Mullaperiyar Dam

About Mullaperiyar Dam:

• It is a masonry gravity dam situated on the Periyar River in Thekkady, Idukki district, in Kerala.
• It is located 881 m above sea level, on the Cardamom Hills of the Western Ghats.
• The dam is built at the confluence of the Mullayar and Periyar rivers.
• Its construction began in 1887 and was completed in 1895. The construction was carried out by the British Corps of Royal Engineers under the leadership of Pennycuick.
• The dam was constructed with limestone and “Surkhi" (burnt brick powder and a mixture of sugar and calcium oxide).
• The dam's purpose was to divert the waters of the west-flowing River Periyar eastward to the arid rain shadow regions of the Theni, Madurai, Sivaganga, and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu. 
• The Periyar National Park is located around the dam's reservoir.
• Although the dam is located in Kerala, it is operated and maintained by the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. It was according to a 999-year lease agreement made during British rule that the operational rights were handed over to Tamil Nadu.