‘Feasibility study for 3 new dams done’

Thiruvananthapuram: To reduce the impact of floods in the state, the government has conducted the feasibility study on constructing three new dams with higher capacity. Peringalkuthu upstream, twin Kallar and Pooyamkutty are the three projects on which the KSEB has conducted the feasibility study, said power minister M M Mani in the assembly.
Based on central water commission’s finding that there is a need for dams with higher capacity to reduce impact of floods, the state government decided to conduct the feasibility study. “These three dams were under state government’s consideration earlier. Hence it was decided to conduct the feasibility study once again in the wake of consecutive floods,” said the minister.
In the first phase, the government is planning to begin the survey process of Peringalkuthu upstream project, for which forest department’s permission is required. Already the forest department has been approached for this.
The minister assured that the new dams will be constructed only with minimum environmental impact. All the directions from the Union environment ministry will be followed during the construction of the dams.
Earlier, the state government planned to explore the possibility of constructing five new dams in the state. However, it has been decided to go ahead with the three projects now. According to the Central Water Commission report, dams had reduced the impact of flood in the state.
Besides flood water regulation, the upcoming dams aim for hydroelectricity power production. The new Peringalkuthu dam is planned to be built between the existing Sholayar and Peringalkuthu dams with a water capacity of 200 million cubic meter and 40MWhydroelectric power production.