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| subdivision_name5 = [[Kochi]], [[Neriamangalam]], [[Kalady]], [[Malayattoor]]
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| length = {{convert|244|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name="theprint">{{cite web |url=https://theprint.in/opinion/in-monsoon-battered-kerala-idukki-dam-has-stood-tall-to-prevent-floods/97579/|title=Understanding the 42-year-old Idukki dam which is now saving Kerala|author=James Wilson|date=13 August 2018 |publisher=The Print |access-date=2020-09-08}}</ref>
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'''Periyar''', {{IPA-ml|peɾijɐːr|IPA}}, (meaning: ''big river'') is the longest river and the river with the largest discharge potential in the [[India]]n state of [[Kerala]].<ref name="shodhganga2">{{cite web|url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/171/12/07_chapter2.pdf|title=Study area and methods|pages=7|access-date= 31 October 2012|location=India}}</ref> It is one of the few [[Perennial stream|perennial]] rivers in the region and provides drinking water for several major towns.<ref name="idukki">{{cite web |url=http://idukki.nic.in/dam-hist.htm |title=Idukki District Hydroelectric projects |access-date=2007-03-12 }}</ref> The Periyar is of utmost significance to the [[economy of Kerala]]. It generates a significant proportion of Kerala's electrical power via the [[Idukki Dam]] and flows along a region of industrial and commercial activity. The river also provides water for irrigation and domestic use throughout its course besides supporting a rich fishery.<ref name="experteyes">{{cite web |url=http://expert-eyes.org/deepak/idukki.html |title=Salient Features
== Origin and path ==
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=== Sources ===
The source of the Periyar lies high in the [[Western Ghats]].<ref name="hinduperiyar">{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/folio/fo0107/01070460.htm|title=Periyar: A confluence of cultures|year=2001|work= The Hindu |access-date= 3 March 2014|location=India}}</ref><ref name="frontlineperiyar">{{cite web|url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2826/stories/20111230282612200.htm|title=Heightened tensions|year=2011|publisher= Frontline |access-date= 3 March 2014|location=India}}</ref> The state of Kerala asserted during the hearings on the Mullaperiyar issue in the [[Supreme Court of India]] that the Periyar originates in Kerala, flows entirely through Kerala and joins the sea in the Kerala.<ref name="NIEmullaperiyar">{{cite web| url = http://newindianexpress.com/nation/Mullaperiyar-Kerala-contests-TNs-rights-over-river/2013/08/14/article1733626.ece | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130816195613/http://newindianexpress.com/nation/Mullaperiyar-Kerala-contests-TNs-rights-over-river/2013/08/14/article1733626.ece | url-status = dead | archive-date = 16 August 2013 |title=Mullaperiyar: Kerala contests TN's rights over river|year=2013|publisher= The New Indian Express |access-date= 3 March 2014 |location=India}}</ref><ref name="experteyes2">{{cite web |url=http://expert-eyes.org/mullaperiyar/EC_Report/chapters/index.html|title=Report of the Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court on Mullaperiyar Dam|pages=60|access-date=9 November 2013}}</ref> This was also admitted by the state of Tamil Nadu in the court.<ref name="Timesmullaperiyar"/><ref name="Janamtvmullaperiyar"/><ref name="MOmullaperiyar">{{cite web| url=http://mymanorama.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/eweek.dll/portal/ep/contentView.do?contentType=EDITORIAL&channelId=-1073865028&contentId=14945915&catId=-206121&BV_ID=@@@|title=Final legal arguments submitted by Kerala |year=2013|publisher= manoramaonline.com|access-date= 3 March 2014|location=India}}</ref> Periyar originates at the southeastern border of [[Idukki district]].<ref name="cgwbidukki">{{cite web |title=GROUND WATER INFORMATION BOOKLET OF IDUKKI DISTRICT, KERALA|url=http://cgwb.gov.in/District_Profile/Kerala/Idukki.pdf|website=cgwb.gov.in|publisher=Central Ground Water Board, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India| page=2 | accessdate=19 September 2020 |date=December 2013}}</ref> The source of the river lies in the remote forests of the [[Periyar Tiger Reserve]].<ref name="KerTourismPTR">{{cite web| url=http://www.keralatourism.org/periyar/periyar-tiger-reserve.php|title=Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary/Periyar Tiger Reserve |publisher= keralatourism.org|access-date= 3 March 2014|location=India}}</ref><ref name="PTR">{{cite web| url=http://www.periyartigerreserve.org/home.php|title=Periyar Tiger Reserve -> Values of P.T.R. -> Catchment Value|publisher= Periyar Tiger Reserve|access-date= 3 March 2014|location=India}}</ref> The river originates from Chokkampatti Mala,<ref name="shodhganga"/><ref name="KFRI2">{{cite web|url= http://docs.kfri.res.in/KFRI-RR/KFRI-RR150.pdf |title=STUDIES ON THE FLORA OF PERIYAR TIGER RESERV| year=1998|publisher=Kerala Forest Research Institute|pages=8|access-date=3 March 2014|location=India}}</ref><ref name="Botanyproceddings">{{cite web|url= http://www.nsscollegemanjeri.in/Documents/BotanyPROCEEDINGS%20FINAL%2003%20June%202013%20Standard.pdf |title=Proceedings, Western Ghats
=== Course ===
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Minor tributaries are:
Muthayar, Perunthuraiar, Chinnar, Deviyar, Cheruthony, Kattappanayar
Although the Chalakudy river in strict geological sense is a tributary of the Periyar, for all practical purposes it is treated as a separate river by Government and other agencies. Chalakudy river itself has a catchment area of {{convert|1704|km2|mi2}}, with {{convert|1404|km2|mi2}} in Kerala and {{convert|300|km2|mi2|0}} in Tamil Nadu.<ref name="dyuthi.cusat">{{cite web
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The upper part of the Periyar basin extends across the [[Cardamom Hills]]. In the north, these hills extend up to the high [[Munnar]] saddle running east to Chokkanad Mala and further on to Kolukkumala on the eastern edge of the Ghats. In the south, the hills reach up to the westerly spur at Chokkampatti Mala.<ref name="Botanyproceddings"/> This section of the basin is divided into three parts.<ref name="Periyar foundation1">{{cite web|url=http://www.periyarfoundation.org/pdf/GoodrickalRBA.pdf|title=The Landscape, Ecological Status, Conservation Potential, Threats to the Forests and Biodiversity of the Gudarakal Range, Ranni Forest Division (Southern Forest Circle, Kerala)|year=2006|pages=11|access-date= 6 November 2013|location=India}}</ref>
==== Source
The southernmost part of the Cardamom Hills i.e. the source of Periyar River is a narrow valley extending south of [[Kumily]]. This is the southern extreme of the Periyar basin. It is less than {{convert|20|km|mi}} wide and is about {{convert|40|km|mi}} long.<ref name="Periyar foundation1"/> The upper catchments of Periyar extend as a wedge deep into the northeastern corner of the neighboring Pandalam Hills. This section of the Cardamom Hills extends deep into but is clearly separated from the Pandalam Hills. The main Western Ghats watershed line forming the eastern border of the Cardamom Hills is highest to the southeast of the Kumily Gap. Here the High Wavies branch off towards north-west into Tamil Nadu, with some peaks reaching elevations of over {{convert|1900|m|ft}} along the border between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Further south, the ridge along the watershed line is heavily forested. This part of the Cardamom Hills is called the Sivagiri Range and it extends south up to Chokkampatti Mala which is at the junction of [[Pamba River|Pamba]] and Periyar River basins. The southern boundary of the Cardamom Hills runs along a westerly spur hill starting from the Chokkampatti Mala which initially runs north and then turns northwest almost parallel to the Sivagiri Range. This ridge separates the basin of Pamba from Periyar. From its source near Chokkampatti Mala initially Periyar flows north between these two heavily forested ridges. The valley floor is at an elevation of {{convert|1000|m|ft}} and the ridges on either side often reach {{convert|1800|m|ft}}. This valley of Periyar at its source and the valley of Kunthi River in the Silent Valley are the only two forested higher valleys in the Western Ghats left intact even now. The {{convert|925|km2|mi2|adj=on}} Periyar Tiger Reserve is mostly within this southernmost part of the Cardamom Hills.<ref name="Botanyproceddings"/>
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=== Hydro-electric projects ===
[[File:Idukki dam.JPG|thumb|right|300px|Idukki Dam across the Periyar river]]
The Idukki Dam is the largest hydro-electric project in Kerala and lies on the Periyar. It is the biggest dam of its kind (a concrete, double curvature parabolic, thin arc dam<ref name="experteyes"/>) in Asia and the second-biggest in the world. Its generators have a power output of 780 MW ({{nowrap|6 × 130}}), and generate electricity through the underground facility at Moolamattam, built by an India-Canada joint venture. Power generation at Idukki is minimal during the [[monsoon]]. The dam also permits storage of water for the dry summer period when many other reservoirs in the area are low. Since the commissioning of the Idukki project in 1976, tail-race water (between 19.
There are other hydro-electric generation facilities on the river at Pallivasal, Chenkulam, Panniyar, Neriyamangalam and Lower Periyar.<ref name="Waterquality">{{cite web|url= http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/waterquality.pdf |title=Environmental Monitoring Programme on Water Quality |year=2009 |publisher= Centre for Water Resources Development & Management|pages=57|access-date= 12 March 2014 |location=India}}</ref>
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=== Inter-basin transfer of water ===
[[Mullaperiyar dam]] was one of the earliest instances of inter-basin transfers in the peninsular India. While it met the demand for water on one hand, it led to the deterioration of water quality downstream of the river. Salinity intrusion and pollution dispersion problems arose in the lower reaches of the Periyar due to non-availability of sufficient quantity of water for flushing. Another inter-basin transfer from the Periyar to the Muvattupuzha river due to the Idukki project has further adversely affected the downstream flow in the Periyar river.<ref name="interlinking rivers">{{cite web|url= http://hindu.com/2002/12/11/stories/2002121103970500.htm |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20050130223411/http://www.hindu.com/2002/12/11/stories/2002121103970500.htm |url-status= dead |archive-date= 30 January 2005 |title=Inter-linking rivers
The Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP) agreement was conceived to harness and share the waters in the inter-State rivers in [[Bharathappuzha]], Chalakkudypuzha and Periyar basins. Nirar and Anamalayar, tributaries of Periyar are covered under this agreement.<ref name="papperiyar">{{cite web|url= http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/revise-water-release-chart-of-pap-experts/article4223058.ece |title=Revise water release chart of PAP: experts|year=2012|work=The Hindu|access-date=21 December 2012|location=India}}</ref> Water from these rivers are transferred to the adjacent Sholayar basin as part of the PAP agreement.<ref name="indwrispap">{{cite web|url= http://india-wris.nrsc.gov.in/wrpinfo/index.php?title=Parambikulam_Aliyar_(Irrigation)_JI02563 |title=Parambikulam Aliyar (Irrigation) JI02563|publisher=Water Resource Information System of India|access-date=6 November 2013|location=India}}</ref>
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[[Kalady]] is a town located on the banks of the Periyar river. It is the birthplace of Sri [[Adi Shankara]], the [[Hindu]] philosopher who consolidated the doctrine of [[Advaita Vedanta]]. Kalady started featuring in the spiritual map of India only after its rediscovery in the late 19th century by the then Shankaracharya of [[Sringeri]] and the subsequent consecration of a temple for Sri Adi Shankara in 1910.<ref name="Sharadapeetham">{{cite web|url=http://www.sringeri.net/branches/kerala/kalady|title=Sri Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthanam Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri|access-date=5 November 2013|location=India}}</ref>
Located {{convert|52|km|mi}} from Kochi, the [[Malayatoor]] Church is situated atop the {{convert|609|m|ft|adj=on}} high Malayatoor Hill. The church is dedicated to [[Thomas the Apostle|St. Thomas]], who is believed to have prayed at this shrine. One of the most important Christian pilgrim centres in Kerala,
== Environmental issues ==
=== Pollution ===
The lower reaches of the Periyar are heavily polluted. Industries in the Eloor industrial zone discharge waste into the river. Greenpeace India describes the lower Periyar as "a cesspool of toxins, which have alarming levels of deadly poisons like [[DDT]], [[endosulfan]], [[Hexavalent chromium|hexa]] and [[chromium|trivalent chromium]], [[lead]], [[cyanide]], [[Hexachlorobenzene|BHC]]".<ref>[http://www.greenpeace.org/india/campaigns/toxics-free-future/toxic-hotspots/eloor-kerala/history-and-chronology Greenpeace India]</ref><ref>[http://www.kerenvis.nic.in/files/water-quality/periyar.pdf Periyar River Basin, Chapter 2, Environmental Program on Water Quality, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment]</ref> Several studies have pointed out that the riverbed has deposits of heavy metals like lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium, nickel, cobalt and zinc and the ecosystem of the river has many dead zones. Some of the major recommendations are ensuring zero effluent discharge from the industrial units in the Eloor-Edayar stretch and zero emission from companies. Pollution of the river and surrounding wetlands has almost wiped out traditional occupations, including fishing and farming.<ref name="DecChron">{{cite web|url= http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130520/news-current-affairs/article/save-river-campaign-set-engulf-kerala|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130811235503/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130520/news-current-affairs/article/save-river-campaign-set-engulf-kerala|url-status= dead|archive-date= 11 August 2013|title=Save river campaign set to engulf Kerala|year=2013|publisher=The Deccan Chronicle|access-date=20 May 2013|location=India}}</ref>
=== Illegal sand mining ===
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[[Category:Bodies of water of the Arabian Sea]]
[[Category:Rivers of the Western Ghats]]
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