imported>BrownHairedGirl: removed Category:1971 establishments in India; added Category:1971 establishments in Kerala using HotCat

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removed Category:1971 establishments in India; added Category:1971 establishments in Kerala using HotCat

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox dam
| name = Pothundi Dam
| name_official =
| image = Pothundi dam palakkad.jpg
| image_size =
| image_caption = Pothundi Dam
| image_alt =
| location_map = India#India Kerala#India Tamil Nadu
| location_map_size =
| location_map_caption = 10°32'34"N 76°38'8"E
| coordinates = {{coord|10|32|34|N|76|38|08|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| country =
| location = [[Palghat District]], [[Kerala]]
| purpose = Irrigation
| status = O
| construction_began =
| opening = Dam in 19th century and irrigation scheme in 1968
| demolished =
| cost =
| owner =
| dam_type =
| dam_height = {{Convert|32.61|m}}
| dam_height_thalweg =
| dam_height_foundation=
| dam_length = {{Convert|1680|m}}
| dam_width_crest =
| dam_width_base =
| dam_volume =
| dam_elevation_crest =
| dam_crosses =
| spillway_count =
| spillway_type =
| spillway_capacity =
| res_name =
| res_capacity_total = {{Convert|50914000|m3|acre.ft|0|abbr=on}}
| res_capacity_active = {{Convert|43900000|m3|acre.ft|0|abbr=on}}
| res_capacity_inactive=
| res_catchment =
| res_surface = {{Convert|2.75|km2|mi2|0|abbr=on}}
| res_elevation = {{Convert|108.204|m}}
| res_max_depth =
| res_max_length =
| res_max_width =
| res_tidal_range =
| plant_operator =
| plant_commission =
| plant_decommission =
| plant_type =
| plant_turbines =
| plant_capacity =
| plant_annual_gen =
| website =
| extra =
}}
'''Pothundi Dam''' is an irrigation dam near Pothundi village in the [[Palakkad]] district of [[Kerala]] state, India. Constructed in the 19th century, it is considered one of the oldest dams in India. It provides irrigation to an area of {{Convert|5470|ha}} in the [[Palakkad district]] and drinking water supply to the Nemmara, Ayalur, Melarcode Panchayat.<ref name=Index>{{Cite web|url=http://india-wris.nrsc.gov.in/wrpinfo/index.php?title=Pothundi_Irrigation_Project_JI02682|title=Pothundi Irrigation Project JI02682|publisher=Government of India|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526200022/http://india-wris.nrsc.gov.in/wrpinfo/index.php?title=Pothundi_Irrigation_Project_JI02682|archive-date=2015-05-26}}</ref> An unusual feature of the [[Embankment dam|earth dam]] is the core wall, which is built with a mixture of [[jaggery]] and [[quick lime]].<ref name=Core>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kerenvis.nic.in/Database/Dams_1282.aspx|title=Dams in Kerala|publisher=ENVIS Centre Kerala}}</ref>
[[File:Pothundy Dam Gardens2.jpg|thumbnail|Pothundy Dam Gardens]]
A popular festival held on the shores of the reservoir is known as the Nemmara Vallengi Vela Festival.<ref name=Core/>

==Topography==
The dam is built in the [[Pothundy]] village across the Meenichiladipuzha and Padipuzha rivers, which are tributaries of the Aylampuzha river, about {{Convert|400|m}} upstream of the confluence, in the backdrop of the Nelliampathi hills. It drains a catchment area of {{Convert|31|km2}} at Full Reservoir Level, which is thickly forested with [[teak wood]] trees.<ref name=Index/> The dam is in the Chittur [[taluk]], about {{Convert|8|km}} from [[Nemmara]] and {{Convert|42|km}} from [[Palakkad]] and {{Convert|17|km}} from [[Nelliampathi]].<ref name=Core/>

==History==
The dam, built in the 19th century for irrigation, was developed as a medium irrigation project completed in 1971 at a cost of Rs.23.425 million.<ref name=Index/><ref name=Palak>{{Cite web|url=http://palakkad.nic.in/tourism.htm|title=Places Of Tourist Interest|publisher=National Informatics Centre|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510202454/http://palakkad.nic.in/tourism.htm|archive-date=2016-05-10}}</ref> The dam also provides water supply, and the reservoir has been developed as an important inland fisheries project.<ref name=Fish>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/v5930e/v5930e05.htm|title=3. Kerala|publisher=Food and Agricultural organization}}</ref>

==Features==
[[File:Pothundi Dam view.jpg|thumb|View of the Surrounding hills and the reservoir from atop the dam.]]
The dam is an earth-filled structure built to a height of {{Convert|32.61|m}} and a length of {{Convert|1680|m}}. The gross storage capacity of the reservoir is {{Convert|50914000|m3|acre.ft|0|abbr=on}} and the live storage, excluding dead storage, is {{Convert|43900000|m3|acre.ft|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Index/> It has a spillway section to route the designed flood discharge. The irrigation component of the project, completed in 1971, consists of a {{Convert|10|km}} long right bank canal and an {{Convert|8|km}} left bank canal, which provides irrigation to an area of {{Convert|5465|ha}} in the [[Chittur]] and [[Alathur]] taluks. In view of favorable soil conditions, the irrigation practice under this project is a rice-based system in the Palghat plains. The storage from the reservoir is also utilized to the extent of {{Convert|15380000|m3|acre.ft|0|abbr=on}} for providing drinking water supply to Nemmara and Ayalure villages.{{Sfn|Panda|2013|p=283}}<ref name=Index/><ref name=Palak/>

Reservoir fishing is well developed and covers an area of {{Convert|363|ha}}. The various species of river fishes found in the reservoir are [[murrel]], [[catfish]], [[tilapia]], [[rohu]] (''Labeo rohita''), [[barbus]], [[eel]], [[common carp]] (''Cyprinus carpio''), [[mrigal]], [[gourami]], and [[catla]]. According to FAO statistics, the stocking is 1.241 million fingerlings per year with stocking rate of 684 fingerlings per ha per year.<ref name=Fish/> The fisheries development in the reservoir has been done under the Indo-German Reservoir Fisheries Development Project. According to the State Fisheries Department, the fish catch was about {{Convert|7057|kg}} per year during 1992-93 with a yield of 19.4 per ha.{{Sfn|Sugunan|1995|p=125}} The production units proposed under this project were [[Broodstock|broodfish stock]], mini-hatchery, and rearing components, apart from the pens to be set up in the reservoir periphery and the floating cages offshore.<ref name=Fish/>

==See also==
* [[List of dams and reservoirs in India]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|last= Panda |first=Dr. H. |title=Integrated Organic Farming Handbook|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=icgrAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA283|date=4 October 2013|publisher=ASIA PACIFIC BUSINESS PRESS Inc.|isbn=978-81-7833-152-2}}
* {{cite book|last= Sugunan |first=V. V. |title=Reservoir Fisheries of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gWxskWs5WywC&pg=PA125|year=1995|publisher=Food & Agriculture Org.|isbn=978-92-5-103673-0}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Pothundi Dam}}

{{Dams and reservoirs in India}}
{{Dams and Reservoirs}}
{{Waters of South Asia}}
{{Tourism in Kerala}}
{{Dams in Kerala}}

[[Category:Dams in Kerala]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Palakkad district]]
[[Category:Dams completed in 1971]]
[[Category:1971 establishments in Kerala]]
[[Category:Bharathappuzha]]

Pothundi Dam - Revision history

imported>BrownHairedGirl: removed Category:1971 establishments in India; added Category:1971 establishments in Kerala using HotCat