LOCATION:

Sharavthi valley in
Western ghats

PALIMPSEST
Hard infrastructure with monofunctional The people lost not only their homes but also Map showing type of
conceptions is viewed as standalone objects, their culture and memories of the land called vegetation (natural and
Jog falls
away from human interaction. There is ‘Kalenadu’. Current communities struggle to cultivated) near the Evergreen forests
purpose FROM the structure but not OF it, survive with lands handed down to them by Hirebhaskara dam Hirebhaskara Dam in the Bamboo dominated forests
especially after their design life. Re-imagining the Government in Forest areas with barely Mixed plantations
Talakalele Sagar Sharavathi Valley Scrub
them as haptic spatial elements instead of any resources/ climatic conditions required
optic would allow them to weave together for agriculture. With lack of any amenities in
communities instead of fragmenting them. the ‘island’ the current generation is forced 0m 0m
to move out. The plight of the people either 4.5km 4.5km
Such infrastructure has minimal capacity seeking connectivity with the outside world Shimogga
for human engagement. They focus on or a self-sustained island leads to negative WAT E R B A S I N : LAND USE MAP:
separating conditions rather than integrating connotations towards any future infrastructure Sharavathi S h a ra va th i Va l l ey
them. And in the long term, have bigger project on the river. This thesis will explore how
social and ecological repercussions. With to extend the axis of this forgotten structure to
the example of the submerged and defunct give back to the community and ecosystem,
Hirebhaskara dam in Linganamakki reservoir, instead of newer proposals on the river.It
Sagar, Karnataka, this thesis claims that such addresses the issues of the immediate context
a structure can be repurposed to a hybrid to foster resilience and connectivity, thus re-
type. The construction of multiple dams building community and collective memory. It L O W E S T M E A S U R E D WAT E R Map showing type of
on the Sharavathi river led to villages being pieces together the narrative of the land by
submerged within the reservoirs, creating a linking past functions and future possibilities,
LEVEL fisheries near the Hire- Fishing ban in monsoon+ strict restrictions
Sharavathi Valley bhaskara Dam in the Fishing prohibited during 1 month initial monsoon
man made island amongst other ecological so that people associate the dam with better +558m msl Open to fishing whole year
repercussions. memories. Sharavathi Valley Metalled roads
Cart tracks

TI M E L I NE: Built
Bird’s eye view of Sharavathi
yojana-Existing dams
Sharavathi Valley Tumari village
Site is located along Hirebhaskara dam which was the

1
first among the 4 major dams along Sharavathi river in
Sagar taluk in Karnataka, which is currently submerged
in the water of the Linganamakki reservoir which stores
more water.
Both dams cause relocation of multiple communities
and submerged large areas of land and ecosystems.
jun Hirebhaskara dam Hirebhaskara dam was the 3rd and largest siphon dam
system in India when it was built.
w-27.9
ma y jul
l-6.25
w-43.1 w-34.4 Linganamakki dam

l-9.65 l-7.7
Talakalele dam
a pr aug
w-78.1
SI TE Kargal dam
L AY E R S : w-88.9
CON D I TI ONS:
Before 1920- N a t u r a l - Existing contours, Forests:
Muppane State forest, Sharavthi river
l-17.49
l-19.9 (1)
Sharavathi valley Man made Intervention-
Land
between Ambutheertha Hirebhaskara dam that intercepts water flow
in the river , human settlements like Tumari ma r Shown as a cycle through Sharavathi valley
CONCEPT

2 the year with respect to the

SECTIONS
and Honnavar with scattered around the river valley and the w-78.1
sep
multiple settlements- agricultural plots with cart roads
l-17.49 amount of rain received w-121.4 Water Jog falls

every month
Reservoir
Bio-diversity zone l-27.2
Mahatma Gandhi
l- water level above base of dam in m Hydroelectric plant
feb BASE OF DAM IS AT 544 MSL
HIREBHASKARA w-98.2 w- water stored in the reservoir in TMC oct
Images showing Site
DAM l-22 w-139.09
Character during site
3rd and Largest Volute l-31.15 visits
Siphon dam in India ja n
1930s- Sagar, Karnataka w-122.36 n ov
Construction of d ec w-135.81
The Hirebhaskara dam l-27.4 C
Hirebhaskara dam- w-135.81 l-30
functions with the help
3rd and largest siphon l-30

3
of large volute siphons
volute dam in india at which automate the
Hirebhachhugaru- opening and closing of H I G H E S T M E A S U R E D WAT E R
First displacement gates with fluctuations in LEVEL
Sharavathi Valley
water levels
+578m msl

1964-
A
Construction of WORKING OF VOLUTE SIPHON
Linganamakki dam DAMS 2
Submergence of
Hirebhaskara
Second displacement 4 IMAGES OF
HIREBHASKARA DAM
L AY E R S :
N a t u r a l - Existing contours, Forests: B A:
Muppane State Forest, Sharavthi river Sharavathi river- Linganamakki reservoir
Man made Intervention-
submerged
3
SITE IMAGES
Present-
Bridge construction B:
Site Conditions near Hirebhaskara Dam and Sigan-
ongoing between NH66
door village
and NH69
Proposal of artificial 1 4 C:
waterfall and Site Conditions near Linganamakki Dam and
Jog falls
underground dam