Vaigai Dam

Dam
Vaigai Dam is located in Tamil Nadu
Vaigai Dam
Location of the Vaigai Dam in Tamil Nadu
Official nameவைகை அணை
CountryIndia
Locationperiyakulam, Theni district, Tamil Nadu
Coordinates10°03′12″N 77°35′23″E / 10.05333°N 77.58972°E / 10.05333; 77.58972
Opening date29 January 1959
Dam and spillways
Height33.8 m (111 ft)
Length3,560 m (11,680 ft)
Reservoir
Total capacity174,000,000 m3 (6.144752010×109 cu ft)[1] (6.14 tmc ft)
Power Station
Operator(s)Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited
Commission date3 April 1990
TypeGravity dam
Turbines2 x 3 MW
Installed capacity6 MW

The Vaigai Dam is built across the Vaigai River near Andipatti, in the Theni district (Madura district, before British India) of Tamil Nadu, South India. Near the dam, the Government of Tamil Nadu has constructed an Agricultural Research Station to research the cultivation of various crops, including rice, sorghum, black gram, cowpea and cotton.[2]

History

Vaigai Dam was inaugurated on 21 January 1959[3] by the then Chief Minister K. Kamaraj.[4] It is one of the few dams not constructed between two mountains, so this dam completely depends on its concrete strength. The dam is the lifeline of farmers in six districts, namely Theni, Dindigul, Madurai, Sivagangai, Virudhunagar and Ramanathapuram. It provides water for irrigation in these districts and also serves as a source of drinking water for major cities such as Theni, Madurai, and Ramanathapuram, which lie along its riverbed.[5]

Capacity

Vaigai Dam measures 111 feet in height and can store water up to 71 feet, with a total storage capacity of 6,143 million cubic feet or 6.14 thousand million cubic feet.[4][1]

Maintenance

Vaigai Dam is maintained by Water Resources Department which in turn managed by the Tamil Nadu Public Works Department.[6]

Vaigai Dam Park

A small park that has a children’s play area is maintained on both sides of the dam. A small bridge connects the two sides of the park in front of the dam. A musical dancing fountain functions between 6:00 AM and 8:00 PM on weekends and during government holidays.[7]

Vaigai Dam Hydroelectric Power Plant

Vaigai Hydroelectric Power Plant was design capacity of 6 MW. It has 2 unit(s) of 3 MW each. The first unit was commissioned in 1990. It is operated by Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO).[8][9]

Upcoming developments

Vaigai Dam is one of the 104 dams in Tamil Nadu that is proposed to be improved under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project ( DRIP).[10]

Transportation

By Road:The dam is situated at 9 km from Andipatti, 14 km from Theni and 70 km from Madurai.

By Train:The nearest railway station is Andipatti Railway station which is located 10 km away from the dam.[11]

By Air:The nearest airport is Madurai Airport(IXM) which is 80 km away from the Dam. Air connectivity is available from Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Vijayawada. International connectivity is available to Colombo,[12] Dubai[13] and Singapore.

  • Vaigai Dam at Twilight
    Vaigai Dam at Twilight
  • Vaigai Dam in the Daylight
    Vaigai Dam in the Daylight
  • Vaigai dam closeup
    Vaigai dam closeup
  • Vaigai dam Full view
    Vaigai dam Full view
  • Vaigai dam backwater reservoir
    Vaigai dam backwater reservoir
  • Vaigai dam sideview
    Vaigai dam sideview
  • Aerial view
    Aerial view

References

  1. ^ a b "Reservoir details" (PDF). www.wrd.tn.gov.in.
  2. ^ "Welcome to Agricultural Research Station, Vaigai Dam". Tamil Nadu Government. Retrieved 9 August 2007.
  3. ^ "Data" (PDF). agritech.tnau.ac.in.
  4. ^ a b "Vaigai Dam | MaduraiGuru". Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  5. ^ "Water released from Vaigai dam for irrigationRiver Vaigai near Andipatti, the dam with a height of 111 feet can store 71 feet of water. It is 7 km from A ndipatti, 14 km from Theni and 70 km from Madurai. This dam was opened on January 21, 1959". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2007.
  6. ^ "Water Resources Department, Govt. of Tamil Nadu - Dams". www.wrd.tn.gov.in.
  7. ^ "Explore Tamilnadu Tourism - Experience Tamilnadu like never before". Tamilnadu Tourism Info. 21 September 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  8. ^ distribution., Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) was formed on 1 July 1957 under section 54 of the Electricity (Supply) Act 1948 in the State of Tamil Nadu as a vertically integrated utility responsible for power generation, transmission and. "Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO)". www.tangedco.gov.in.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ "Papanasam Hydroelectric Power Plant India - GEO". globalenergyobservatory.org.
  10. ^ "Details" (PDF). www.wrd.tn.gov.in.
  11. ^ "CRS holds speed trial on Usilampatti-Andipatti line | Madurai News - Times of India". The Times of India. TNN. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  12. ^ Arockiaraj, J (21 September 2012). "Finally, Madurai gets international connectivity". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  13. ^ "Business News, India Stock Market, Personal Finance, IPO, Financial News Headlines - The Financial Express". www.financialexpress.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
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