Kottayam: Kottayam in central Kerala is all set to be the new hub of dam safety, monitoring the security and carrying out the maintenance of the 58 dams in the state.

From Thursday, the headquarters of the Dam Safety Organisation will function from the newly-inaugurated building at Pallam in Kottayam.

Watching over 58 dams

• The Kottayam office will be monitoring the safety and security of 58 dams, including the strategically important arch dam in Idukki

• The staff strength of the office is 30, including a chief engineer.

• Daily monitoring will be carried out regarding dam safety, maintenance, water level, repair works etc.

• The office will have the responsibility of issuing alerts as well as coordinating emergency services

Major maintenance works

Renovation of 37 dams under 12 hydroelectric projects is now under way as part of a project under the Central Water Commission. The project, named ‘Renovation and modernization of dams’, is being implemented with World Bank aid. The amount being spent in Kerala is Rs 153.73 crore. The Dam Safety Organisation office will also supervise the modernization of the gates and valves, the inspection walkway and improving basic infrastructure.

Dam-shaped building

The headquarters of Dam Safety Organisation, with a total area of 33,000 sq.ft. on three floors, is designed like the Idukki arch dam. Rs 8.98 crore was spent on the office.

Idukki

The arch dam in Idukki is the largest dams under the Dam Safety Organisation. The capacity of the 169-m tall engineering marvel is 1,459 million cubic feet. Idamalayar in Wayanad district is the second largest dam that can hold 1,017.80 million cubic feet water. The smallest dam in Kerala is also located in Idukki district. Its height is 2.80 metres.

Surveillance system soon

Arrangements will be made to keep a watch over all the 58 dams from the office at Kottayam. Surveillance cameras will be set up in all dams for the purpose. Other functions of the Dam Safety Organisation include, installing equipment to conduct studies, instruments to measure temperature changes on concrete and rock, centralized observation and coordinating studies on flow of flood waters.

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