Bhavanisagar Dam
{{Infobox dam
| name = Bhavanisagar Dam
| name_official = Keel Bhavani Anai (dam in tamil)
| image_caption = Bhavanisagar Dam and Reservoir
| coordinates = {{coord|11|28|15|N|77|6|50|E|display=inline,title}}
| location = Bhavanisagar, Erode, Tamil Nadu, India
| purpose = irrigation, power
| status = open
| construction_began = 1948
| opening = 1955
| cost = {{INRconvert|210|m}}
| owner = Government of Tamil Nadu
| operator = Government of Tamil Nadu
| dam_type = earthen
| dam_crosses = Bhavani River
| dam_height_foundation= {{cvt|40|m}}
| dam_height_thalweg = {{convert|120|ft|abbr=on}}
| dam_length = {{convert|8|km|abbr=on}}
| dam_width_base =
| dam_volume =
| spillway_count =
| spillway_type =
| spillway_capacity =
| res_name = Bhavanisagar Reservoir
| res_capacity_total = {{convert|32.8|e9cuft|abbr=on}}
| res_catchment =
| res_surface =
| res_max_length =
| res_max_width =
| res_max_depth =
| plant_name =
| plant_operator =
| plant_commission =
| plant_decommission =
| plant_type =
| plant_hydraulic_head =
| plant_turbines = Lower Bhavani -1 4x2 MW = 8 MW; Lower Bhavani RBC (Right Bank Cannel) = 2x4 MW = 8 MW
| plant_capacity = {{convert|16|MW|abbr=on}}
| plant_capacity_factor=
| plant_annual_gen =
| image = BhavaniSagarDam.JPG
| dam_height =
}}
File:Bhavani_sagar_dam_june_2016.jpg
Bhavanisagar Dam or Lower Bhavani Dam, is located in Erode district, Tamil Nadu, India.{{Cite web|url=http://www.erode.tn.nic.in/tourism.htm|title=Tourist Information for Erode district|publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu|access-date=1 February 2016|archive-date=6 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306115648/http://www.erode.tn.nic.in/tourism.htm|url-status=dead}} The dam is constructed on the Bhavani river.{{Cite journal|url=http://www.cstibhavanisagar.org/pdf/csti/UNIQUENESS%20OF%20BHAVANISAGAR%20DAM.pdf|title=Uniqueness of Bhavanisagar dam|journal=CSTI|access-date=1 February 2016}} It is one of the world's largest earthen dams. Thyagi M.A. Eswaran, the Erode MLA was instrumental in bringing the Bhavanisagar Dam Project. M. A. Eswaran, was born to Muthukaruppan Pillai and Venkatalakshmi on 25 October 1895 at Karungalpalayam in Erode. The first major irrigation project executed in Tamil Nadu after Independence, it turned Erode, Tiruppur, and Karur districts into a fertile landscape, irrigating 2,47,247 acres for the cultivation of paddy and other crops, besides generating 18 MW through two power generation houses. M.A.Eswaran was unanimously elected as MLA for Erode area in the Madras Provincial Assembly in 1946. Apart from his contribution to the freedom struggle, he worked for the implementation of the Lower Bhavani Project. Until his death in 22.05.1978, he sacrificed his entire life for the welfare of the people. The dam is situated some {{convert|16|km|abbr=on}} west of Sathyamangalam, is 17 km (11 mi) North of Punjai Puliampatti, is {{cvt|35|km}} from Gobichettipalayam and is {{cvt|36|km}} north-east to Mettupalayam.{{Cite web |url=http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/agriculture/agri_resourcemgt_water_res_bhavanisagardam.pdf |title=Bhavanisagar dam |publisher=TNAU |access-date=1 February 2016}}
History
Dimensions
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. The dam is fed by both Southwest and Northeast monsoons.
The dam feeds water into two canals, Lower Bhavani Project Canal and Kalingarayan Canal.{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/27/stories/2008112756750500.htm |title=Breach in LBP Canal plugged |date=27 November 2008 |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=1 February 2016 |archive-date=3 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103131500/http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/27/stories/2008112756750500.htm |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/009/a0444e/A0444E03.htm |title=Large Scale Irrigation Systems |publisher=FAO |access-date=1 February 2016}} The Kalingarayan canal feeds Thadapalli and Arakkankottai channels and the LBP canal feeds the Thadapalli and Arakankottai channels.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/bhavani-sagar-dam-farmers-raise-apprehension-on-water-position/article7804518.ece|title=Bhavani Sagar dam: farmers raise apprehension on water position|date=26 October 2015|newspaper=The Hindu|accessdate=6 June 2021}}
| class="wikitable"
!Canal !! Ayacut area | |
| Lower Bhavani Project Canal | {{convert|103|e3acre}} |
| Kalingarayan canal | {{convert|15.743|e3acre}} |
| Thadapalli and Arakankottai | {{convert|24.504|e3acre}} |
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 {{convert|8|MW}} for a total capacity of {{convert|16|MW}}.
See also
- List of dams and reservoirs in India
- {{Portal-inline|Renewable energy}}
- {{Portal-inline|Water}}
References
{{Hydrography of Tamil Nadu}}
{{Commons category|Bhavanisagar Dam}}
Category:Dams completed in 1955
Category:Buildings and structures in Erode district