Brahmashri Pradeep Bhanot at 13:08, 7 July 2023

2023-07-07T13:08:58Z

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{{Short description|Diversion dam in Kerala, India}}
{{Infobox dam
| location_map = India Kerala#India
| name = Allunkal Dam
| country = [[India]]
| location = [[Pathanamthitta district|Pathanamthitta]], [[Kerala]]
| purpose = P
| status = O
| owner = Energy Development Company Limited
| dam_type = B
| dam_crosses = [[Kakkattar|Kakkad River]]
| dam_length = {{cvt|121|m}}
| dam_height_foundation = {{cvt|12|m}}
| spillway_capacity = {{cvt|1120|m3/s}}
| plant_turbines = 2 × 3.5 [[Watt|MW]]
| plant_capacity = 7
| coordinates = {{coord|9|20|15|N|76|56|50|E|region:IN|display=inline}}
| plant_coordinates = {{coord|9|20|15|N|76|56|49|E|region:IN|display=inline}}
| plant_operator = EDCL Power Projects Limited
| plant_name = Allunkal Power House
| plant_type = R
| plant_commission = {{start date and age|2009|p=y}}
| plant_annual_gen = 32 MU
| website = [https://www.edclgroup.com/business-areas/power-generation/ullunkal-hep Ullunkal Hydroelectric Project]
| operator = EDCL Power Projects Limited
| name_official = Ullunkal Dam
}}The '''Allunkal Dam''' ({{Lang-ml|അള്ളുങ്കൽ അണക്കെട്ട്}}) is a concrete [[Weir|diversion weir]] built across the [[Kakkattar|Kakkad River]] in [[Chittar, Kerala|Chittar]] [[Panchayati raj|panchayat]] of [[Ranni, Kerala|Ranni taluk]] in [[Pathanamthitta district]] of the Indian state of [[Kerala]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=2 X 3.5 MW Ullunkal Hydro Power Project in Kerala, India |url=https://cdm.unfccc.int/Projects/DB/SGS-UKL1251372072.5/view |access-date={{date|06-07-2023}} |website=cdm.unfccc.int |language=en |format=PDF}}</ref> The dam is {{Convert|121|m}} long and {{Convert|12|m}} tall above the bed.<ref name=":1" /> It is part of the Ullunkal Hydroelectric Project, a small-scale private [[Hydroelectric power in India|hydroelectric]] project operated by EDCL Power Projects Limited, a subsidiary of Energy Development Company Limited (EDCL).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Ullunkal HEP « EDCL Group |url=https://www.edclgroup.com/business-areas/power-generation/ullunkal-hep/ |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=www.edclgroup.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=7 MW Ullunkal Hydro Electric Project |url=https://projectreporter.co.in/prcontentdetail.aspx?id=6054 |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=projectreporter.co.in}}</ref>

== Access ==
The dam is located about {{Cvt|3.2|km}} from the nearest town of Chittar, {{Cvt|4.7|km}} from [[Seethathodu]] and {{Cvt|33|km}} from the district headquarters in [[Pathanamthitta]]. [[Chengannur railway station|Chengannur]] is the nearest railway station, about {{Cvt|52|km}} away.

== Project history ==
In 1994, the project was allotted to Travancore Electro Chemical Industries Limited (TECIL), and later, it was taken over by Energy Development Company Limited (EDCL).<ref name=":0" /> The project was commissioned in {{Date|Nov 2008}} by then-Electricity Minister [[A. K. Balan|A.K. Balan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=വെളിച്ചം പകരുമീ കക്കാട്ടാർ |url=https://www.deshabhimani.com/news/kerala/news-pathanamthittakerala-02-07-2021/953898 |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=Deshabhimani |language=ml}}</ref> The contract with the government is for 30 years. The electricity generated is paid by the company to [[Kerala State Electricity Board]] (KSEB). In addition to the Ullunkal project, EDCL has the Karikkayam Hydroelectric Project in the Kakkad River downstream of the Allunkal dam, with an [[Nameplate capacity|installed capacity]] of 15 MW (3 × 5 MW). It is operated by Ayyappa Hydro Power Limited, which is a subsidiary of EDCL.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ayyappa Hydro Power commissions Karikkayam HEP |url=https://www.projectstoday.com/News/Ayyappa-Hydro-Power-commissions-Karikkayam-HEP |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=www.projectstoday.com}}</ref> The Ullunkal project site was heavily damaged during the [[2018 Kerala floods]], resulting in a loss of around ₹ 25 crore.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=അള്ളുങ്കൽ ജലവൈദ്യുതി പദ്ധതി തകർന്നു; 25 കോടി നഷ്ടം |url=https://www.madhyamam.com/kerala/allungal-hydro-electric-project-kerala-news/552691 |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=www.madhyamam.com |language=ml}}</ref>

== Power generation ==
The power station is located near the dam on the bank of the Kakkad River. It has a total installed capacity of 7 MW with two 3.5 MW S-type [[Kaplan turbine|Kaplan turbines]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kerala State Electricity Board Limited - Generation |url=https://www.kseb.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=45&Itemid=553&la&lang=en |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=www.kseb.in}}</ref> The annual production of electricity at the plant is about 32 million units (MU).<ref name=":0" /> The electricity generated at the Allunkal power house is distributed to KSEB's [[Kakkad Hydro Electric Project|Kakkad power station]] switch yard at Seethathodu through a dedicated {{Cvt|4|km}} long double-circuit transmission line.<ref name=":1" /> After the generation of electricity in the power house, water is released directly into the Kakkad River through a tailrace channel, and the [[tailwater]] is collected at the power house in Karikkayam for further power generation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ഒരു എഞ്ചിനീയറുടെ സർവീസുൽസവം 118. പാർട്ട്‌ 3. {{!}} Malayali Manasu |url=https://malayalimanasu.com/special/service-story-of-an-engineer-by-johny-thekkethala-6/ |access-date=2023-07-07 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[List of dams and reservoirs in Kerala]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Dams in Pathanamthitta district]]

Allunkal Dam - Revision history

Brahmashri Pradeep Bhanot at 13:08, 7 July 2023