Banasura Sagar Dam

Infobox_Dam
dam_name=Banasura Sagar Dam


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crosses=Karamanathodu
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locale=Wayanad, Kerala, India
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coordinates= coord|11|40|12|N|75|57|28|E|region:IN_type:landmark
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extra=Capacity: tmc ft.

Banasura Sagar Dam, which impounds the Karamanathodu tributary of the Kabini River, is part of the Indian Banasurasagar Project consisting of a dam and a canal project started in 1979. [cite web
url=http://www.keralaplanningboard.org/html/Reports/wr&apr.pdf
title=Government of Kerala Tenth Five Year Plan 2002-07 Report
publisher=Government of Kerala
accessdate=2006-10-18 ] The goal of the project is to support the Kakkayam Hydro electric power project and satisfy the demand for irrigation and drinking water in a region known to have water shortages in seasonal dry periods.

The Banasura Sagar Dam is located 21 km from Kalpetta, in Wayanad District of Kerala in the Western Ghats. It is the largest earthen dam in India and the second largest in Asia, and an ideal starting point for hikes into the surrounding scenic mountains. [cite web
url=http://www.kerala.gov.in/statistical/panchayat_statistics2001/wynd_shis.htm
title=Statistical Data
publisher=Kerala Government
accessdate=2006-10-14 ] It is an important tourist attraction. [cite web
url=http://wayanad.nic.in/tourist.htm
title=Places of Tourist Importance
publisher=Wayanad Government
accessdate=2006-10-14 ]

In the dam's reservoir there is a set of islands that were formed when the reservoir submerged the surrounding areas. [cite web
url=http://www.wayanad.org/outdoor.htm
title=Wayanad outdoor trails
publisher=wayanad.org
accessdate=2006-10-14 ] The islands with the Banasura hills in the background provide a spectacular view. [cite web
url=http://www.ffkerala.net/wayanaddist/wayanad100_places2.html
title=Wayanad
publisher=Fast Finder Kerala
accessdate=2006-10-14 ]

Current status

Although the Banasura Sagar Dam is in place, the Banasura Sagar Project is not complete, even after a great monetary expenditure and is in a similar state to the Incomplete Karapuzha Irrigation Project. [cite web
url=http://www.dams.org/kbase/submissions/showsub.php?rec=SOC011
title=Incomplete Karapuzha Irrigation Project - A Bird's Eye View
publisher=World Commission on Dams
accessdate=2006-10-15 ]

ee also

*List of reservoirs and dams in India

Notes

External links

* [http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.keralaplanningboard.org%2Fhtml%2FReports%2Fwr%26apr.pdf&ei=SNMyRdPfIaSwwQKCxoWuAQ&sig=__W2KIZTtoroHMbOcjiIdT5mfOZMA=&sig2=iOC3QVclLIXU5liUF6u9Ew Government of Kerala Tenth Five Year Plan 2002-07 Report of the Working Group on 'Water Resources & Environment - Approach, Policies and Reforms'] {PDF)