With two rivers, the district is endowed with perennial supply of
water. In order to augment the irrigation potential, several plans
were evolved during 1953 to undertake river basin schemes. Kallada
Irrigation Project, the biggest multipurpose project, undertaken by
the State Government, is intended to utilise the water of Kallada
river, mainly for irrigation purpose in Kollam, Pathanamthitta and
Alappuzha districts. There is also a proposal to generate 50 M.W.
of electricity from the dam at Thenmala.
The Kallada project comprises of a masonary dam of 335 m. in length
with a maximum height of 81 m. at Parappur in Thenmala across the
river to form a reservoir, a pick up weir and sluices at Ottakkal.
The 69 kms. right bank canal and the 57.75 kms. left bank canal take
off from the pickup weir. It is estimated that the two canals together
will serve an area of 68,000 hectares. The projects are aided by the
World Bank.
Improvement of Perumkulam yelah in Kollam taluk, West Kallada Scheme
in Kunnathur Taluk, reclamation of Polachiral lake in Kollam Taluk
and Ithikkara yelah schemes, are the medium irrigation schemes in
the district.
While major and medium irrigation schemes are being taken up by the
State Government directly, individual minor irrigation schemes, viz.,
dug-wells, bore-wells, tube- wells, pump sets, drip and sprinkler
irrigation systems are being financed by commercial co-operative banks.
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