Bhavanisagar Dam
Bhavanisagar Dam and Reservoir
Official nameKeel Bhavani Anai
LocationBhavanisagar, Erode, Tamil Nadu, India
Coordinates11°28′15″N 77°6′50″E / 11.47083°N 77.11389°E / 11.47083; 77.11389
Purposeirrigation, power
Statusopen
Construction began1948
Opening date1955
Construction cost₹210 million (US$2.6 million)
Owner(s)Government of Tamil Nadu
Operator(s)Government of Tamil Nadu
Dam and spillways
Type of damearthen
ImpoundsBhavani River
Height (foundation)40 m (130 ft)
Height (thalweg)120 ft (37 m)
Length8 km (5.0 mi)
Reservoir
CreatesBhavanisagar Reservoir
Total capacity32.8×10^9 cu ft (930×10^6 m3)
TurbinesLower Bhavani -1 4x2 MW = 8 MW ; Lower Bhavani RBC (Right Bank Cannel) = 2x4 MW = 8 MW
Installed capacity16 MW (21,000 hp)
Source[1]
under the rain clouds
Bhavanisagar Dam

Bhavanisagar Dam or Lower Bhavani Dam, is located in Erode district, Tamil Nadu, India.[2] The dam is constructed on the Bhavani river.[1] It is one of the world's largest earthen dams. The dam is situated some 16 km (9.9 mi) west of Sathyamangalam, is 17 km (11 mi) North of Punjai Puliampatti, is 35 km (22 mi) from Gobichettipalayam and is 36 km (22 mi) north-east to Mettupalayam.[3]

History

The Lower Bhavani Project was the first major irrigation project initiated in India, after independence, in 1948. It was completed by 1955 and opened for use in 1956.[1] The dam was constructed at a cost of ₹210 million (US$2.6 million).[1]

Dimensions

The dam is 8 km (5.0 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, Singara, Maravakandy, Moyar and Thengumarahada.[1] The dam is fed by both Southwest and Northeast monsoons.[1]

The dam feeds water into two canals, Lower Bhavani Project Canal and Kalingarayan Canal.[4][5] The Kalingarayan canal feeds Thadapalli and Arakkankottai channels and the LBP canal feeds the Thadapalli and Arakankottai channels.[6]

Canal Ayacut area
Lower Bhavani Project Canal 103 thousand acres (420 km2)
Kalingarayan canal 15.743 thousand acres (63.71 km2)
Thadapalli and Arakankottai 24.504 thousand acres (99.16 km2)

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) for a total capacity of 16 megawatts (21,000 hp).[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Uniqueness of Bhavanisagar dam" (PDF). CSTI. Retrieved 1 February 2016. ((cite journal)): 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. ^ "Breach in LBP Canal plugged". The Hindu. 27 November 2008. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  5. ^ "Large Scale Irrigation Systems". FAO. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  6. ^ "Bhavani Sagar dam: farmers raise apprehension on water position". The Hindu. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
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