Vaigai Dam

Vaigai Dam
Location of the Vaigai Dam in Tamil Nadu
Country India
Location Andipatti, Theni district, Tamil Nadu
Coordinates 10°03′12″N 77°35′23″E / 10.05333°N 77.58972°E / 10.05333; 77.58972Coordinates: 10°03′12″N 77°35′23″E / 10.05333°N 77.58972°E / 10.05333; 77.58972
Opening date January 29, 1959
Dam and spillways
Height 33.8 m (111 ft)
Length 3,560 m (11,680 ft)
Reservoir
Total capacity 174,000,000 m3 (6.144752010×109 cu ft)[1]
Power station
Operator(s) Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited
Commission date April 3, 1990
Type Gravity dam
Turbines 2 x 3 MW
Installed capacity 6

The Vaigai Dam is built across the Vaigai River near Andipatti, in the Theni district of Tamil Nadu, southern India. It provides water for irrigation for the Madurai district and the Dindigul district as well as drinking water to Madurai and Andipatti.[2] Near the dam, the Government of Tamil Nadu has constructed an Agricultural Research Station for researching the growing of a variety of crops, including rice, sorghum, blackgram, cowpea and cotton.[3]

History

Vaigai Dam was inaugurated on 21 January 1959[4] by then Tamil Nadu chief Minister Mr. K .Kamaraj.[5]

Capacity

Vaigai Dam measures 111 ft in height and can store water up to 71 ft, with a total storage capacity of 6,143 mcft.[6][7]

Maintenance

Vaigai Dam is maintained by Water Resources Department[8] which in turn managed by the Tamil Nadu Public Works Department.

Vaigai Dam Park

A Small and beautiful park is maintained by the Water Resources Department on both sides of the Dam. A small bridge connects the two sides of the park in front of the dam. The park also have a children play area.

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).[9][10]

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).[11]

Transportation

By Road:The dam is situated at 7 km from Andipatti, 14 km from Theni and 70 km from Madurai.

By Train:The nearest railway station is Dindigal station which is located 61 km sway from the dam. The Railway station in Theni is not functioning.

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 Chennai [12] and vaigai.[13] Connectivity to Singapore is expected soon.

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

Footnotes

  1. ↑ http://www.wrd.tn.gov.in/Reservoir_details.pdf
  2. ↑ "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. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
  3. ↑ "Welcome to Agricultural Research Station, Vaigai Dam". Tamil Nadu Government. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
  4. ↑ http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/agriculture/agri_resourcemgt_water_res_vagaidam.pdf
  5. ↑ http://maduraiguru.in/vaigaidam
  6. ↑ http://maduraiguru.in/vaigaidam
  7. ↑ http://www.wrd.tn.gov.in/Reservoir_details.pdf
  8. ↑ http://www.wrd.tn.gov.in/Dams.htm
  9. ↑ http://www.tangedco.gov.in/hydrokoday.html
  10. ↑ http://globalenergyobservatory.org/geoid/41261
  11. ↑ http://www.wrd.tn.gov.in/DRIP_details.pdf
  12. ↑ http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-21/madurai/34001190_1_s-rethinavelu-tncci-spicejet-flight
  13. ↑ http://www.financialexpress.com/article/industry/companies/spicejet-introduces-summer-schedule-unveils-new-flights-to-dubai-effective-march-29-2015/44326/
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