Moragahakanda Dam
| Moragahakanda Dam | |
|---|---|
 Location of Moragahakanda Dam in Sri Lanka
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| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Coordinates | 07°41′56″N 80°46′12″E / 7.69889°N 80.77000°ECoordinates: 07°41′56″N 80°46′12″E / 7.69889°N 80.77000°E |
| Purpose | Power |
| Status | Under construction |
| Construction began | 25 January 2007 |
| Opening date | 25 July 2016 |
| Owner(s) | Mahaweli Authority |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Gravity dam |
| Impounds | Amban River |
| Height (foundation) | 65 m (213 ft) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Moragahakanda Reservoir |
| Active capacity | 521,000,000 m3 (1.84×1010 cu ft) |
| Normal elevation | 185 m (607 ft) |
| Power station | |
| Coordinates | 07°41′59″N 80°46′11″E / 7.69972°N 80.76972°E |
| Operator(s) | CEB |
| Installed capacity | 25 MW |
The Moragahakanda Dam is a large gravity dam, and the main component of the larger and more complex Moragahakanda — Kalu Ganga Project, currently under construction across the Amban River at Elahera, in the Matale District of Sri Lanka. Construction began on 25 January 2007. The maiden waters of the dam was released in January 2017. Morgahakanda/Kaluganga project is the last of the Great Mahaveli project
The larger combined project involves the construction of the Moragahakanda Dam and Reservoir, along with the separate Kalu Ganga Dam and Reservoir, for irrigation and power generation purposes. Both these sites would be located approximately 10 km (6.2 mi) apart.
The total development cost for both sites totals to approximately Rs. 48.145 billion (approximately US$370 million) and is being carried out by SMEC Holdings and Sinohydro.
According to the Mahaweli Master Plan of 1958, the development of Mahaweli the development was divided to three projects named A ,B and C out of which the last 'C' project was the Moragahakanda Multi-Purpose Reservoir. In 1977 the project was modified and the Accelerated Mahaweli Scheme(AMS) started and was completed in 6 years. However Moragahakanda was not in the AMS. The J.R. Jayewardene Government would later secure funding for the project from Japan but communal violence delayed the project. The project finally commenced in January 2007 with much fanfare but was delayed due to president Rajapaksa wanting to give the Mahaweli authority to his brother Basil Rajapaksa but attempts were dropped after protests by the Minister Maithripala Sirisena. However funds were denied to the project and work stalled, construction only started after Sirisena took the Health ministry instead in 2010. Progress at the site confirms this.
The Moragahakanda Dam, will be a 65 m (213 ft) high gravity dam. The dam will create the Moragahakanda Reservoir, which will have an active storage capacity of 521,000,000 m3 (1.84×1010 cu ft) of water, at a surface elevation of 185 m (607 ft).
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Wikipedia