This was constructed along History The , located in with two other at Cheruthony ,, is a 168.91 m (554 ft) and Kulamavu. Together, the three The idea of constructing a dam for tall dam. The dam stands dams have created an artificial lake power generation was first between the two mountains that is 60 km² in area. The stored conceived in 1919. As per history, kuravanmala(839)m and water is used to produce electricity Shri Kolumban, the head of 'Araya' kurathimala(925)m. It was at the Power house, race during 1922, showed the way to constructed and is owned by Kerala which is located inside nearby rocky the Malankara Estate Superintendent State Electricity Board. It supports a caves. The Government of Canada and his friend Thomas, who were on 780 MW hydrolic power station. aided in the building of the dam with hunting spree in the forest, the spot long term loans and grants of present Arch Dam. He told them It is built on the river, in the of the legend of Kuravan and ravine between the Kuravan and Kurathi Hills. Mr. Thomas was Kurathi Hills in Kerala. At 167.68 impressed by the sight of water flow metres, it is one of the highest arch between the mountains and it was dam in Asia and third tallest arch his idea that has materialised in the dam. It started generating power on form of Idukki Arch Dam. Sri. 4 October 1975. Technically, the W.J.John of Malankara Estate dam type is a concrete double, submitted a report to the curvature parabolic, thin arc dam. Government of in 1932 on the possibility of constructing a

dam at Idukki for Power Generation.

Commission conducted a detailed Construction of this Arch Dam and investigation based on the two other dams at Cheruthony and In 1947, a preliminary investigation Government's request. The project Kulamavu has created an artificial report was prepared and submitted report was prepared in 1961 and the lake of 60 km2. width and the water by Sri.P.Joseph John,then Chief Planning Commission accorded stored, is utilised for production of Electrical Engineer to the sanction for implementing the electricity at the unique Government of Travancore. It was scheme in 1963 and the preliminary Moolamattom Power house, which is during 1956 that the Central Water works of the project were started. located inside the rocky caves. The construction of this Dam October,1975. Commercial The Idukki Dam project was aided commenced on 30 April 1969. operation of the Power Station was by the Government of Canada Storage of water in idukki reservoir Commissioned on 12 February 1976 through long term loans and grants. commenced in February,1973. The by the then Hon. Prime Minister Consulting Engineers from Canada inauguration of trial run of the first Smt. Indira Gandhi were advising and assisting Project machine was celebrated on 4th Engineers under the Canadian Aid

Usage each. The regulated waters of streams. Idukki is a well known Periyar falls through a drop of about tourist center in Kerala. Power Generation 669.2 metres (2195 feet) while generating power in the underground The Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary The Project harnesses a major power house. extends over the and portion of the power potential of taluks of Idukki Periyar, the largest river in Kerala, Irrigation district, spread over 77 km2 and is by the creation of a reservoir of about 450 - 748 m above sea level. 2,000 M.cum (2 Billion Tonnes) The tail waters flowing to The Idukki Reservoir formed by capacity, diversion of waters thus Kudayathurpuzha through tunnel and three dams - , Idukki and impounded through a water open channel is diverted for Kulamavu - extends to 33 km2. One conductor system consisting of a irrigation purposes in the can find Elephants, bisons, sambars power tunnel and two underground Valley. deers, wild dogs, jungle cats, tigers, pressure shafts to an underground wild boars etc. and variety of Snakes power house situated in Tourist destination and attraction like Cobra, viper, krait and a number Muvattupuzha Valley. The installed of non poisonous snakes in this capacity of the Power House is Idukki valley is 121 km away from Sanctuary. The birds of Idukki are 780MW consisting of 6 Units of , and is a small hill town Jungle fowl, myna, laughing thrush, Pelton-type turbines with a power surrounded by a spread of beautiful, black bulbul, peafowl, woodpecker, generation capacity of 130 MW wooden valleys and meandering kingfisher etc