Mettur Dam

The Mettur Dam is one of the largest dams in India built in 1934. It was constructed in a gorge, where the Kaveri River enters the plains. It provides irrigation facilities to parts of Salem, the length of Erode, Namakkal, Karur, Tiruchirappali and Thanjavur district for 271,000 acres (110,000 ha) of farm land.

The total length of the dam is 1,700 m (5,600 ft). The dam creates Stanley Reservoir. The Mettur Hydro Electrical power project is also quite large. The dam, the park, the major Hydro Electric power stations and hills on all sides make Mettur a tourist attraction. Upstream from the dam is Hogenakal Falls. The maximum level of the dam is 120 ft (37 m) and the maximum capacity is 93.47 tmc ft.

History

When the dam was planned English people gave some money and evacuated the people who lived in Nayambadi village which was in the place of present Mettur dam. When the water level of the dam recedes even now we can see age old Hindu temples and church emerge from it as a proof. Those people who migrated from Nayambadi have settled down in Martalli village and near by villages which are part of Kollegal district Karnataka state, then those villages were part of Erode district, Tamil Nadu. Those were the days Kaveri disputes were at its peak, whenever disputes broke out these villagers were the victims. People ran here and there to save their lives. Men tried to guard village with weapon, keeping their women and children locked in house.

Mettur

Mettur is an industrial and tourism town located in the Salem district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is best known for the Mettur Dam.

Mettur is known for its huge dam, power, chemicals and aluminium. The maximum percentage of water requirements for irrigation in Tamil Nadu depends on the Mettur Dam. Usually the dam opens in June every year for irrigation in the Kaveri Delta. Mettur is one of the sources of electricity for Tamil Nadu. The Mettur Thermal Power Station acts as a base load power station for the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board. As of 2011, the town had a population of 52,813.

Stanley Reservoir

Mettur Dam, also called Stanley Reservoir, is constructed across the Kaveri River in Tamil Nadu. It was constructed in 1934 took 9 years to complete. Maximum height and width of the Dam are 214 and 171 feet respectively. Maximum storage height is 120 feet. Mettur Dam receives the water from both Kabini Dam and Krishna Raja Sagara Dam located in Karnataka. There are 2 hydro electric power stations in Mettur Dam. First Hydro Power station was constructed in British Ruling period and Second was on Indian Republic. There is a park under Dam called Ellis Park maintained by Tamil Nadu Public Works Department.

Mettur (State Assembly Constituency)

Mettur is a legislative assembly constituency in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Elections and winners in the constituency are listed below.

Madras State

Tamil Nadu

References