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 Bhavanisagar Dam is constructed at the confluence of Bhavani River which flows through Mettupalayam Sirumugai in Coimbatore district where the buttermilk produced in the Nilgiris district meets.
The water flow of this dam will increase if it rains in the catchment area of the Nilgiris or in the Erode Coimbatore district.
Increase in water flow:
For the past few days, Bhavanisagar dam has been found dry without water flow due to intense summer heat in Erode district.
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 flow of water to Bhavanisagar Dam on 23rd was 1316 cubic feet, which increased to five thousand cubic feet in one day and the water flow rose to 6357 cubic feet per hour.
Rise to 52.43 feet today:
Also since evening 3000 cubic feet of water was released from Pillur dam in Bhavani river, increasing water flow in Bhavani river and Mayar.
In this situation, the water level of the dam has risen to 5 feet in three days due to continuous inflow of water. The water level of the dam was 51 feet yesterday and has risen to 52.43 feet today.
