Soaked in white, Idukki arch dam turns a chalky beauty

Cheruthoni: Decades after it was built, the Idukki arch dam is getting a major beauty makeover with the construction all set to be painted white.

Though the Idukki project was commissioned in 1976, the main dams at Idukki, Cheruthoni, and Kulamaavu were not painted until now. The World Bank had sanctioned Rs. 40 crore for the various maintenance works to be done at Idukki; from that Rs. 1.9 crore is being spent on the paint job. 

The maintenance works started last year and got completed in  December itself. Later on, a cement primer coating was applied. The arch-shaped dam is curved at the center by around 23 feet. The unconventional construction is expected to cause a delay painting job.

The painting will be done after sectioning the dam into various blocks. The authorities said that emulsion would also be applied after the primer coating.

According to contractors, the painting works would be finished in a month if the weather is favorable. The maintenance jobs of Cheruthoni, Kulamavu, Kallar and Irattayar dams which are part of the Idukki hydroelectric project has already been completed. Around 2.60 crore rupees was spent by the electricity department for this so far.

The Idukki Dam is a popular tourist attraction and a favorite with the moviemakers too. 

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