Srisailam Dam, Srisailam

The Srisailam Dam is constructed across the krishna river in Nandyal district of Andhra Pradesh. It is located near the Srisailam temple and is the second largest capacity working hydroelectric station in India. It was constructed in a deep valley in the Nallamala hills in between Nandyal and Nagarkurnool districts at a height of 980 ft above sea level.

It is 1680 ft long, 476 ft height and has 12 radial crest gates. It has a reservoir of 616 sq. km. The project has an estimated live capacity to hold 178.74 Tmcft(thousand million cubic feet) at its full reservoir level of 885 feet MSL(Mean Sea Level).

History:

 The Srisailam project began in 1960, initially only as a power project. After several delays, the main dam was finally completed twenty years later in 1980 July 26. The project was converted into a multipurpose facility with a generating capacity of 770 megawatts by its second stage by 1987. 

The dam is to provide water for an estimated 2000 sq km. The right bank branch canal 790 sq km provdes irrigation water in Kurnool & Kadapa districts. The total cost of the multipurpose project was estimated to cross Rs.1000 crore and the dam has cost of Rs.404 crore together with installation of four sets of 110 MW each. 

On 2 October 2009, Srisailam dam experienced a record inflow which threatened the dam. It was built under the engineering leadership of Kanuri Lakshmana Rao.

How To Reach:

Srisailam bus stand is located at a distance of around 14.4 KM from the reservoir. You can reach the dam by taking a local bus or auto from the bus stand.