Bhavanisagar Dam or Lower Bhavani Dam, is located in Erode district, Tamil Nadu, India. The dam is constructed on the Bhavani river. It is one of the world’s largest earthen dams. The dam is situated some 16 km (9.9 mi) west of Sathyamangalam, is 35 km (22 mi) from Gobichettipalayam and is 36 km (22 mi) north-east to Mettupalayam.
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. The dam was constructed at a cost of ₹210 million (US$2.8 million).
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 32.8×109 cu ft (930×106 m3).
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. The dam is fed by both Southwest and Northeast monsoons.
The dam feeds water into two canals, Lower Bhavani Project Canal and Kalingarayan Canal. The Kalingarayan canal feeds Thadapalli and Arakkankottai channels and the LBP canal feeds the Thadapalli and Arakankottai channels.
| 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 hydrodelectric 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).