Peringalkuthu Dam is a concrete dam built across the Chalakkudi River in the Thrissur district, Kerala state of India.[1] It also contains the Peringalkuthu Hydro Electric Power Project of Kerala State Electricity Board, who owns the dam. This is the first hydroelectric power project to be built on the Chalakkudi River. The gross storage capacity of the dam is 32 million cubic meters (1.13 tmc ft). The dam is situated in a deep forest, and special permission is needed to visit the dam.[2][3][4][5][6]
Reservoir
The Poringalkuthu reservoir is created by constructing a dam across the Chalakudy River. The inflow of the Poringalkuthu reservoir is contributed partly from the tailwater of upstream Sholayar HEP. In addition, the reservoir receives water from catchments downstream of the Parambikulam and Thunakadavu dams of the PAP Project. The spill waters of the above dams also flow to this reservoir. The water from the Poringalkuthu reservoir is diverted through a water conductor system to two Powerhouses of the Poringalkuthu Hydro Electric Project (PHEP) & Porigalkuthu left bank Extension scheme located on the left bank of the Chalakudy River. After generating power, the water is released into the Chalakudy River.
Peringalkuthu left bank extension
Dam and its reservoir
The Peringalkuthu left bank extension project was made by laying an additional penstock from the Peringalkuthu reservoir to avoid the dam spill during intense monsoon. The powerhouse comprises one unit of 16 MW capacity. After power generation, water from Peringalkuthu & PLBE is released to the Chalakudi River.[7]
