 In 1928 the location at Sairandhri on the Kunthipuzha River was identified as an ideal site for electricity generation.In 1970 Kerala State Electricity Board(KSEB) proposed a hydroelectric dam across the Kunthipuzha River that runs through Silent Valley, that will submerge 8.3 sq km of untouched moist evergreen forest.In February 1973, the Planning Commission approves the project at a cost of about Rs 25 crores.