https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Kallada_RiverKallada River - Revision history2026-07-31T06:28:41ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Kallada_River&diff=461012&oldid=prevLeonuqs at 23:13, 23 March 20262026-03-23T23:13:45Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|River in South Kerala, India}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}}<br />
[[File:Kallada river near Uppood.jpg|alt=|thumb|Kallada River/Kulathupuzha]]<br />
The '''Kallada River''' is the longest river in [[Kollam District]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]. The river originates in [[Madathara]], in the [[Western Ghats]], and flows west, reaching the [[Ashtamudi Lake|Arabian Sea]] after traveling a distance of {{convert|120|km|abbr=on}}.<br />
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==River Course==<br />
The Kallada originates from the southeastern part of the [[Kollam district]] as multiple streams arising from the [[Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary|Shendurney wildlife sanctuary]]. The most prominent among these streams are the Kazhuthuruttiyaaru, which arises from Rosemala and [[Ambanad Hills]] and flows southward, the [[Kulathupuzha]] river that flows northward from near the [[Ponmudi]] hills and the [[Windward and leeward|windward]] side of [[Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve]], and west-flowing streams that arise from the [[Windward and leeward|windward]] side of the [[Courtallam|Courtallam Hills]]. These major streams that form the river meet at [[Thenmala Dam]].<br />
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The river flows through the towns of [[Kulathupuzha]], [[Thenmala]], [[Kulathupuzha|Ottackal]], [[Ayiranalloor]], [[Edamon]], [[Punalur]], [[Karulai|Nedumkayam]], [[Kamukumchery]] and [[Pathanapuram]]. It then enters the plains where it flows alongside [[Pattazhy]], [[Enathu]], [[Mannadi]], [[Kunnathur, Kerala|Kunnathur]], [[Iverkala]] [[Puthoor]], [[Pavithreswaram]], [[East Kallada]], [[Munroe Island]] and [[West Kallada]]. The river's estuary is situated near [[West Kallada]], where it empties into [[Ashtamudi Lake|Ashthamudi]] lake and thence into the [[Arabian Sea]].<br />
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At [[Punalur]], the [[Punalur Suspension Bridge]] was constructed in 1877 across the river by the [[Travancore Kingdom]] in the British Style. [[Kallada Boat Race]] (''Kallada Jalotsavam'') is one of the most famous boat races held in the state. The boat race is an annual event which takes place at the 28th day after [[Onam]]. It is held on the "''Muthira Parambu - Karuvathra Kadavu''" in the course of the river. [[Sasthamcotta Lake]] is the largest fresh water lake in Kerala and provides drinking water for most regions in the Kollam district. Except for an earthen embankment that is {{convert|1.5|km|abbr=on}} in length which separates the lake from the paddy fields on its southern side, bordering the alluvial plains of the Kallada River, all other sides of the lake are surrounded by steep hills.<br />
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==Industries along the river==<br />
There were many industries flourishing on the banks of the Kallada during the British Period. [[Punalur Paper Mills]], established in 1875, is one such major company. The effluents discharged from the mill into the river were found to alter the physiochemical factors leading to production of plankton in the mid-1900s. The mill was embroiled in a labour dispute, and was closed in 1987. It was reopened in 2015, after legal resolutions.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/punalur-paper-mills-reopened/article7647502.ece|title = Punalur Paper Mills reopened|newspaper = The Hindu|date = 13 September 2015}}</ref><br />
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Sand mining along the banks of the river is a cause of concern, because it makes them more vulnerable to erosion and floods.<br />
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==Kallada Irrigation Project==<br />
'''Kallada Irrigation project (KIP)''' is the largest [[Irrigation in India|irrigation]] project in [[Kerala]]. The command area of this project is distributed over [[Kollam]], [[Pathanamthitta district]] and [[Alappuzha district]]s and covers Punalur, Pathanapuram, Kottarakkara, Kollam, Kunnathur, Karunagappally, Adoor, Mavelikkara and Karthikappally [[Taluks of Kerala]].<br />
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The project was planned to irrigate a net cultivable command area of {{convert|61630|ha|abbr=on}}. During the course of execution some canals including the Kayamkulam Branch canal were dropped, and now this project is benefiting a net cultivable area of only {{convert|53514|ha|abbr=on}} in 92 villages. Head work was completed during 1986. Now fully operational, the right bank main canal was partially commissioned during 1986 and the left bank main canal during 1992.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.india9.com/i9show/Kallada-River-38931.htm | title = Kallada River | publisher = india9 | access-date = 2010-06-26 }}</ref><br />
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The Left Bank Main canal is {{convert|56.016|km|abbr=on}} in length and the Right Bank Main canal is {{convert|69.752|km|abbr=on}} in length. The Branch Canal of the left bank canal is {{convert|61.692|km|abbr=on}} long and that of the Right Branch canal is {{convert|47.573|km|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kallada Irrigation Project {{!}} Irrigation-kerala|url=https://irrigation.kerala.gov.in/kallada-irrigation-project|access-date=2021-10-30|website=irrigation.kerala.gov.in}}</ref> The canals begin from Ottakkal Lookout near [[Thenmala]].<br />
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==See also==<br />
*[[Ithikkara River]]<br />
*[[Thenmala]]<br />
*[[Munroe Island]]<br />
*[[Punalur]]<br />
*[[East Kallada]]<br />
*[[Madathara]]<br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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{{Waters of Kerala}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
{{commons category}}<br />
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040315134925/http://www.hindu.com/2004/01/26/stories/2004012602460300.htm Story from ''The Hindu'' on sand damage on the Kallada]<br />
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{{coord|8|59|N|76|38|E|display=title|region:IN_type:river_source:GNS-enwiki}}<br />
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[[Category:Kallada River| ]]<br />
[[Category:Rivers of Kollam district]]</div>Leonuqs