page_title: Kalu Ganga Dam
section_title: Environmental and Social Impact of the Dam Construction
hierarchical_section_title: Kalu Ganga Dam / Environmental and Social Impact of the Dam Construction
caption_attribution_description: English: Panorama view of Kaluganga construction site - 2.
context_page_description: The Kalu Ganga Dam is a large gravity dam, and the second vital component of the larger and more complex Moragahakanda — Kalu Ganga Project, currently under construction across the Kalu Ganga at Pallegama, in the Matale District of Sri Lanka. Construction of the project was launched by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 25 January 2007. The maiden waters of the dam was released in July 2018.
  The larger combined project involves the construction of the Kalu Ganga Dam and Reservoir, along with the separate Moragahakanda Dam and Reservoir, for irrigation and power generation purposes. Both these sites would be located approximately 10 km apart.
  The total development cost for both sites totals to approximately Rs. 48.145 billion and is being carried out by SMEC Holdings and Sinohydro.
context_section_description: A large area of forest east of Pallegama has been cleared for the construction of the dam and even more so for the construction of a new residential and agricultural colony east of the dam. The forest area cleared is adjoining Wasgamuwa National Park and linked the forests on the eastern side of Knuckles Mountain Range with the Wasgamuwa National Park. Elephants and other wildlife used to inhabit this area and used it as corridor. There are attempts to minimize environmental impact by reforesting catchment areas, and declaration of elephant corridors to Wasgamuwa, Girithale, Mineriya national parks.
  Several old villages, including Pallegama and Rambukoluwa, have to be abandoned and all the residents have to relocate to the new colony, about 5 to 10 kilometers northeast of Pallegama. Each family is compensated with two acres of land, 1.5 acres of paddy land and half an acre in the residential area to construct a new house.
caption: Panorama view of Kaluganga construction site
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