Janni at 14:09, 10 March 2026

2026-03-10T14:09:36Z

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{{Short description|Dam in Kerala, India}}
{{Infobox dam
| name = Kakki Dam
| image_caption = View of Kakki dam and reservoir
| dam_crosses = Kakki river
| res_name = Kakki Reservoir
| location = [[Pathanamthitta district|Pathanamthitta]], [[Kerala]]
| operator = [[Kerala State Electricity Board]]
| dam_length = {{cvt|336.00|m}}
| dam_width_base =
| construction_began = {{start date and age|1962|p=y}}
| opening = {{Start date and age|1967|08|28|paren=yes|df=yes}}
| res_capacity_total = {{cvt|454200000|m3}}
| res_catchment = {{cvt|225.33|km2}} '''Kakki Dam''': {{cvt|217.56|km2}} '''Upper Moozhiyar''': {{cvt|7.77|km2}}
| res_surface = {{cvt|17.51|km2}}
| res_elevation = {{cvt|981.46|m}}
| plant_turbines = 2 x 60 [[Watt|MW]] & 4 x 55 MW ([[Pelton-type]])
| plant_capacity = 340
| plant_annual_gen = 1338 MU
| location_map = India Kerala#India
| coordinates = {{coord|9|19|30|N|77|08|32|E|region:IN-KL_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| website = [https://dams.kseb.in Official website]
| country = [[India]]
| purpose = P
| status = O
| plant_name = Sabarigiri Power Station
| plant_operator = Kerala State Electricity Board
| plant_coordinates = {{coord|9|18|36|N|77|04|22|E|region:IN|display=inline}}
| plant_commission = {{Start date and age|1967|p=y}}
| spillway_count = No spillway
| dam_height_foundation = {{cvt|116.12|m}}
| res_max_depth = {{cvt|982.16|m}}
| dam_type = G
| res_capacity_inactive = {{cvt|76300000|m3}}
| dam_width_crest = {{cvt|3.66|m}}
| dam_elevation_crest = {{cvt|984.50|m}}
| extra = Spillway provided at Anathode Flanking Dam
}}
'''Kakki Dam''' is a [[Gravity dam|concrete gravity dam]] built on the Kakki river, a tributary of the [[Pamba River|Pampa river]] in the [[Ranni Forest Division|Ranni forest]] in the [[Seethathodu]] [[Panchayati raj|panchayat]] of [[Pathanamthitta district]] in [[Kerala]], India. The dam is located in a forested area adjacent to the [[Periyar National Park]]. It was built in 1966<ref>{{Cite web|title=DRIP Dams|url=https://damsafety.in/ecm-includes/files/DRIP_DAM_SEARCH.PHP?dam_id=KL29VH0019|access-date=2021-07-22|website=damsafety.in}}</ref> as part of the [[Sabarigiri Hydro Electric Project]]. The water sources of the dam are from the [[Pamba Dam]] and the Kakki river. The Sabarigiri project envisaged creation of two reservoirs which are Pamba and Kakki reservoirs and connecting these together to form a single source of water. The water from Pamba reservoir is connected to the [[Kakki Reservoir|Kakki reservoir]] through an underground tunnel of length 3.21 km. The intake of the Sabarigiri Powerhouse is from Kakki reservoir.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kerala State Electricity Board Limited - Pamba Basin HydroProjects|url=https://www.kseb.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=70&Itemid=717&lang=en|access-date=2021-07-07|website=www.kseb.in|archive-date=2021-07-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711013338/https://www.kseb.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=70&Itemid=717&lang=en|url-status=dead}}</ref> The dam is {{Convert|336|m}} long and {{Convert|116|m}} high and is located at an elevation of {{Convert|981.45|m}} above sea level. The release flows through [[Ranni, Kerala|Ranni]], [[Konni, Kerala|Konni]], [[Kozhencherry]], [[Thiruvalla taluk|Thiruvalla]], [[Chengannur]], [[Kuttanad]]u, [[Mavelikkara|Mavelikara]] and [[Karthikappally]] taluks <ref>{{Cite web|title=Kakki Dam – KSEB Limited Dam Safety Organisation|url=https://dams.kseb.in/?p=118|access-date=2021-07-27|language=en-US}}{{CC-notice|cc=bysa2.5}}</ref> before emptying into the [[Vembanad|Vembanad lake]].

==Specifications==
* Bed level : +874.78 m
* F. R. L. : +981.46 m
* M. W. L. : +982.16 m
* Top of dam, road level : +984.50 m
* Height of dam above river bed : 109.73 m
* Effective storage above elevation 908.30 m : 446.54 Mm3
* Catchment area at Kakki Dam site : 217.47 km2
* Diversion catchment : 7.77 km2
* Height from deepest foundation : {{Convert|116.12|m}}
* Length of dam at top {{Convert|336.19|m}}
* No. of outlets : 2 each controlled by 1.37 m diameter hollow jet valves
* Size and type of emergency gates for each outlet : 2.9 m x 1.52 m gates hydraulically operated from dam top using 10 T service hoist
* El. of sill of outlets : +896.11 m
* Max. computed combined discharge through two outlets under F. R. L. condition : 84.95 m 3 /s
* Width of roadway over top of dam : 3.66 m
* Size of elevator shaft : 2.16 m x 2.54 m
* No. of adits to foundation gallery : 3 nos. two on the right bank and one on the left bank
* No. of drift tunnels driven on the banks : 4 nos. two on each ban

==Flanking dam==
[[File:Anathode dam.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Anathode Dam]]{{Main|Anathode Dam}}
A flanking dam for the Kakki reservoir is located at Anathode, about 2.5 miles northeast of Kakki dam, where a low saddle existed. The flanking dam is built to increase the capacity of the Kakki reservoir and to host the spill way. The dam has a height of 170 feet above the foundation and a length of 1500 feet including the spill way.<ref>. The Accelerated Pr ramne of Execution of Pamba Kakki Scheme 1961, KSEB, Trivandrurn.</ref> Spillways are 4 Numbers with radial gates of size 12.8 x 6.1 meters

==History==
The Project plan was to create a reservoir by impounding Pampa River and another Reservoir by impounding Kakki River and connecting both the reservoirs by means of a tunnel to form a connected reservoir. Preliminary works and investigation was done in 1958 and the dam construction was started in 1960.<ref>{{Citation|title=Project Sabarigiri|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RltBvVqe49A|language=en|access-date=2021-07-25}}</ref> Initial surveillance and mapping was completed in 1961. The housing colonies for the staff were built after the project was conceived. The work of Pamba Dam started in 1962. The Anathode dam was constructed along with Pamba Dam. The concrete Kakki Dam was finished in 1966. The tunnel to connect the two reservoirs was built and was lined by concrete. The power house was built with American aid. In April 1966 two generators were commissioned. It was inaugurated on 28 August 1967 by [[V. V. Giri]] then deputy president of India.

===Construction history===
[[File:Kakki Dam and Bus - panoramio.jpg|thumb|250px|The dam is also used for transport]]
The whole work for the construction of Kakki dam was completely mechanised.
* Year of starting initial investigation: 1946
* Year of starting detailed investigation: 1960
* Year of starting detailed survey: 1961–62
* The original scheduled year of starting the work : 1961
* Year of starting the construction works : 1962 <ref>Technical Completion Report (1977), Sabarigiri HEP, KSEB, Trivandrum, Vol.I.</ref>
* Name of designing agency : [[Kerala State Electricity Board]] limited
* Name of contractor : M/s HCC Ltd., Bombay (Kakki), Sri. B M Edward, Cochin, Kerala (Anathodu)
* Date of completion of the work : 1966<ref name="kseb" />

===Change in the nature of the dam===
The original proposal was to construct an arch dam, but this was changed later to masonry straight dam. Tenders were invited in December 1961 and the contract was given to Hindustan Construction Company in [[Mumbai|Bombay]] in October 1962. The dam was scheduled to be completed by 1965 as per agreement but the works were completed only in 1966.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Liji Samuel|author2=Prasad AK|title=Hydro Electric Power Dams in Kerala and Environmental Consequences from Socio-Economic Perspectives|journal=International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews |date=September 2018|volume=5|issue=3|url=http://ijrar.com/upload_issue/ijrar_issue_2021.pdf}}</ref>

===Major infrastructural work===
[[File:Kakki dam.jpg|thumb|Kakki Dam and the reservoir]]
In 1954-56 a road was constructed from Vallakadavu to Kakki. It was modernised in 1961. In the same year a staff colony consisting of 250 houses was built at Anathodu. A contractors' colony consisting of 300 houses, was constructed by 1963. A provision store was opened at Anathode in 1962. The machineries of the contractors H.C.C. had to be transported from the a dam site in Uttar Pradesh where they had recently completed a dam construction.

===Excavation and fault zone===
The foundation excavation was started by HCC during 1961–62. Weak zones were found in actual excavation and were treated accordingly. The excavation work was completed by March 1964.

===Concreting of the dam===
In the original estimate the dam was to be made with rubble in cement, but later the dam was converted into completely cement.{{Clarify|reason= probably concrete?|date=November 2025}} The concreting works of the Kakki Dam was started on 16 January 1964. Due to the deeper foundation and the height of the dam being increased by 10 feet and the quantity of concrete increased to 256 lakhs cubic feet ({{Convert|25600000|cuft|m3}}).<ref>{{cite thesis|author=Baby Thomas|title=Time-Lag and cost overrun of infrastructural investments with special reference to power projects in Kerala|url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/handle/10603/1074|location=Cochin University of Science and Technology|degree=PhD|year=1994|hdl=10603/1074}}</ref> The height of the elevator also had to be increased in accordance with the new requirements.

===During floods===
During the monsoon seasons, discharging of water is needed, it is carried out by keeping Elevator no. 9 as a spilling block which required formation of a toe of the spilling blocks.

===Gates and valves===
The emergency gates and hollow jet valves were obtained from Pacific Cost Engineering Company in the US. The construction of the valve house was completed in 1965 and the installation of the emergency gate and hollow jet valves were completed by the end of September 1966.

===Spillways===
There are four spillways, which regulate flood discharge. The radial gates to separate hosting accessories were supplied by Pacific Coast Engineering Company, California. According to the agreement the contractor was in charge of the erection of the gates and it was to be done after the civil works, but due to some delay in the concreting of the hoist bridge, the installation work was carried out later with special arrangements.

===Interconnecting tunnels===
The Pamba and the Kakki reservoirs of the Sabarigiri hydroelectric project have been connected by an interconnecting tunnel which is 10,450 meters long and is lined with concrete. The face excavation was started in 1961 and took 3 months. The tunnelling was started in 1963 and was completed in 25 months.

==Reservoir==
{{Main|Kakki Reservoir}}
[[File:Kakki004.jpg|thumb|right|250px| Kakki reservoir and the dam]]
Kakki reservoir was created when Kakki and its flanking dam, Anathode dams were built. Full reservoir level (FRL) is 981.45 meters above sea level.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kakki Dam – KSEB Limited Dam Safety Organisation|url=https://dams.kseb.in/?p=118|access-date=2021-07-22|language=en-US}}</ref> The reservoir, which is also a tourist spot, is in the Ranni reserve forest close to the Western Ghats.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kakki - Official Website of DTPC, Pathanamthitta {{!}} Kerala Tourism|url=https://pathanamthittatourism.com/destination-single/8/kakki|access-date=2021-07-22|website=pathanamthittatourism.com}}</ref>
; Details of the reservoir.
* Water spread area : 17.6 Sq. km.
* Catchment area :225.51 Sq. km.
* Average rainfall: 4572 mm
* Full reservoir level (FRL):3220 Ft (Above MSL)
* Minimum Drawdown level (MDDL):3135 Ft (Above MSL) <ref>{{Cite web|title=Kerala State Load despatch Center|url=https://sldckerala.com/index.php?id=7|access-date=2021-07-22|website=sldckerala.com}}</ref>
* Effective storage at FRL:447.76 MCM
* Energy equivalent at FRL :722.2 MU
* Average head at power house :2499 ft <ref>{{Cite web|title=Kerala State Electricity Board Limited - Pamba Basin HydroProjects|url=https://www.kseb.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=70&Itemid=717&lang=en|access-date=2021-07-22|website=www.kseb.in|archive-date=2021-07-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711013338/https://www.kseb.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=70&Itemid=717&lang=en|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Hydroelectric project==
[[File:Sabarigiri Penstock.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Penstock pipes from the dam leading to Sabarigiri Hydro Electric Power station]]
Sabarigiri Power Station was commissioned during 1966 -67 with six generators having vertical shaft pelton turbine as the prime mover. After power generation, water from the power station is released to the Moozhiyar reservoir. There are 114 employees in the project who works in three shifts.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Sabarigiri project completes Fifty years|work=Manorama News|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCXA7R6JYKM}}</ref>

===The intake arrangement of the power tunnel===
This is located on the left bank of the reservoir upstream of the Kakki Dam. It consists of 237 inch long shaft. The flow of water is regulated by a vertical lift gate. The arrangement is built on a hoist platform. Trash rack arrangements are also provided. A set of three high pressure surface penstocks about 2.611 km long each bifurcating just above the generating station from where 6 branches are taken to the power house.<ref name=kseb>[https://www.kseb.in/index.php?option=com_jdownloads&task=download.send&id=14134&catid=90&m=0&Itemid=658&lang=en OM manual kakki anathodu publishing] kseb.in</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://dams.kseb.in/?p=118 KAKKI DAM] - KSEB
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RltBvVqe49A Project Sabarigiri telefilm]

{{Dams in Kerala}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2025}}

[[Category:Dams in Pathanamthitta district]]
[[Category:Dams completed in 1966]]
[[Category:20th-century architecture in India]]
[[Category:Dams in Kerala]]
[[Category:Reservoirs in Kerala]]
[[Category:Hydroelectric power stations in Kerala]]
[[Category:Gravity dams]]
[[Category:1966 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Pathanamthitta district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Pathanamthitta district]]
[[Category:Pamba River]]

Kakki dam - Revision history

Janni at 14:09, 10 March 2026