Chenkulam Dam Explained

Location Map:India Kerala#India
Chenkulam Dam
Name Official:Sengulam Dam
Coordinates:10.0108°N 77.0325°W
Country:India
Location:Idukki, Kerala
Purpose:P
Status:O
Dam Crosses:Muthirapuzha river
Dam Type:G
Owner:Kerala State Electricity Board
Dam Volume:18.4 TCM
Spillway Count:3
Spillway Type:Ogee, ungated – overflow section 4.8 × 1.8 m
Spillway Capacity:70.8 m3/sec
Res Name:Chenkulam Reservoir
Res Capacity Active:0.3903 MCM
Plant Name:Sengulam Power Station
Plant Operator:Kerala State Electricity Board
Plant Coordinates:9.9758°N 77.0306°W
Plant Turbines:4 × 12.8 MW, Pelton-type
Plant Capacity:51.25
Plant Annual Gen:182 MU
Website:Official website

Chenkulam Dam is a gravity dam located on the Muthirapuzha river in Vellathooval panchayat of Idukki district in the Indian state of Kerala. It spans long and stands . It hosts a 48 MW power plant.

History

The project was commissioned in 1954 with a capacity of 48 MW (4 x 12 MW). The dam was constructed in 1957 as part of the Chenkulam Hydroelectric Project.[1] [2] In 2002, the project was upgraded from 48 MW to 51.2 MW.[3]

Project

The Chenkulam Project was intended to use the tailrace water of the Pallivasal project. The dam is constructed of masonry. The power house is situated at Vellathooval in Devikulam taluk.[4] The water collected is conveyed through a penstock pipe to the Chenkulam powerhouse in Vellathooval, which generates 51.2 MW of electricity using four 12.8 MW turbines. Annual production is 182 MU. Taluks receiving release flow are Udumbanchola, Devikulam, Idukki, Kothamangalam, Muvattupuzha, Kunnathunadu, Aluva, Kodungalloor and Paravur.

Reservoirs

Chenkulam reservoir formed behind the dam. The catchment area of the reservoir is approximately . The tailrace discharge joins Mudirapuzha river and flows downstream to Kallarkutty reservoir.

Specifications

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hydro_electric_projects_in_kerala. indiawris.gov.in.
  2. Web site: Dams in West flowing rivers from Tadri to Kanyakumari Basin. indiawris.gov.in.
  3. Web site: 2021-12-23 . 15 Dams in Idukki district, Kerala . 2023-07-04 . Travel Beats.
  4. Web site: Kerala State Electricity Board Limited - Mudirappuzha Basin Hydro Projects . 2021-07-07 . www.kseb.in.
  5. Web site: Sengulam Dam – KSEB Limited Dam Safety Organisation. 2021-07-24. en-US.