| Sirvani Waterfalls | |
|---|---|
 Upper cascades of the Siruvani Waterfalls | |
 | |
| Location | Coimbatore District, Tamil nadu, India |
| Coordinates | 10°56′17″N 76°41′14″E / 10.938011°N 76.687177°E |
| Type | Cascade |
| Watercourse | Siruvani River |
Siruvani Waterfalls,[1] and the dam named after them, are located 36 km (22 mi) west of Coimbatore in the Western Ghats. The reservoir at Siruvani was built by the Kerala government for Tamil Nadu, funded by the Tamil Nadu government, to meet the drinking water requirements of Coimbatore. The gateways on either side of the road across the dam showcase typical Kerala and Tamil architectural styles. Siruvani is also home to certain tribes like the Mudugars and Irulas. The falls and the dam attract tourists because of the beautiful views.[1]
The government gave approval for construction of the masonry gravity dam in February 1915. Work did not start immediately, according to information from the Archaeology Department, Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board and the district gazette.The villagers of Boluvampatti and Alandurai opposed the scheme, as they feared it would affect them. But they were convinced about the benefits of bringing Siruvani water to a town that was growing.
The construction of the dam began in 1927. The site is located in difficult terrain, with hazards including wild animals. Construction workers stayed in the guest house near Iruttu pallam. They rode to the dam site on horses with gunmen providing security. Even today,[when?] a visit to the Siruvani dam is very different, except that one doesn't have to travel on a horse. Forest guards continue to accompany those who visit the dam. The initial cost of construction was Rs. 2,17,725 (for 23 feet). The reason for selecting the site was that it had perennial streams. The area below the Siruvani, Muthikulam falls, Gobiyaru, Solaiyaru, Pattiyaru, Veeraru and Paambaru falls, the main sources of supply were identified for construction.
There were plans to commission a hydroelectric project at Siruvani, but the move was dropped as the Pykara project in the Nilgiris was mooted at the time. Major and minor construction works continued until 1984, and the total cost was Rs. 26.12 crores.The drawn from the dam in 1931 was 113 lakh litres for a population of more than 95,000. In the 1970s, the drawn was scaled down to 130 lakh litres from 186 lakh litres in the summer as inflow into the Muthikulam reduced by half.
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