Bhavanisagar dam

Bhavanisagar Dam or Lower Bhavani Dam, is located in Erode district, Tamil Nadu, India.[2] It is constructed on the Bhavani River.[1] It is known as south Asia's largest earthen dam and is the second largest in the world. The dam is situated some 16 km (9.9 mi) west of Sathyamangalam, and is 15 km (9.3 mi) from Punjai Puliampatti, 42 km (26 mi) from Gobichettipalayam and 36 km (22 mi) north-east of Mettupalayam.[3]

Bhavanisagar Dam
Bhavanisagar Dam and Reservoir
Official name	Bhavanisagar anaicut
Location	Bhavanisagar, Sathyamangalam, Tamil Nadu, India
Coordinates	11°28′15″N 77°6′50″E
Purpose	Irrigation, power
Status	Open
Construction began	1948
Opening date	1955
Construction cost	₹210 million (US$2.9 million)
Owner(s)	Government of Tamil Nadu
Operator(s)	Government of Tamil Nadu
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Earthen
Impounds	Bhavani River
Height (foundation)	40 m (130 ft)
Height (thalweg)	120 ft (37 m)
Length	8 km (5.0 mi)
Reservoir
Creates	Bhavanisagar Reservoir
Total capacity	32.8×10^^9 cu ft (930×10^^6 m^3)
Turbines	2
Installed capacity	32 MW (43,000 hp)
Source[1]

Under rain clouds

Bhavanisagar Dam

History

The Lower Bhavani Project was the first major irrigation project initiated in India after independence in 1948 [4]. Construction of the dam started in January 1948, and was completed in 1953 at a cost of 210 million Indian rupees. The dam is situated on the site of the village of Palayur. Before construction the people in Palayur were shifted to villages including Rajan nagar, Gandhinagar, Kasthuri nagar, Pudhupeerkadavu, Kothamangalam, Karachikorai, which were created by the government in the Sathyamangalam forest area.

Dimensions

The dam is 8.4 km (5.2 mi) long by 40 m (130 ft) high. The full reservoir level is 120 ft (37 m) and the dam has a capacity of 32.8×10^⁹ cu ft (930×10^⁶ m³).[1]

Hydrography

Bhavanisagar dam is constructed on the Bhavani River. The dam receives water from two main catchment areas in the Western Ghats. The water is fed into the Bhavani river known as Upper Bhavani. The eastern catchment area includes the Upper Bhavani, Avalanche and Emerald lakes, Kundha, Gedhai, Pillur and Nellithurai. The western catchment area includes Portimund, Parson’s valley, Pykara, Glenmorgan, Chinkara, Maravakandy, Moyar, and Thengumarahatta.[1] The dam is fed by both Southwest and Northeast monsoons.[1]

The dam feeds water into Lower Bhavani Project Canal and Bhavani River.[5][6] Bhavani River feeds Thadapalli and Arakkankottai channels at Kodiveri check dam and also feeds Kalingarayan channel at Bhavani.[7]

Canal	Ayacut area
Lower Bhavani Project Canal	205 thousand acres (830 km^2)
Kalingarayan canal	15.743 thousand acres (63.71 km^2)
Thadapalli and Arakankottai	24.504 thousand acres (99.16 km^2)

Power generation

The dam has two hydroelectric power stations, one on the east bank canal and the other on the Bhavani River. Each has a capacity of 8 megawatts (11,000 hp) giving a total capacity of 16 megawatts (21,000 hp).[1]

See also

• List of dams and reservoirs in India

References

1. "Uniqueness of Bhavanisagar dam" (PDF). CSTI. Retrieved 1 February 2016. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
2. "Tourist Information for Erode district". Government of Tamil Nadu. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
3. "Bhavanisagar dam" (PDF). TNAU. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
4. https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/19091/9/09_chapter%202.pdf
5. "Breach in LBP Canal plugged". The Hindu. 27 November 2008.
6. "Large Scale Irrigation Systems". FAO. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
7. "Bhavani Sagar dam: farmers raise apprehension on water position". The Hindu. 26 October 2010.