Srisailam Dam

Srisailam Dam
Location Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh/Mahabubnagar district, Telangana, India
Coordinates 16°05′13″N 78°53′50″E / 16.08694°N 78.89722°ECoordinates: 16°05′13″N 78°53′50″E / 16.08694°N 78.89722°E
Construction began 1960
Opening date 1981
Dam and spillways
Impounds Krishna River
Height 145.10 m (476 ft)[1][2]
Length 512 m (1,680 ft)
Reservoir
Creates Srisailam Reservoir
Total capacity 216 Tmcft
Catchment area 206,040 km2 (79,550 sq mi)
Surface area 800 km2 (310 sq mi)
Power station
Turbines 6 × 150 MW (200,000 hp) reversible Francis-type (left bank)
7 × 110 MW (150,000 hp) Francis type(right bank)
Installed capacity 1,670 MW (2,240,000 hp)

The Srisailam Dam is a dam constructed across the Krishna River in the border of Mahabubnagar District, Telangana (Left bank) and Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh (Right bank) in India and is the 3rd largest capacity hydroelectric project in the country.

The dam was constructed in a deep gorge in the Nallamala Hills in between Mahabubnagar and Kurnool districts, 300 m (980 ft) above sea level. It is 512 m (1,680 ft) long, 269.748 metres (885.00 ft) high and has 12 radial crest gates. It has a reservoir of 800 square kilometres (310 sq mi). Project has an estimated live capacity to hold 178.74 billion cubic feet. The left bank power station houses 6 × 150 megawatts (200,000 hp) reversible Francis-pump turbines (for pumped-storage) and the right bank contains 7 × 110 megawatts (150,000 hp) Francis-turbine generators.

Project history

The Srisailam project began in 1960, initially as a power project, across the Krishna, near Srisailam. After several delays, the main dam was finally completed twenty years later in 1980 July 26. In the meantime the project was converted into a multipurpose facility with a generating capacity of 770 megawatts (1,030,000 hp) by its second stage which was expected to be completed in 1987. The dam is to provide water for an estimated 2,000 square kilometres (770 sq mi) with its catchment area of 206,040 square kilometres (79,550 sq mi) and water spread of 1,595 square kilometres (616 sq mi). Under the right branch canal 790 square kilometres (310 sq mi) in Kurnool and Kadapa districts will have assured irrigation. From the initial modest estimate of INR384.7 million for a power project the total cost of the multipurpose project was estimated to cross INR10 billion in its enlarged form. The 269.748 metres (885.00 ft) high and 512 metres (1,680 ft) wide dam has alone cost INR4.04 billion together with the installation of four generating sets of 110 MW each. The right branch canal is estimated to cost INR4.49 billion and the initial investment of INR1.4 billion has been provided by the World Bank. The projected cost-benefit ratio of the project has been worked out at 1:1.91 at 10% interest on capital outlay.. On 2 October 2009, Srisailam dam experienced a record inflow which threatened the dam.[3]

Power generation optimization

At present the initial inflows into Srisailam reservoir are stored excessively without using for power generation. The flood water fills the remaining empty Srisailam reservoir quickly and most of the flood water overflows into downstream Nagarjunasagar reservoir without being used for power generation.[4] The endeavor shall be to fill the Nagarjunasagar reservoir fully with the uniform water released through the power generating units.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "India: National Register of Large Dams 2009" (PDF). Central Water Commission. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  2. ↑ Jauhari, V.P. (2005). Sustaining river linking. New Delhi, India: Mittal Publications. p. 84. ISBN 817099991X.
  3. ↑ Managing historic flood in the Krishna river basin in the year 2009
  4. ↑ Optimisation of power generation from Srisailam Hydroelectric Power Station

External links

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