Karapuzha irrigation project

Karapuzha.jpg

  1. First Medium Irrigation project proposed in the Kabini sub basin of the Interstate river Cauvery.
  2. The Karapuzha river/ stream originating from the Western Ghats in Wayanad district is a tributary of Panamaram river which in turn is a tributary of the Kabini river - a tributary of the inter state river “Cauvery” . 
  3. Out of the final award of 30 TMC to the state of Kerala by CWDT ( Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal )  21 TMC is for Kabini sub basin which lies entirely in the district of Wayanad. The allotment for Karapuzha medium irrigation project  is  2.80 TMC. 
  4. The Karapuzha project consists of an earthen dam with concrete spillway across Karapuzha river at Vazhavatta in Vythiri taluk of Wayanad district.
  5. For providing irrigation to an area of 5600Ha. ( CCA ) in Vythiri , Sulthanbathery and Mananthavady taluks of Wayanad district.
  6. The reservoir has a gross storage capacity of 76.50 MCM with live storage capacity of 72.00 MCM.
  7. The catchment area of Karapuzha river up to the dam site is 62.00 sq.Km and lies entirely in Kerala state.
  8. Started in  1974  -  approved by planning commission vide lr. No. Ii 20 (4)77 I&cad, dated 19/4/1978 in april, 1978. 
  9. Govt. Of kerala accorded administrative sanction vide g.O. (ms) no. 67/78w&t dated 28/7/1978 at an estimated cost of rs 7.60 crores envisaging irrigation to cca of 5,600 ha with ultimate irrigation potential of 8,721 ha.
  10. The Govt. of Kerala on  11.12.2017 accorded sanction for the revised detailed project report   amounting to rs.560cr. Vide. G.O(rt) no. 988/ 2017/ wrd.
  11. At present, due to pending land acquisition in some of the pockets in the reservoir area ( approx. 8.121 Ha ) water can be stored only upto +758.45msl ie; storage of 43.09 MCM ( 1.52 TMC ) instead of the proposed full reservoir level of +763.00 msl.  
  12. Presently water distribution is carried out to 645.47 Ha of agricultural land only .
  13. Drinking water schemes in this project : Drinking water supply to Kalpetta municipality & Meenangadi Panchayat  by KWA  - 15.0 MLD completed. Drinking water supply schemes to sulthan bathery municipality, noolpuzha, muttil  panchayaths – 16.0 mld under construction. Proposals for drinking water supply schemes to Meppady ,Moopainad, Vythiri panchayaths – 13.0 MLD under construction.

Main components of the project are:

An earthen dam with a concrete spillway on the right flank, earthen dam - 625 m long with maximum height of 28 m ( top level of dam - + 766 msl ). 

A concrete spillway of 35 m wide, 3 radial gates of size 10 m x 6 m each.

Three earthen saddle dams at Paakkom, Cherupetta and Cheengery. 

A steel irrigation outlet conduit of 2 m diameter at + 749 MSL through the right bulk head of spillway that leads into the diversion chamber and then delivers water in to the left bank and right bank canals. 

Left bank canal system to irrigate an area of 3,486 Ha.

Right bank canal system to irrigate an area of 2,114 Ha.