Kundala Dam
CountryIndia
LocationIdukki, Kerala
PurposeP
StatusO
Opening1947 (age 79)
OwnerKerala State Electricity Board
Dam crossesMuthirapuzha River
Coordinates10°8′37″N 77°11′15″E
Name officialSetuparvatipuram Dam
Dam length259.38 m (851.0 ft)
Dam height foundation36.94 m (121.2 ft)
Res elevation1,758.69 m (5,770.0 ft)
Res max depth1,759.3 m (5,772 ft)
Dam elevation crest1,756.86 m (5,764.0 ft)
Res capacity total77,900,000 m3 (2,750,000,000 cu ft)
Spillway count5
Plant capacity37.50
Plant operatorKerala State Electricity Board
WebsiteOfficial website
Plant namePallivasal Power Station
Plant annual gen284 MU
Plant turbines3 × 5 MW & 3 × 7.5 MW (Pelton-type)
Plant commissionMarch 19, 1940 (age 86)
Res nameKundala Reservoir
Spillway capacity183.95 m3/s (6,496 cu ft/s)
Res surface0.0047 km2 (0.0018 sq mi)
Res capacity active76,500,000 m3 (2,700,000,000 cu ft)
Plant coordinates10°01′53″N 77°03′17″E

Kundala Dam, also known as Setuparvatipuram Dam, is a masonry gravity dam built on Muthirapuzha River in Mattupetty panchayat of Idukki district in Kerala, India.[1] It is part of the Pallivasal Hydroelectric Project, the first hydroelectric project in Kerala.[2] The dam is considered to be Asia's first arch dam.[3] It has a height of 46.93 m (154.0 ft) and length of 259.38 m (851.0 ft).[2] Release from dam is to river Palar and taluks through which release flow are Udumbanchola, Devikulam, Kothamangalam, Muvattupuzha, Kunnathunadu, Aluva, Kodungalloor and Paravur.[1]

Spillway

Spillways are Ogee-type and are 5 in numbers. Vertical lift, each of size 5.18 x 2.74 m is fitted on the spillways.[1]

Location

The location of the dam is at a distance of 20 km (12 mi) from Munnar.[4] It is a major tourist destination near Munnar. Kundala dam is located on the way to Top Station. Tourist places like Pampadumchola National Park, Kurinjimalai Sanctuary and Meesappulimalai are close to this dam.

Reservoir

Full Reservoir Level (FRL) is 1,758.7 m (5,770 ft) and Minimum Drawdown level (MDDL) is 1,735.84 m (5,695.0 ft).[1] Effective Storage at FRL is 77,870,000 m3 (2,750,000,000 cu ft) and Generation potential at FRL is 22.74 MU. The water stored in the Kundala reservoir is released through the Palar River to Mattupetty dam located downstream. The water stored in the Mattupetty reservoir is released to downstream via a canal to a power house. Kundala reservoir has become a tourist spot.[5]

Hydroelectric project

Pallivasal Hydroelectric Project, which is the first hydroelectric project in Kerala, uses the water from Kundala dam.[6] The project was completed in two stages. In the first stage, just a run-of-the-river scheme was initially introduced with three units having capacity of 4.5 MW each. The first unit of the Pallivasal power station was commissioned on Mar 19, 1940. The second unit on Feb 02, 1941 and the third unit on 19 Feb, 1942. Kundala and Mattupetty dams together contributed about 65,000,000 m3 (2,300,000,000 cu ft) of storage.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Kundala Dam – KSEB Limited Dam Safety Organisation". Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  2. ^ "Kerala State Electricity Board Limited - Kerala State Electricity Board Limited". www.kseb.in. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  3. ^ "Kundala Dam - Trout Lagoon Boating Centre Kundala - Munnar". www.keralahydeltourism.com. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  4. ^ "Kundala Dam Lake Munnar (Entry Fee, Timings, Best time to visit, Images & Location) - Munnar Tourism 2023". munnartourism.co.in. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  5. ^ "Kundala Dam (Trout Lagoon Boating Centre Kundala) - Munnar"
  6. ^ Jeswin. "Pallivasal PowerPlant : Industrial Visit". Albertian Institute of Science and Technology (AISAT). Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  7. ^ "Kerala State Electricity Board Limited - Mudirappuzha Basin Hydro Projects". www.kseb.in. Retrieved 2021-07-07.[dead link]