purpose water management project for irrigation, hydropower generation, and flood control in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is a crucial irrigation facility for farmers in four coastal districts: West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Palanadu, and Prakasam, covering over 13 lakh acres. It has 24 gates and a balancing reservoir with a capacity of 46 Tmcft at 175 feet (53 m) MSL full reservoir level (FRL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tatipudi Reservoir</span> Dam in Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh

"Tatipudi Reservoir" is a dam located on River Gosthani in Andhra Pradesh. It is a water supply reservoir to the city of Visakhapatnam. Thatipudi Reservoir Project was constructed across Gosthani River during 1963–1968. The Project is aimed to irrigate a total ayacut of 15,378 acres (62 km2) in Vizianagaram District and to provide drinking water to Visakhapatnam City. The Project utilizes 3.325 tmcft of the available water and the reservoir storage capacity is about 3 tmcft. The Cost of the project is Rs. 1,820 crores. The Ayacut of 15,378 acres (62 km2) has been stabilised in Gantyada, S.Kota and Jami Mandals of Vizianagaram District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kollam Port</span> Port in India

Kollam Port is one of the historic ports situated 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) away from Downtown Kollam It is the second largest port in Kerala by volume of cargo handled and facilities. Located on the south-west coast of India, under the name of Quilon Port it became one of the country's most important trade hubs from the ninth to the seventeenth centuries. Kollam was one of the five Indian ports visited by Ibn Battuta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thoppilkadavu</span> Neighbourhood in Kollam, Kerala, India

Thoppilkadavu or Thoppilkkadavu is one of the neighbourhoods of the city of Kollam, located on the shores of Ashtamudi Lake in Kerala, India. It is an integral part of Kollam city. Presence of Ashtamudi Lake is increasing the importance of Thoppilkadavu as one of the tourism hotspots in the city. Thoppilkadavu is the western endpoint of Asramam Link Road in the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kanjirapuzha Dam</span> Dam in Kerala, India

The Kanjirapuzha Dam, a masonry earth dam built for providing irrigation to a Cultural Command Area (CCA) of 9,713 hectares, is located in the Palakkad district in the Indian state of Kerala. The reservoir, which has three islands within it, also has an established commercial fisheries development programme operated by the Fisheries Department.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ambanad Hills</span> Hill Station in Kerala, India

Ambanad Hills or Ambanad is a hill station in Punalur Taluk in the eastern part of Kollam district in Kerala, India. This is one among the few tea and orange plantation areas in Kollam district. Ambanad Hills is in Aryankavu panchayath, about 12 km away from Kazhuthurutty.

The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) is a multi-purpose irrigation project on the Godavari River in Kaleshwaram, Bhupalpally, Telangana, India. Currently the world's largest multi-stage lift irrigation project, its farthest upstream influence is at the confluence of the Pranahita and Godavari rivers. The Pranahita River is itself a confluence of various smaller tributaries including the Wardha, Painganga, and Wainganga rivers which combine to form the seventh-largest drainage basin on the subcontinent, with an estimated annual discharge of more than 6,427,900 acre-feet (7,930 cubic hectometres) or 280 TMC. It remains untapped as its course is principally through dense forests and other ecologically sensitive zones such as wildlife sanctuaries.

Waterways have always been an important mode of transport in Kerala. The total length of navigable route in Kerala was 1,900 kilometres and the navigable rivers constitute about 54 per cent of the waterways. The 41 West-flowing rivers together with the backwaters are an integrated part of the inland navigation system in Kerala. In Kerala water transportation through these channels are mainly small distant passenger services, informal country boats, freight transportation to PSU's such as Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore, Kochi etc.

References

  1. ayacut: The area served by an irrigation project such as a canal, dam or a tank.
  2. "Kerala Irrigation Department" . Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  3. "www.kollam.nic.in" . Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  4. "Thenmala - India's first planned Eco-Tourism, Kollam - Kerala Tourism" . Retrieved 20 September 2014.
  5. tripuntold - "Thenmala Dam", Retrieved on 09 July 2020.