Thu Jan 02 15:52:11 UTC 2025: ## Kerala to Desilt Two Hydel Dams in Idukki
**Idukki, Kerala – January 2, 2025** – The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) will undertake a pioneering project to desilt two of its hydel dams in Idukki district, Kallarkutty and Vellathooval, due to alarming levels of silt accumulation impacting their storage capacity. A recent survey revealed that silt and sand deposits have reduced the effective storage of the Kallarkutty dam by nearly 48% and the Vellathooval dam by 75%.
The KSEB has secured administrative approval and will partner with the Kerala Irrigation Infrastructure Development Corporation on a revenue-sharing model for the desilting process. Specialized cutter-suction dredgers will be employed to remove the sediment, separating water from the waste. While the Idukki dam showed less significant siltation (under 20%), the Kallarkutty dam’s recent emptying for repairs revealed the extent of the problem, with storage reduced to less than half its 456.90 m capacity. These repairs, which temporarily halted power generation at four hydel power stations, causing a 250 MW daily shortfall, are scheduled for completion by January 6th. The KSEB assures that the dams will not need to be emptied again for desilting and power generation will resume afterward.
First Piper 