Sabarigiri Hydro Electric Project

Work on Pamba Dam started in 1962. Originally commissioned in 1966 with an installed capacity of 300 MW, from 2005 to 2009, the capacity was increased to 340 MW. In 1966 the capacity of the reservoir was twice as big as that of all other hydro-electric reservoirs in Kerala combined.{{Citation|title=Project Sabarigiri|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RltBvVqe49A|language=en|access-date=2021-07-25}}

On 2 December 1968 the Deputy Minister of Irrigation and Power Ishri Siddheswar Prasad

answered questions in Lok Sabha about a defective stator steel stampings supplied by a foreign firm. He stated that the stampings were found badly/rusted and unserviceable due to defects in production and transport and were replaced at a cost of Rs. 13 lakhs. The manufacturer had disputed the damages.{{Cite web| title=Written Answers | date=December 2, 1968 | url=https://eparlib.sansad.in/bitstream/123456789/2903275/1/04_VI_02-12-1968_p71_p72_u2899.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250609083745/https://eparlib.sansad.in/bitstream/123456789/2903275/1/04_VI_02-12-1968_p71_p72_u2899.pdf | archive-date=2025-06-09}}

A generator was destroyed in a fire on 16 May 2008, the generator was then dismantled and replaced with a 60 MW generator on 6 May 2014.

At 5.53 pm 1 April 2022 a 60 MW power generator failed due to a winding failure. KSEB, the operator, had found the winding to be weak in the power generators in an evaluation two months before and had planed to rewind them in the coming year.

At the time of failure there were two units with a capacity of 60 MW and four units with a capacity of 55 MW.{{Cite web |title=Kerala faces 60 MW power shortfall as generator at Sabarigiri project shut due to winding failure |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2022/Apr/02/kerala-faces-60-mw-power-shortfall-as-generator-at-sabarigiri-project-shut-due-to-winding-failure-2437155.html |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=www.newindianexpress.com}}

The upper reaches of the Moozhiyar River, a tributary of the Pamba River, flow on the southern side of the Kakki reservoir. The Upper Moozhiyar Dam diverts water to the Kakki–Anathode reservoir{{Cite web |title=Wayback Machine |url=https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s3e2ef524fbf3d9fe611d5a8e90fefdc9c/uploads/2021/06/2021061466.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511185052/https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s3e2ef524fbf3d9fe611d5a8e90fefdc9c/uploads/2021/06/2021061466.pdf |archive-date=2024-05-11 |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=cdn.s3waas.gov.in}} through a tunnel. The surplus over the storage flows over the to the Moozhiyar River. The The Upper Moozhiyar Dam was completed in 1979.

The Kullar Dam and Gavi Dam form a common reservoir. Water from this reservoir is diverted to Meenar–I reservoir through a tunnel before being diverted by another tunnel to Meenar–II reservoir. Water from this reservoir is diverted to Pamba Dam through an open channel.{{Cite web |title=Wayback Machine |url=https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s3e2ef524fbf3d9fe611d5a8e90fefdc9c/uploads/2021/06/2021061494.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511201941/https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s3e2ef524fbf3d9fe611d5a8e90fefdc9c/uploads/2021/06/2021061494.pdf |archive-date=2024-05-11 |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=cdn.s3waas.gov.in}}

Water from Kochu Pamba Weir is pumped in to the Pamba reservoir through a pump house located downstream from Pamba Dam.

Kullar, Gavi, Meenar–I, and Meenar–II were completed in 1990.

The Pamba Irrigation scheme in Pattanamthitta district is aimed at the utilization of the tail race water of Sabarigiri Hydro Electric project for irrigation purposes.{{Cite web|title=Pamba Scheme|url=http://www.irrigation.kerala.gov.in/index.php/infrastructure/irrigation-schemes/storage-schemes/188-pamba-scheme|access-date=2021-07-25|website=irrigation.kerala.gov.in}} After the tail water has entered the Kakkad River it is picked up by a barrage in Maniyar.

The {{convert|21135|ha|km2}} of [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ayacut ayacut] are located in the Pathanamthitta and Alapuzha districts. An estimated 81,600 tonnes of paddy are produced by this project.{{Cite web |title=Maniyar {{!}} Irrigation-kerala |url=https://irrigation.kerala.gov.in/maniyar |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=irrigation.kerala.gov.in}}

The Kakkad Hydro Electric Project utilizes the tail race water from Sabarigiri power station and water from the Moozhiyar and Velluthode rivers. Two dams store water for the powerhouse. The main reservoir is on the Moozhiyar downstream of the confluence with the tail race water from Sabarigiri power station. A tunnel connects this reservoir to Kakkad Power Station.{{Cite web |title=Wayback Machine |url=https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s3e2ef524fbf3d9fe611d5a8e90fefdc9c/uploads/2021/06/2021061416.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728121232/https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s3e2ef524fbf3d9fe611d5a8e90fefdc9c/uploads/2021/06/2021061416.pdf |archive-date=2021-07-28 |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=cdn.s3waas.gov.in}} The second reservoir is formed by the Veluthodu Dam, across the Velluthode River, a tributary of Kakkad River. After generating power, water is released to the Kakkad River. The Kakkad River, also called Kakkatar, is a tributary of the Pamba River.

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Category:Hydroelectric power stations in Kerala

Category:Pamba River

Category:Buildings and structures in Pathanamthitta district