Dammit! – Cheruthoni Dam

A mini series that brings to light the stories of India’s dams

📍 Cheruthoni Dam, Idukki District, Kerala

ചെറുതോണി അണക്കെട്ട്

ഇടുക്കിയും കുളവും അണക്കെട്ടും ഉൾപ്പെടുന്ന പദ്ധതിയുടെ ഭാഗമാണ് ചെറുതോണി അണക്കെട്ട്

Built over river Periyar, Cheruthoni Dam is a concrete gravity dam just 1km to the west of Idukki Arch Dam.Constructed in 1976 with aid from Government of Canada, it was built along with the Idukki and Kulamavu Dam as a part of the Idukki Hydroelectric Project.

Idukki Dam,which is the tallest arch dam of India does not have any shutters. It is Cheruthoni Dam which helps to regulate the water level of the common reservoir.

Water from the artificial lake created by these dams is spread over an area of 60 sq.km and is used for producing hydroelectricity in the Moolamattom Power House which is one of India’s largest power house.The dams provide electrivity and enhance agriculture in the surrounding villages by supplying water for irrigation.

During the 2018 Kerala floods several dams including Cheruthoni were opened as water in reservoirs reached dangerous levels due to heavy rainfall.In order to avoid the disaster of the dam breaking, all 5 floodgates of this dam were opened for the first time in history.This left water gushing at high speed in regions near the dam-the Cheruthoni private bus stand and small shops nearby were completely submerged.There were also  landslides resulting in the loss of land,lives and displacement of people living in low-lying areas.

ചെറുതോണി അണക്കെട്ട് തുറന്നതിനാൽ ഇടുക്കി, പത്തനംതിട്ട ജില്ലകളിൽ അതീവ ജാഗ്രതാ നിർദേശം.

There was a similar situation in 2021 when 3 shutters of the Cheruthoni dam were opened letting out about 100 cubic metre of water per second in the wake of heavy rains in the district.