The Malampuzha Project is the first large scale irrigation system attempted in the Malabar District of old Madras State. The project works were commenced during 1949 i.e. the First Five Year plan and completed and commissioned during 1955 under Second Five Year Plan. At the time of formation of the State of Kerala in November 1956 the dam was fully operational.

The Head works is connected by good motor road from Palakkad town and Olavakkode Railway station. The nearest airport is Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, which is 65 km away from Head works. The Malampuzha Project consists of a masonry dam across Malampuzha, a tributary of Bharathapuzha and a network of canal system to irrigate am area of 21, 349 ha. The stream lies between longitude 76˚38’ and  76˚42’’ and latitude between 10˚48’ and 10˚55’ . The Malampuzha river has its source in the hills, due north Palakkad Taluk, extending up to the boundary of Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu.   

Four Spillway shutters are provided for the dam. Three sluices of 1.50 * 1.83 m are provided on the Left side of the main dam each of which was designed to allow maximum discharge of 21.24 cum/sec to irrigate an area of 17,050 Ha. A similar single sluice is provided on the Right bank designed to allow a maximum discharge of 4.05 cum/sec for an area of 4299 Ha. 

The Malampuzha Project brought new lands to cultivation and is supplying water for the second crop and supplementing the rainfall. The Malampuzha project which supports agriculture like this is blessed with stunning viewpoints and a marvelous garden making it a symbol of unity between human beings and nature.

Adjoining the sluices of the Left Bank canal, Power generation has been set up by Kerala State Electricity Board. Apart from irrigation purpose, the water from the reservoir is taken for treatment and distribution as drinking water by water authority, and Pisciculture is carried out in the reservoir by Fisheries department.

The Garden and Orchard associated with the Malampuzha Dam is a part of the Horticultural initiative. Malampuzha Garden, the largest Garden in Kerala, is made attractive by the flowers and plants which are being developed in the Garden Nursery.