Bhavanisagar Dam | |
Name Official: | Keel Bhavani Anai |
Image Caption: | Bhavanisagar Dam and Reservoir |
Coordinates: | 11.4708°N 77.1139°W |
Location: | Bhavanisagar, Erode, Tamil Nadu, India |
Purpose: | irrigation, power |
Status: | open |
Construction Began: | 1948 |
Opening: | 1955 |
Owner: | Government of Tamil Nadu |
Operator: | Government of Tamil Nadu |
Dam Type: | earthen |
Dam Crosses: | Bhavani River |
Dam Height Thalweg: | 120feet |
Dam Length: | 8km (05miles) |
Res Name: | Bhavanisagar Reservoir |
Res Capacity Total: | 32.8e9cuft |
Plant Turbines: | Lower Bhavani -1 4x2 MW = 8 MW ; Lower Bhavani RBC (Right Bank Cannel) = 2x4 MW = 8 MW |
Plant Capacity: | 16MW |
Extra: | Source |
Bhavanisagar Dam or Lower Bhavani Dam, is located in Erode district, Tamil Nadu, India.[1] The dam is constructed on the Bhavani river.[2] It is one of the world's largest earthen dams. The dam is situated some 16km (10miles) west of Sathyamangalam, is 17 km (11 mi) North of Punjai Puliampatti, is from Gobichettipalayam and is north-east to Mettupalayam.[3]
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.[2] The dam was constructed at a cost of .[2]
The dam is 8km (05miles) long by 40m (130feet) high. The full reservoir level is 120feet and the dam has a capacity of 32.8e9cuft.[2]
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.[2] The dam is fed by both Southwest and Northeast monsoons.[2]
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]
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 for a total capacity of .[2]