Polgolla Barrage

Dam in Polgolla, Central Province

07°19′18″N 80°38′42″E / 7.32167°N 80.64500°E / 7.32167; 80.64500PurposePowerStatusOperationalOpening dateJuly 1976 (1976-07)Owner(s)Mahaweli AuthorityDam and spillwaysType of damBarrageImpoundsMahaweli RiverHeight (foundation)14.6 m (48 ft)Length144 m (472 ft)ReservoirCreatesPolgolla ReservoirTotal capacity4,100,000 m³ (140,000,000 cu ft)Active capacity2,100,000 m³ (74,000,000 cu ft)Maximum length1,200 m (3,900 ft)Maximum width170 m (560 ft)Ukuwela Power StationCoordinates07°23′56″N 80°39′08″E / 7.39889°N 80.65222°E / 7.39889; 80.65222Operator(s)Ceylon Electricity BoardTurbines2 × 20 MWInstalled capacity40 MWWebsite
http://www.mahawelicomplex.lk/Poldam.html

The Polgolla Barrage (also erroneously known as the Polgolla Dam) is a barrage built across the Mahaweli River at Polgolla, in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. The barrage is used to increase the volume of water, for transfer to the hydroelectric power station located 8 km (5 mi) north, via penstock.^[1]^[2]

Polgolla Reservoir Waterdrome operates a short distance upstream on the lake created by the barrage.

Power station

The Polgolla Barrage, as seen from the left-bank downriver.

Water from the Polgolla Reservoir is transferred to the Ukuwela Power Station at 07°23′56″N 80°39′08″E / 7.39889°N 80.65222°E / 7.39889; 80.65222 (Ukuwela Power Station), near Ukuwela, via an 8 km (5 mi) long underground penstock. Water from the reservoir is transferred to the power station at a rate of 2,000 cu ft/s (57 m³/s).^[2]

The power station at Ukuwela consists of two 20 MW hydroelectric generators, totalling the plant capacity to 40 MW. Both units were commissioned in July 1976. Water from the power station is discharged into the Amban River, a major tributary to the Mahaweli River, which then connects back to the Mahaweli River at a distance of approximately 140 km (87 mi) downstream of the Polgolla Barrage.^[3]^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b "Polgolla Barrage and Reservoir". Mahaweli Authority. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
^ ^a ^b "CEB Hydropower Generation". Ceylon Electricity Board. Archived from the original on 18 January 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
^ "CEB Generation Details: Laxapana Complex". Ceylon Electricity Board. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2014.

Electricity in Sri Lanka

Sustainable
power stations

Hydro power

Laxapana Complex	Broadlands Canyon Castlereigh Laxapana Maskeliya Norton
Mahaweli Complex	Bowatenna Deduru Oya Kotmale Moragahakanda Nilambe Polgolla Randenigala Rantembe Upper Kotmale Victoria
Other	Gal Oya Kukule Ganga Samanala Udawalawe

Solar power

Wind power

Fossil-fuel
power stations

Operational / UC	Aitken Spence Asia Power Sapugaskanda Colombo Port Ace Embilipitiya KCHT Karadiyana Kelanitissa Lakdhanavi Lakvijaya Northern Sampur (cancelled) Sapugaskanda Sojitz Kelanitissa Uthuru Janani Yugadanavi
Decommissioned	Ace Horana Ace Matara Aggreko Chunnakam Heladhanavi Koolair Pettah

Organizations

Inland waters of Sri Lanka

Rivers

≥100km	Deduru Oya Gal Oya Gin Ganga Kala Oya Kalu Ganga Kukule Ganga Kelani River Kehelgamu Oya Maskeliya Oya Pusweli Oya Kirindi Oya Kumbukkan Oya Maduru Oya Maha Oya Malwathu Oya Amban Ganga Kotmale Oya Nanu Oya Mahaweli Ganga Menik Ganga Mi Oya Walawe River Belihul Oya Yan Oya
<100km	Akkarayan Aru Kanakarayan Aru Kodalikkallu Aru Madu Ganga Mandekal Aru Mavil Aru Nay Aru (Mannar) Nay Aru (Mullaitivu) Netheli Aru Nilwala River Pali Aru Pallavarayankaddu Aru Parangi Aru Per Aru Piramenthal Aru Theravil Aru Valukkai Aru Verugal Aru

Lakes

Lagoons

Eastern coast	Batticaloa Lagoon Chalai Lagoon Chundikkulam Lagoon Kokkilai Lagoon Nai Aru Lagoon Nanthi Lagoon Ullackalie Lagoon Upaar Lagoon Vadamarachchi Lagoon Valaichchenai Lagoon
Western coast	Jaffna Lagoon Mundal Lagoon Negombo Lagoon Puttalam Lagoon Uppu Aru Lagoon
Southern coast	Koggala Lagoon Rekawa Lagoon Malala-Ambilikala Lagoons