1. KALLADA
Kallada Irrigation and Tree Crop Development Project (KIP) is the biggest irrigation scheme in Kerala, taken up for execution in 1961 with an estimated cost of Rs 13.28 crores. It is the first project in India to adopt Minor Conveyance System of irrigation in the ayacut. KIP envisages the construction of a stone masonry dam (335 M long and 85.3 M high) across Kallada River at Parappar in Thenmala village in Pathanapuram taluk of Kollam district to have gross storage capacity of 504.9 MM3. Land acquisition and construction of office/quarters was started in 1961. For the construction of dam/canals, land acquisition was initiated only in 1966.
Provision has been made in the dam for power intake. On the left side of the main dam, a saddle earth dam of length 225.7 M and height 12.51 M was constructed. A well (pick up weir) constructed at Ottakkal, 5 km down stream of the dam diverts the water let out from the reservoir to the right and left bank main canals having a length of 69 and 56 kilometers respectively. The water finally reaches the ayacut through a network of canals consisting of 119 km of branch canals and about 793 km of major and minor distributaries. The project was meant to irrigate 61630 hectare (net) and 92800(gross) of agricultural lands in Kollam, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts spread over the Kallada basin extending from Ithikkara River on the South and Achankoil River on the north. The ayacut of the project consists of 20430 hectare of wetland and 41200 hectare of garden cropland. Unlike other major irrigation projects, the irrigation water is available in this project in sufficient quantities throughout the year.
The Right Bank Main Canal (RBMC) takes -off directly from the weir structures while the Left Bank Main Canal (LBMC) takes off from a point 100M to the upstream of body of the weir. The Right Bank Main canal is 69 km long with 4 branches and distribution system to irrigate an area of 39,530 ha. The Left Bank main canal 56 km long with 3 branches and distribution system to irrigate 22,100 ha. About 125 km of metalled and black topped canal embankment roads are included in the scheme.
The four branches of RBMC have a total length of 58.5 km (Sasthamkottah branch 25.4 km., Pandalam branch 16 km, Kayamkulam branch 11.6 km and Karunagapally branch 5.5 km). The 3 branches of LBMC have a total length of 60.8 km (Oyur branch 15 km, Kulakkada branch 24.2 km and Kottiyam branch 21.6 km.). The branches are also aligned generally as contour canals. Bed width and Flow depth of RBMC are 4.65 and 3.40 meters respectively while that of LBMC is 4.00 and 2.85 meters.
The benefits expected out of the project on completion include:
- Power Generation to the extent of 15 MW;
- Intensive agricultural activities around the year in the 3 districts by creating an additional employment of 11.5 million man days;
- Flood Control in Kallada River during monsoon;
- Fresh water fish culturing and development of tourism and
- Solving drinking water problem in the ayacut to a considerable extent.
The estimated cost of the project was revised six times due to cost escalation in 1969, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1981 and 2001. Latest revised estimated cost, as per 1999 schedule of rates is Rs 760 crore. There has been major deviation from the original design of the project, in respect of field bothies for on-farm distribution, which was later changed into Minor Conveyance System of irrigation using PVC Pipes, hydrants and flexible hoses. This change was introduced during period of the World Bank aid as per their suggestions.
The project was originally targeted for completion in March 1975. It is re-scheduled for completion in March 2002. The re-scheduling was necessitated as a consequence of meagre allocation of funds for the project upto 1975 which was only Rs.7.78 crores against the estimated cost of Rs.13.28 crore.
- Prevention of loss of precious irrigation water through field channels/bothies by percolation or seepage ;
- Increase in the effective area of cultivation as water distribution is effected through underground pipe system and valuable agriculture land is not wasted.
- Considerable reduction in the expenses relating to construction of field channels and field boothies ; and
- Optimum use of irrigation water for tree crops and for paddy thereby ensuring correct and optimum use of water.
The land acquisition process for the project is not yet over. Land is yet to be acquired for the distributories such as Mulavana, Thrikkaruva, Vettilathazhaam, Mankuzhy and Oachira. Land is also required for the minors such as Puleela, Vellimon and Kilikollur. In areas where land acquisition process has been completed the work has not yet started. (eg, Kayamlulam Branch canal). Similar is the case of 360 M land acquired for Mulavana distributory and 1160 M for Thrikkaruva distributory.
The most important bottleneck in the completion of the project by March 2002 is the delay in getting government sanction for revised estimates of 108 works. These works are held up. A few vigilance, court and arbitration cases registered on land acquisition is also pending decisions.
Total amount required for the completion of the canal for which land is acquired as per the latest revised estimate is Rs 97 crore. Out of this, Rs 20 crore are overhead charges and the balance amount of Rs 77 crore is set apart for civil works. However, this amount does not include the amount required for remaining land acquisition and execution of works on canals .Anticipated expenditure during 2001-2002 is Rs 97 crore. However, the budget provision is only Rs 38 crore. The expenditure of Rs 97 crore are visualized provided sufficient funds are allotted. Balance amount required for completion of the project from 1.4.2002 is Rs 42 crore. This is for the canal for which land is yet to be acquired.
No pending payment of the works done on the project were reported. However, the payment of the work done in case of the works for which sanction of revised estimate required is pending. .
The unutilized surplus land acquired for the project turned out to be dumping yards of wastes. Such lands were identified and reported to the Cashew Development Corporation for planting Cashew nut trees. The land acquired and unutilized is small bits along the canal sides.
The ayacut achieved until the end of August 2000 was 35602 ha (net) and 53608 ha (gross) against the proposed target of 61630 (net) and 92800 (gross). Ninety nine per cent of the works relating to Auxiliary Spillway of the dam has been completed. Expenditure incurred up to 31.3.2001 was Rs 620.71 crore as against the latest estimate of Rs 760 crore. The anticipated expenditure during 2001-02 is Rs 97 crores against the budget provision of Rs 38 crores.
Financial progress of the scheme as on 31.3.2001
Expenditure (Rs in crores)
Head works Main canal Branch canal Administrative Other item of works
Communication and Field Bothies)Physical progress of the canal as on 30. 6.2001
Length (km)
RBMC LBMC Branch Canal Distributories
In the light of the above , following suggestions are made for the completion of the Project.
- The acquisition of land may be stopped and the staff engaged in land acquisition may be re-deployed. For instance, the proposal for land acquisition may be dropped for the distributories such as Mulavana (10.6 Kms), Thrikkaruva (15.07 Kms) & Vettilathazham (12.45 Kms) on the LBMC as well as Mankuzhy & Oachira (4.77 Kms) on RBMC and for the minors such as Puleela, Vellimon and Kilikollur.
- Branch canals/ distributories where land has been acquired but work has not yet been started may be dropped and the land so acquired may be auctioned. E.g. Kayamkulam Branch Canal, 360 m land acquired for Mulavana distributory and 1160 m of Thrikkaruva distributory. The building 'constructed for the Project which are not in use may be transferred to Local Government.
- The staff provided from Agriculture Department may be reverted to Parent Department.
- The staff strength may be reduced to the minimum for the maintenance and upkeep of the project.
- Fish cultivated in the reservoir may be auctioned.
- Cost of the power generated may be collected from KSEB.
- Amount collected from above sources may be utilised for completion of inevitable items of work, if any, and for meeting the O&M expenses of the project.