Kulamavu Dam

Dam in Idukki, Kerala

9°48′10.59″N 76°53′46″E / 9.8029417°N 76.89611°E / 9.8029417; 76.89611PurposeHydroelectricStatusOperationalConstruction began30 April 1969Opening dateFebruary 1977Owner(s)Kerala State Electricity BoardDam and spillwaysType of damGravity, masonryImpoundsPeriyar RiverHeight (foundation)100 m (328 ft)Length385 m (1,263 ft)Width (crest)220 ft (67 m)Dam volume620,300 m³ (811,300 cu yd)Spillway typeUGSpillway capacity1,600 m³/s (57,000 cu ft/s)ReservoirCatchment area38 km²Normal elevation2,500 ft (760 m)Turbines6 x 130 MW Pelton-typeInstalled capacity780 MW

Kulamavu Dam is a gravity/masonry dam on Kilivillithode, which is a tributary of the Periyar river in Arakkulam village, Idukki district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is one of three dams associated with the Idukki hydroelectric power project in the Indian state of Kerala.^[1] This dam is located towards the western side of the Idukki Arch Dam.^[2] This is a gravity dam with the top portion in concrete and the bottom in masonry.^[3]

The dam is situated on the Thodupuzha - Puliyanmala state highway (SH-33), about 23 km (14 mi) from Idukki arch dam, 22 km (14 mi) from Cheruthoni dam and 38 km (24 mi) from Thodupuzha. Preliminary work on the dam was initiated under the leadership of Superintending Engineer, E.U. Philipose. The dam was completed in the year 1977 and is operated and maintained by Kerala State Electricity Board.

The dams of Idukki, Cheruthoni and Kulamavu extend to an area of 33 km². The construction of these three dams formed a 60 km² artificial lake. The water stored in it is used for the production of electricity at the power house in Moolamattom.^[4]^[5] Taluks through which release flow are Thodupuzha, Udupanchola, Devikulam, Kothamangalam, Muvattupuzha, Kunnathunadu, Aluva, Kodungalloor and Paravur.

Specifications

Type of Dam :Masonry & Concrete Gravity
Classification : VH (Very High Dam )
Panchayath : Arakkulam
Village : idukki
District : Idukki
River Basin : Periyar
River : Kilivallithodu
Release from Dam to river : Kilivallithodu
Length of Dam (m) : 385
Max Height above Foundation (m) :100
Total Volume Content of Dam (TCM) :453.13

Gross storage capacity: 1.996 cubic Kms (70.50 tmc ft) Active storage capacity: 1.46 cubic kms (51.56 tmc ft)

Design Flood (cumec) :8014 ^[6]
Maximum Water Level (MWL) : EL 2408.50 ft. ( 734.30 m)
Full Reservoir Level ( FRL) : EL 2403.00 ft. ( 732.62 m)
Storage at FRL : 1996.30Mm3
Spillway : No spillway

Dams in Periyar

Resesrvoir

Hydroelectric project

This Underground Power Station is supposedly a technological achievement. There are six generating units each of 130 MW capacity. There are seven 220KV feeders for transmitting the power to the load centers. The power generated in the powerhouse is taken to the switchyard through 220 KV oil filled cables. After power generation, water from the power station is released to the Thodupuzha River through an underground tunnel which is 1220 meters in length. This tail race water is in turn used for producing electricity in the Malankara Small Hydro Electric Station and also for irrigation by means of Irrigation dam at Malankara.^[7]

References

^ "Dam". Archived from the original on 19 August 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
^ "ITTCOS | Idukki Taluk Tourism Development Co-operative Society Ltd. No I-736". ittcosidukki.com. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
^ "Kerala State Electricity Board Limited - Periyar Basin Hydro Projects". www.kseb.in. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
^ കേരളത്തിന്റെ ഊർജ ക്ഷേത്രത്തിന് ദേശീയ റെക്കോഡ്; അഭിമാന പദ്ധതി | Moolamattom power house, retrieved 23 July 2021
^ "Kerala: Moolamattam power plant generates 10,000 crore units | Kochi News - Times of India". The Times of India. TNN. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
^ "Kulamavu(Eb) Dam D03334 -". Archived from the original on 19 April 2018. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
^ "Kerala State Electricity Board Limited - Periyar Basin Hydro Projects". www.kseb.in. Retrieved 23 July 2021.