Due to heavy rains in the catchment areas, the water level in Bhavanisagar dam in Erode has increased and the water level in the dam has risen to 51 feet in two days.
Bhavanisagar Dam:
Located in Erode district, the 105 feet high Bhavanisagar Dam is the second largest dam in the state after Mettur Dam and the second largest earthen dam in the world. This dam was not built after independence and is considered better.
Also, after Delta Irrigation, the Kilbhavani Irrigation Project is the second largest irrigated area in Tamil Nadu.
2.52 lakh acres of land in Erode, Tirupur and Karur districts are being benefited by this dam. Apart from this, it is also a source of drinking water for the people of Erode district.
Catchment Area:
The dam is constructed at the confluence of Bhavani River, which flows through Mettupalayam Sirumugai, Coimbatore, and the buttermilk produced in the Nilgiris District.
If it rains in the catchment area of this dam, the Nilgiris or the Erode Coimbatore district, the water flow will increase.
Increase in water flow:
Erode Bhavanisagar Dam has been found dry without water flow due to hot summer heat in Erode district for the past few days.
At present, the Nilgiri Hills, which is the catchment area of the dam, is receiving heavy rains, so the water flow is continuously increasing.
In this situation, the water flow to Bhavanisagar dam which was 1316 cubic feet yesterday has increased to five thousand cubic feet in one day and the water flow has increased to 6357 cubic feet per hour.
Also since evening 3000 cubic feet of water was released from Pillur dam in Bhavani river, increasing water flow in Bhavani river and Mayar.
As a result, Bhavanisagar dam water level has risen by five feet in two days only. As of this morning, the water level of Bhavanisagar dam has risen to 51 feet and 5 cubic feet of water is being released from the dam only for the Lower Bhavani canal.
Similarly, Gunderipallam dam in Erode district with a capacity of 41 feet has risen to 37.10 feet as of this morning. Similarly, the water level in Varatupallam has risen to 23.29 feet as of this morning. This made the farmers and public happy.
