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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2015}}
{{Infobox dam
| name = Idamalayar Dam
| name_official = Idamalayar Dam
| image = Idamalayar_Dam.jpg
| image_size =
| image_caption = Idamalayar Dam
| image_alt =
| location_map = India#India Kerala
| location_map_size =
| location_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|10|12|53.0|N|76|52|37.4|E|region:IN_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}10°12'53.0"N 76°52'37.4"E
| country =[[India]]
| location =[[Ernakulam District]], [[Kerala]]
| status =
| construction_began =1970
| opening =1985
| demolished =
| cost = Rs. 539.50 crores (US$1.199 billion)
| owner = [[Kerala State Electricity Board]]
| dam_type = [[Gravity dam]]
| dam_height ={{Convert|102.80|m}}
| dam_length = {{Convert|373|m}}
| dam_width_crest =
| dam_width_base =
| dam_volume =
| dam_crosses = [[Edamalayar]]/[[Periyar river]]
| spillway_count =
| spillway_type =
| spillway_capacity =
| res_name = Idamalayar Reservoir
| res_capacity_total = {{convert|1.0898|km3}}
| res_catchment = {{Convert|381|km2|abbr=on}}
| res_surface = {{Convert|28.3|km2|abbr=on}}
| res_max_depth =
| res_tidal_range =
| plant_name =
| plant_coordinates =
| plant_operator = Kerala State Electricity Board
| plant_commission =
| plant_decommission =
| plant_type =
| plant_hydraulic_head =
| plant_turbines = 2 x 37.5 MW
| plant_capacity = 75 MW
| plant_annual_gen = 380 [[Kilowatt hour#Watt hour multiples and billing units|GW·h]]
| website =
| extra =
}}

'''Idamalayar Dam''' is a multipurpose concrete [[gravity dam]] located
between [[Bhoothathankettu]] and [[Malakkappara]] in [[Ernakulam district]] of [[Kerala]] on the [[Idamalayar]], a tributary of the [[Periyar River]] in [[Kerala]], [[South India]]. Completed in 1985, with a length of {{Convert|373|m}}, the dam created a multipurpose [[reservoir]] covering {{Convert|28.3|km2|abbr=on}} in the scenic hills of the [[Anamalai]]s.<ref name=facts>{{cite web|url=http://expert-eyes.org/dams.html|title= Fact File on Major Dams owned by Kerala State Electricity Board|access-date= 30 January 2011|publisher=Expert Eyes. Org}}</ref><ref name=Plan>{{cite web|url=http://www.keralaplanningboard.org/html/OMAMIPK/idamalayar.html|title=Idamalayar|access-date=30 January 2011|publisher=Kerala Planning Board.org}}</ref>

The reservoir storage is utilized by a [[Hydroelectricity|hydroelectric power station]] which has an
[[Nameplate capacity|installed capacity]] of 75 [[Watt|MW]] with two units of 37.5 MW capacity, producing an annual energy output of 380 [[Kilowatt hour#Watt hour multiples and billing units|GW·h]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kseb.in/kseb/generation-kseb.html|title=Generation|access-date=30 January 2011|publisher=Kerala State Electricity Board}}</ref><ref name="JainAgarwal2007">{{cite book|author1=Sharad K. Jain|author2=Pushpendra K. Agarwal|author3=Vijay P. Singh|title=Hydrology and water resources of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZKs1gBhJSWIC&pg=PA759|year=2007|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-1-4020-5179-1|page=759|quote=The reservoir has a live storage capacity of 1018 million cubic metres at FRL 169 m}}</ref>

The large reservoir created by the Idamalayar Dam is operated by the [[Kerala State Electricity Board]] to augment its [[Peaking power plant|peak power generation]] requirements.<ref name="Power1995">{{cite book|author=Central Board of Irrigation and Power|title=Water and energy, 2001|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g1lQAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA610|access-date=1 February 2011|year=1995|publisher=Central Board of Irrigation & Power|pages=610, 614}}</ref> The dam will benefit the Idamalayar [[Irrigation]] Development Project by diverting water released from the tail race channel of the Idamalayar power station.<ref name=Planning>{{cite web|url=http://www.keralaplanningboard.org/html/annual_2010-11/ap_2010_ch_4.pdf|title=Irrigation and Flood Control|access-date=30 January 2011|publisher=Kerala Planning Board}}</ref>

==Geography==
The Idamalayar Dam is located on the Idamalayar River, a tributary of the Periyar River in Kerala. [[Edamalayar]] originates in the [[Anamala Hills]] in [[Ernakulam district]] itself at elevation of {{Convert|2520|m}}. The river is a perennial source draining a catchment area of {{Convert|381|km2|abbr=on}} with a topography of high relief. The catchment receives annual rainfall of {{Convert|6000|mm}}, 90% of which occurs during the [[monsoon]] months of June to September.<ref name="Power1995"/>

The dam is located {{Convert|81|km}} from Ernakulam in Ernakulam district and {{Convert|10|-|12|km}} from the [[Bhoothathankettu]] dam (literal meaning in [[Malayalam language]]: "monster dam") on the Periyar River, which takes its name from local myths attributing its construction to demons who built it with the intention of submerging [[Thrikkariyoor temple]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/12/29/stories/2001122903250300.htm |title=The magic of Bhoothathankettu |access-date=30 January 2011 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=29 December 2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030523024720/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/12/29/stories/2001122903250300.htm |archive-date=23 May 2003}}</ref>
[[File:IndamalayarReservoir View.JPG|right|thumb|Reservoir area where birds are spotted]]

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===Water resources===
Based on detailed hydrological analysis, with observed data supplemented by rainfall-runoff correlation and prediction of low flows during dry months, the mean annual runoff was estimated as about 1,207 million cubic meters (million cubic metres) and that at 95% availability as 730 million cubic metres. Therefore, the live storage in the reservoir was fixed at 1,032.3 million cubic metres. However, subsequent to the commissioning of the project in 1987, availability of the flows was reassessed. It was noted that flows reduced to 1,178 million cubic metres in dry season and reached 4,361 million cubic metres during the monsoon. The total annual flow was assessed as 5,539 million cubic metres. As irrigation requirements are not critical during monsoon season the assessment of dry weather flows is relevant for irrigation.<ref name="Power1995"/>

Further, Idamalayar storage is being supplemented from diversion of flows from the [[Peringalkuthu Dam|Peringalkuthu Reservoir]] during the monsoon season through the Vachumaram diversion canal constructed during 1997. The water stored in the reservoir is used for energy generation during the monsoon season by adopting a suitable reservoir operational schedule so that the water diverted from the diversion canal is not spilled out.<ref name=diversion>{{cite web|url=https://164.100.194.5:8081/ssdn1/getAgendaMettingMinutesSchedule.do%3Bjsessionid%3D301DF27BAA7D907BC2D5DC0D80DF712B?indCode=RIVApr+22%2C+2010 |title=Summary Record of discussions of the thirty-seventh(37th) meeting of Expert Appraisal Committee for River Valley and Hydroelectric Projects constituted under the provisions of EIA notification 2006, held on 22nd April, 2010 in New Delhi. |work=Diversion of Water To Idamalayar |access-date=30 January 2011 |publisher=Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India }}</ref>

==Structural details==
The dam built across the Idamalayar River is a gravity concrete structure with a total height of {{Convert|102.80|m}} above the deepest foundation level with a length of {{Convert|373|m}} at the crest level. The full reservoir level is elevation {{Convert|169|m}}<ref name="JainAgarwal2007"/> and the minimum draw down level (MDDL) is {{Convert|115|m}}. The dam has created a reservoir with a water spread of {{Convert|28.3|km2|abbr=on}}. The reservoir has a gross storage capacity of 1,089.0 million cubic metres of which the effective storage is 1,017.8 million cubic metres. The spillway has been designed to pass a design flood discharge of {{Convert|3012.8|m3/s|ft3/s}}.<ref name=facts/><ref name="JainAgarwal2007"/>

The storage in the reservoir created behind the high concrete gravity dam is utilized for power generation by diversion through a water conductor system comprising a {{Convert|1700|m}} long power tunnel, surge shaft and two lines of penstocks connected to the turbines installed in a surface power station for generation of 75 MW of power with two units of 37.5 MW capacity each.<ref name="India1999">{{cite book|author=Geological Survey of India|title=Records of the Geological Survey of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1NTaAAAAMAAJ|year=1999|publisher=The Survey}}</ref>

Instrumentation is provided in the Idamalayar Dam and the observations carried out are analysed regularly to monitor the safety of the structure. However, a rehabilitation project envisaging improving the safety and operational performance of selected structures such as dams, barrages and regulators, which covers 19 projects under the Irrigation Department and 12 projects of the Kerala State Electricity Board, has been approved under the [[World Bank]] funded "Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP)" to be implemented from January 2011. Idamalayar Dam is one of the projects included in this programme. However, the rehabilitation work on this dam is proposed to be taken up in the second stage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cwc.gov.in/main/downloads/Report%20on%20DS%20Procedures.pdf|title= Report on Dam Safety Procedures|access-date=1 February 2011|publisher=Central Water Commission}}</ref><ref name =rehab>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/29/stories/2010112956090100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204171038/http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/29/stories/2010112956090100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 December 2010|title=Dam rehabilitation work from January|access-date=1 February 2011|work=[[The Hindu]]|date= 29 November 2010}}</ref>

===Irrigation benefits===
[[File:Upstream view of Idamalayar Dam.JPG|right|thumb|Upstream view of the dam from the reservoir]]
Irrigation benefits from the water stored in the Idamalayar Reservoir are proposed by utilizing the tail-race water released from the Idamalayar Power house. For this purpose, the project titled "The Idamalayar Irrigation Project" is under implementation. Under this project, the tail race discharge from the Idamalayar powerhouse is picked up at the barrage constructed across the Periyar River at Bhoothathankettu and diverted through a canal system on the right bank of the barrage. The irrigation benefits envisaged covers an area of {{Convert|14394|ha}} of wet and dry agricultural lands, out of which the cultivable command area is {{Convert|13209|ha}}. The project is under implementation since 1981. The cost of the project was initially Rs 18.5 crores (about US$411.11 million), which as per latest reports of 2007 is stated to be Rs. 539.50 crores (US$1198.9 million). According to the Annual Plan 2010–2011 of the State Government, substantial work of the main canal, the low level canal and the link canal still needs to be completed to derive full planned benefits of irrigation.<ref name=planning>{{cite web|url=http://www.keralaplanningboard.org/html/OMAMIPK/idamalayar.html|title=Idamalayar|access-date=1 February 2011|publisher=Kerala Planning Board}}</ref><ref name=Board>{{cite web|url=http://www.keralaplanningboard.org/html/annual_2010-11/ap_2010_ch_4.pdf|title=Irrigation and Flood Control|work= Idamalayar Irrigation Project|page=2|access-date=2011-01-01|publisher=Kerala Planning Board}}</ref>

Apart from power and irrigation benefits, the project situated in scenic forest area also provides recreational benefits of boating in the reservoir, bird watching and trekking.<ref name=athitihi>{{cite web|url=http://athithy.com/index.php?module=destinations&action=destination&id=97&name=Idamalayar%20Dam%20-%20athithy%20cochin%20tourism.html|title=Idamalayar Dam|access-date=1 February 2011|publisher= athithy cochin tourism}}</ref>

==Construction delays==
The Idamalayar Dam project was started in 1970 and completed after 17 years. In an analysis carried out in 2001 on the reasons for the delay in completion of Hydropower Projects resulting in immense cost overruns in Kerala, it was noted that the Idamalayar project could be commissioned only in 1987 with a time overrun of 9 years and consequent cost overrun of 285% resulting in a capital cost of Rs 2.81 per kWh of generation. While technical reasons for the delays were fully documented, the delay highlighted, however, was attributed to the "irrational behaviour of the organized militant labour".<ref name=overrun/> A High Level Committee set up by the [[Government of Kerala]], which examined this issue, observed that the Idamalayar Dam project has been the "victim of recurring and long inertial periods of labour unrest".<ref name=overrun>{{cite web|url=http://www.cds.edu/download_files/wp320.pdf|title=Time And Cost Over-Runs of the Power Projects in Kerala|pages=7, 26, 27, 29|access-date=30 January 2011|publisher=cds.edu}}</ref>

There was also controversy over the contract awards.
The government appointed Justice [[K. Sukumaran (judge)|K. Sukumaran]] to inquire into allegations related to the Idamalayar and [[Kallada River|Kallada]] dam construction contracts.
Based on his report, Minister [[R. Balakrishna Pillai]] and others were prosecuted by a Special Court.<ref name=NoForesight>{{cite web
|url=http://www.iptindia.org/wp-content/pdf/report/No-foresight-No-Follow-up-An-enquiry-into-the-relief-and-rehabilitation-process-in-the-earthquake-affected-areas-of-Gujarat.pdf
|date=December 2001
|title=NO FORESIGHT… NO FOLLOWUP
|publisher=IPT
|author=Justice K. Sukumaran
|access-date=2012-04-23}}</ref>
The Kerala high court later acquitted them, but in February 2011 the [[Supreme Court of India]] sentenced R. Balakrishna Pillai and two others to a year in prison for abusing their positions when awarding the contracts.<ref>{{cite journal
|url=http://www.sify.com/news/apex-court-gives-one-year-jail-to-former-kerala-minister-news-national-lcklQgcfaad.html
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318125423/http://www.sify.com/news/apex-court-gives-one-year-jail-to-former-kerala-minister-news-national-lcklQgcfaad.html
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=18 March 2015
|journal=Sify News
|title=Apex court gives one-year jail to former Kerala minister
|date=10 February 2011
|access-date=2012-04-23}}</ref>

==Birds==
{{multiple image
| align = right
| image1 = Ocyceros griseus -India-6-4c.jpg
| width1 = 150
| alt1 =
| caption1 =
| image2 = Psittacula columboides (male) -Kerala -India-8-4c.jpg
| width2 = 150
| alt2 =
| caption2 =
| footer = Left: [[Malabar grey hornbill]] of the [[Western Ghats]]. Right: [[Malabar parakeet]]
}}
In the reservoir area of the Idamalayar Dam, several species of birds have been reported. The birds found are: [[heart-spotted woodpecker]], [[common flameback]], [[black rumped flameback]], [[greater flameback]], [[crimson-fronted barbet]], [[Malabar grey hornbill]], [[Malabar trogon]], [[dollarbird]], [[Oriental dwarf kingfisher]], [[stork-billed kingfisher]], [[common hawk cuckoo]], [[plum-headed parakeet]], [[Malabar parakeet]], [[white-rumped needletail]], [[brown-backed needletail]], [[jungle owlet]], [[green imperial pigeon]], [[emerald dove]], [[grey-fronted green pigeon]], [[river tern]], [[brahminy kite]], [[hornbill]], [[grey-headed fish eagle]], [[black eagle]], [[Oriental honey buzzard]], [[rufous-bellied hawk-eagle]], [[little heron]], [[Asian openbill]], [[fairy bluebird]], [[small minivet]], [[bar-winged flycatcher-shrike]], [[black-naped monarch]], [[Asian paradise flycatcher]], [[Malabar whistling thrush]], [[rusty-tailed flycatcher]], [[white-bellied blue-flycatcher]], [[Indian blue robin]], [[chestnut-tailed starling]], [[velvet-fronted nuthatch]], [[great tit]], [[dusky crag martin]], [[red-rumped swallow]], [[Asian koel]], [[yellow-browed bulbul]], [[Wayanad laughingthrush]], [[dark-fronted babbler]], [[rufous babbler]], [[Nilgiri pipit]], [[yellow-billed babbler]], [[brown-cheeked fulvetta]], [[plain flowerpecker]], [[crimson-backed sunbird]], and [[little spiderhunter]].<ref name=birds>{{cite web|url=http://www.surfbirds.com/trip_report.php?id=1489.|title= South India – The Western Ghats – A week-long trip in late March 2007 with The Bird ID Company|access-date=31 January 2011|publisher=Sunbirds.com}}</ref> white bellied wood pecker

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Idamalayar Dam}}

{{Power Plants of Kerala}}
{{Tourism in Kerala}}
{{Dams in Kerala}}

[[Category:Dams in Kerala]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Ernakulam district]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1985]]
[[Category:1985 establishments in Kerala]]

Idamalayar Dam - Revision history

>Wikijenitor at 03:45, 28 June 2021