| Cheruthoni Dam | |
|---|---|
 Cheruthoni dam | |
  Location of Cheruthoni Dam in India  Cheruthoni Dam (Kerala)  Cheruthoni Dam (Tamil Nadu) | |
| Country | India |
| Location | Idukki, Kerala, India |
| Coordinates | 9°50′43″N 76°58′01″E / 9.84528°N 76.96694°E |
| Status | Operational |
| Opening date | 1973 |
| Owner(s) | Kerala State Electricity Board |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Straight gravity concrete |
| Impounds | Periyar River |
| Height | 138.2 m (453 ft) |
| Length | 650.9 m (2,135 ft) |
| Dam volume | 17,00,000 cu.m |
| Spillways | 7 no.s (5 radial floodgates gates Ft. and 2 vertical flood gates (river bed level) ) |
| Spillway type | Chute type spillway |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Idukki Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 1,996,000,000 m3 (1,618,184 acre⋅ft) (70.49 tmc ft) |
| Active capacity | 1,459,000,000 m3 (1,182,831 acre⋅ft) (51.57 tmc ft) |
| Inactive capacity | 536,000,000 m3 (434,542 acre⋅ft) (18.93 tmc ft) |
| Catchment area | 649.3 km2 (251 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 60 km2 (23 sq mi) |
| Normal elevation | 732.62 m (2,404 ft) |
The Cheruthoni Dam, located in Idukki District, Kerala, India, is a 138m tall concrete gravity dam. Preliminary work on this project was initiated under the leadership of Superintending Engineer, E.U.Philipose. This dam was constructed in 1976 as part of the Idukki Hydroelectric Project along with two other dams Idukki and Kulamavu. The Canadian government aided the project with long-term loans and grants. The dam was constructed by HCC (Hindustan Construction Company Ltd.) and the consultant was S.N.C. Inc., Canada,[1][2]
The water impounded by these three dams of Idukki, Cheruthoni & Kulamavu has formed a single reservoir spread over 60 km2 on a height of 2300 ft above Mean Sea Level.[3] The Idukki Dam is a double curvature arch dam constructed across Periyar River in a narrow gorge between two granite hills and is the tallest double curvature arch dam in Asia. Cheruthoni Dam is located 1 km west of Idukki dam. The spill way of the Idukki Reservoir is in the Cheruthoni dam. Kulamavu Dam was constructed to prevent the water escape through a rivulet called Kilivally, 30 km west to Idukki Arch Dam. It is a 100 metres tall Masonry gravity dam. Construction of this Cheruthoni Dam, Idukki Arch Dam and Kulamavu Dam created an artificial lake of 60 km2 and the water stored, is used for electricity generation at the Idukki power station. Located at Moolamattom, it is the biggest underground power station in India and the pressure shaft is the largest in the country. Cheruthoni is the largest and highest gravity dam in Kerala.[4] Storage of water in Idukki Reservoir started in February, 1973. Idukki power station was Commissioned in February 1976 by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
