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Graduate Level intermediate Kerala Dams Irrigation Hydel Power Mullaperiyar Water Disputes
Kerala Dams, Irrigation Projects, and Hydel Power Stations
Comprehensive study notes on Kerala's major dams, irrigation schemes, hydroelectric power stations, and inter-state water disputes for PSC Graduate Level exams.
Relevant for: Graduate Level Prelims, Secretariat Assistant, University Assistant, LDC
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— Comprehensive study notes on Kerala's major dams, irrigation schemes, hydroelectric power stations, and inter-state water disputes for PSC Graduate Level exams.
#Kerala Dams
#Irrigation
#Hydel Power
#Mullaperiyar
#Water Disputes
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Kerala’s water resources, dams, and hydroelectric projects are heavily tested in PSC exams. This note focuses on dam specifications, irrigation projects, hydel power generation, and water disputes — complementing the rivers overview.
Major Dams of Kerala
| Dam | River | District | Year | Height (m) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idukki Arch Dam | Periyar | Idukki | 1975 | 168.91 | Concrete arch (Asia’s first) |
| Cheruthoni Dam | Cheruthoni | Idukki | 1975 | 138.38 | Concrete gravity |
| Kulamavu Dam | Kulamavu | Idukki | 1975 | 100 | Masonry gravity |
| Mullaperiyar Dam | Periyar | Idukki | 1895 | 53.66 | Concrete gravity (lime-surkhi) |
| Idamalayar Dam | Idamalayar | Ernakulam | 1985 | 101 | Concrete gravity |
| Banasura Sagar Dam | Karamanathodu | Wayanad | 1979 | 38 | Earth dam (India’s largest) |
| Malampuzha Dam | Malampuzha River | Palakkad | 1955 | 42 | Concrete gravity |
| Peechi Dam | Manali River | Thrissur | 1957 | 33.5 | Concrete gravity |
| Neyyar Dam | Neyyar | Thiruvananthapuram | 1958 | 56 | Concrete gravity |
| Parambikulam Dam | Parambikulam | Palakkad | 1967 | 72 | Concrete gravity |
| Mattupetty Dam | Mattupetty | Idukki | 1940 | 37 | Concrete gravity |
| Sholayar Dam | Sholayar | Thrissur | 1966 | 85 | Concrete gravity |
| Kakki Dam | Kakki River | Pathanamthitta | 1966 | 95 | Concrete gravity |
| Ponmudi Dam | Muthirapuzha | Idukki | 1963 | 80 | Masonry gravity |
Dam Superlatives
| Category | Dam | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Highest dam in Kerala | Idukki Arch Dam | 168.91 m |
| Largest earth dam in India | Banasura Sagar | Wayanad |
| Oldest dam in Kerala | Mullaperiyar | 1895 (British era) |
| First arch dam in Asia | Idukki | Commissioned 1975 |
| Largest reservoir (capacity) | Idukki | 1,996 Mm3 |
| Dam with crocodile farm | Neyyar | Crocodile rehabilitation centre |
| Dam with rock garden | Malampuzha | Famous gardens and ropeway |
Hydroelectric Power Stations
Kerala generates approximately 70% of its electricity from hydroelectric sources. KSEB (Kerala State Electricity Board) manages most projects.
| Power Station | River/Dam | District | Capacity (MW) | Commissioned |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idukki (Moolamattom) | Periyar/Idukki | Idukki | 780 | 1976 |
| Sabarigiri | Pamba | Pathanamthitta | 340 | 1966 |
| Idamalayar | Idamalayar | Ernakulam | 75 | 1987 |
| Sholayar | Sholayar | Thrissur | 54 | 1966 |
| Pallivasal | Muthirapuzha | Idukki | 37.5 | 1940 |
| Neriamangalam | Periyar | Ernakulam | 45 | 1961 |
| Panniar | Panniar | Idukki | 30 | 1963 |
| Kuttiady | Kuttiady | Kozhikode | 75 | 1972 |
| Lower Periyar | Periyar | Ernakulam | 180 | 1997 |
| Kakkad | Kakki | Pathanamthitta | 50 | 1985 |
Hydel Power Firsts
| First | Detail |
|---|---|
| First hydel station in Kerala | Pallivasal (1940) |
| First hydel station in India (private) | Sidrapong, Darjeeling (1897) |
| Largest hydel project in Kerala | Idukki (780 MW) |
| Underground power house | Moolamattom (Idukki project) |
Major Irrigation Projects
| Project | District(s) | Area Irrigated | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malampuzha Project | Palakkad | 29,543 ha | First major irrigation project in Kerala |
| Peechi Project | Thrissur | 19,830 ha | Irrigation + drinking water for Thrissur city |
| Chalakudy Diversion | Thrissur | 8,400 ha | Peringalkuthu dam based |
| Kuttiyadi Project | Kozhikode, Kannur | 8,094 ha | Multipurpose (irrigation + power) |
| Periyar Valley | Ernakulam | 24,280 ha | Uses Mullaperiyar water |
| Pamba Irrigation | Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha | 10,522 ha | Pumping scheme from Pamba |
| Karapuzha Project | Wayanad | 5,700 ha | Earth dam on Karapuzha river |
| Chimoni Project | Thrissur | 6,070 ha | Dam on Chimoni river |
| Muvattupuzha Valley | Ernakulam, Idukki | 19,000 ha | Canal irrigation |
| Pazhassi Project | Kannur | 6,675 ha | Valapattanam river based |
Inter-State Water Disputes
Mullaperiyar Dam Dispute (Kerala vs Tamil Nadu)
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Year of lease agreement | 1886 (revised lease deed 1970) |
| Lease period | 999 years |
| Built by | John Pennycuick (British engineer) for Madras Presidency |
| Purpose | Divert Periyar water eastward to Vaigai basin (Tamil Nadu) |
| Current dispute | Dam safety — Kerala wants new dam; TN wants water level at 142 ft |
| Supreme Court verdict (2014) | Water level can be raised to 142 ft; dam structurally safe |
| Kerala’s concern | Dam is 130+ years old; seismic zone; 3.5 million people downstream |
Parambikulam-Aliyar Project (PAP)
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| States involved | Kerala and Tamil Nadu |
| Agreement year | 1970 |
| Rivers | Parambikulam, Aliyar, Sholayar, and others |
| Kerala’s share | Power generation |
| Tamil Nadu’s share | Irrigation water |
| Review period | Every 30 years (due 2000, still under negotiation) |
Kabani/Kabini River Dispute
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| States involved | Kerala and Karnataka |
| Issue | Karnataka built Kabini dam; Kerala gets reduced flow |
| Tribunal | Not yet constituted; bilateral talks |
Irrigation Statistics
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Total irrigated area in Kerala | ~18% of net sown area |
| Net sown area | ~21 lakh hectares |
| Major source of irrigation | Canals (in plains), wells (midland) |
| Number of dams managed by KSEB | 33+ |
| Total installed hydel capacity | ~2,100 MW |
PSC Repeated Questions
| Question Pattern | Answer |
|---|---|
| Highest dam in Kerala | Idukki (168.91 m) |
| Asia’s first arch dam | Idukki |
| Largest earth dam in India | Banasura Sagar |
| First hydel station in Kerala | Pallivasal (1940) |
| Dam built by Pennycuick | Mullaperiyar |
| Mullaperiyar is on which river | Periyar |
| Malampuzha dam is in which district | Palakkad |
| Garden attached to which dam | Malampuzha |
| Banasura Sagar is in which district | Wayanad |
| Idukki project power house location | Moolamattom (underground) |
| Mullaperiyar lease period | 999 years |
| Periyar water diverted to which river (TN) | Vaigai |
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