View source for Amaravathi Dam

{{Short description|Dam on the Amaravathi River in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox dam
| name               = Amaravathi Dam
| image              = Amaravathi Dam.jpg
| image_alt      = View of Amaravathi dam
| name_official      = Amaravathi Dam
| dam_crosses        = [[Amaravati River]] 
| res_name           = [[Amaravathi Reservoir]]
| location           = [[Amaravathinagar]] in [[Indira Gandhi National Park|Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Udumalaipettai|Udumalpet]], [[Tirupur district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
| dam_length         =
| dam_height         =
| construction_began =
| opening            = 1957
| coordinates          = {{coord|10|24.64|N|77|15.6|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| location_map = India Tamil Nadu
| location_map_alt = Location of the dam within Tamil Nadu
| extra              =
}}

The '''Amaravathi Dam''' is a [[dam]] constructed across the  [[Amaravathi River]]. It is located at [[Amaravathinagar]], {{convert|25|km}} south of [[Udumalaipettai|Udumalpet]] on [[State Highway 17 (Tamil Nadu - Kerala, India)|SH 17]] in the [[Indira Gandhi National Park|Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary]], [[Tirupur district]] in the Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]]. The associated [[Amaravathi Reservoir]]  is {{convert|9.31|km2}} in area and {{convert|33.53|m}} deep.<ref name="resvp"/> The dam was built primarily for [[irrigation]] and [[flood control]] and now also has four megawatts of electrical generating capacity installed. It is notable for the significant population of [[mugger crocodile]]s living in its reservoir and [[Drainage basin|catchment basin]].

==History==
{{Expand section|date=September 2021}}
The dam was built across the [[Amaravati River]] in 1957, during [[K Kamaraj]]'s administration,  about 25&nbsp;km upstream and south of the [[Thirumoorthy Dam]].

==Tourism==
There is a well laid-out park where one may climb steep steps on the dam to have a picturesque view north of the plains below and south to the [[Anaimalai Hills]] and [[Palni Hills]] above.<ref>[http://aizwaikcha.blogspot.com/2008/03/amaravathi-dam.html Photo of Park]</ref> Boating for tourists in the dam began on 14 January 2011.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://dinamani.com/edition/Story.aspx?SectionName=Edition-Coimbatore&artid=361798&SectionID=136&MainSectionID=136&SEO=&Title=%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D%20%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%81%20%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8B%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%81%20%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D| title=சுற்றுலாப் படகு போக்குவரத்து துவக்கம்| publisher=Dina Mani| date=14 Jan 2011| access-date=16 Jan 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814161511/http://dinamani.com/edition/Story.aspx?SectionName=Edition-Coimbatore&artid=361798&SectionID=136&MainSectionID=136&SEO=&Title=%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D%20%E0%AE%AA%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%81%20%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8B%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%81%20%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D| archive-date=14 August 2011| url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Amaravathi Reservoir ==
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name          = Amaravathi Reservoir
| image         = Amaravathi Reservoir & Dam.jpg
| caption       = Amaravathi Reservoir and Dam
| image_bathymetry   = 
| caption_bathymetry = 
| location           = [[Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park]], [[Tiruppur district]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates          = {{coord|10|24.64|N|77|15.6|E|type:landmark_region:IN}}
| type               = [[reservoir]]
| inflow             = [[Pambar River (Kerala)|Pambar River]] → [[Chinnar River]] → [[Amaravathi River]]
| outflow            = [[Amaravathi River]]
| catchment          = 
|pushpin_map=Tamil Nadu
| basin_countries    = India
| length             = 
| width              = 
| area               = {{convert|9.31|km2|abbr=on}}
| depth              = 
| max-depth          = {{convert|33.53|m|abbr=on}}
| volume             = {{convert|3|e9cuft|km3|abbr=on}}<ref name=resvp/>
| residence_time     = 
| shore              = 
| elevation          = {{convert|427|m|abbr=on}}
| frozen             = 
| islands            = 
| cities             = 
| reference          = <ref name=resvp>[http://www.tn.gov.in/economy/eco-aug2001-4.htm Government of Tamil Nadu, Reservoir Position]</ref>
}}
'''Amaravathi Reservoir''' at [[Amaravathinagar]], {{convert|25|km|mi|abbr=on}} south on [[State Highway 17 (Tamil Nadu - Kerala, India)|SH 17]] from [[Udumalaipettai|Udumalpet]], is located in [[Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park]] in [[Tiruppur district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. The  [[reservoir]] was created by the steep Amaravathi Dam built across the [[Amaravathi River]].<ref>{{cite book
  | title= ''Crocodiles, Their Ecology, Management, and Conservation''
  | publisher = [[IUCN]]/SSC Crocodile Specialist Group, Phil Hall, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
  | year =1989
  | location = [[Madras Crocodile Bank Trust|Madras Crocodile Bank]], Madras, India.
  | access-date = 2008-09-30
  | url = https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_97oE6gTFW8EC
  | quote= tilapia Amaravathi reservoir.
  |isbn = 978-2-88032-987-7
  | page = 278p
}}</ref>

==History of the Amaravathi reservoir==
[[File:Amaravathi reservoir 01.jpg|thumb|left|Amaravathi reservoir in amaravathi nagar]]
The dam was built in 1957 across the Amaravathi River about {{convert|25|km|mi|abbr=on}} upstream and south from Thirumoorthy Dam. Capacity of the dam has shrunk 25% from 4 [[tmcft]] to 3 tmcft due to [[siltation]].<ref>"Farmers worried over low water level" Gunasekaran M., The Hindu, 16 February 2007  [https://web.archive.org/web/20070217062322/http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/16/stories/2007021601150200.htm]</ref> The dam was built primarily for irrigation and flood control. In 2005 - 2006 the state reported revenue from medium commercial irrigation from the Amaravathi Reservoir Project was Rs. 43,51,000.<ref>[http://www.tn.gov.in/tnbudget/revenue%20receipts/revenue_summary.pdf Tamil Nadu Budget Summary, 2005 -2006]</ref>  During 2003–04, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board proposed to increase the dams utility by installing 4 [[Watt|MW]] capacity [[Hydroelectricity|hydro-electric]] [[power station]],<ref name="tn.gov.in">Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission, Annual Plan, Chapter 11 Infrastructure Development & Tourism, 2004 [http://www.tn.gov.in/spc/annualplan/chapter11-1.htm]</ref> which is now operating.

==Fisheries==
The non-indigenous [[Oreochromis mossambicus|tilapia]] fish was introduced here in the 1950s and subsequently this reservoir had highest fish yield in the state by the 1970s.<ref name="Whitakers">{{cite book
  | last = [[Rom Whitaker|Whitaker Rom]], Whitaker Zai
  | title= ''Crocodiles, Their Ecology, Management, and Conservation''
  | publisher = [[IUCN]]/SSC Crocodile Specialist Group, Phil Hall, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
  | year =1989
  | location = [[Madras Crocodile Bank Trust|Madras Crocodile Bank]], Madras, India.
  | access-date = 2008-09-30
  | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=97oE6gTFW8EC&dq=tilapia+%22Amaravathi+reservoir%22&pg=PA278
  |isbn = 978-2-88032-987-7
  | page = 278
}}</ref> Tilapia now accounts for a major portion of the catch in the reservoir.<ref>Gopalakrishnan, V. Ph.D., "Ethical, Legal and Social Issues Facing Capture Fisheries", Eubios Journal of Asian and International Bioethics 10 (2000), 77-81.[http://www.eubios.info/EJ103/EJ103E.htm]</ref> [[Cast net]]s are commonly used for subsistence fishing. Normally, an individual fisherman can catch more than 20&nbsp;kg/day of fish in the reservoir.{{citation needed|date=October 2016}}  The Fisheries department normally expects a yield of 110 [[tonne]]s/year of fish from the reservoir.<ref>M. Gunasekaran</ref> In 1972, a fish yield of 168&nbsp;kg/ha/yr (168&nbsp;kg/yr x 931 ha = 156,408&nbsp;kg/yr. = 156.408 tonnes/yr.) was reported.<ref>Sreenivasan, A., 1972. ''Energy transformations through primary productivity and fish production in some tropical freshwater impoundments and ponds.'' Pages 505–514 in Z. Kajak and A. Hillbricht-Ilkowska (editors) : Productivity problems in freshwaters. Polish Scientific Publishers, Warsaw, Poland. referred to in:''Ecological Studies in Tropical Fish Communities'' By Ro McConnell, R. H. Lowe-McConnell, Cambridge University Press, 1987, p.277, {{ISBN|0-521-28064-8}}, {{ISBN|978-0-521-28064-8}}, 382 pages. [https://books.google.com/books?id=Eu0T9mDiwnwC&q=sreenivasan&pg=PA277]</ref>

The Fisheries Department has formed the Amaravathi Nagar Tribal Fishermen Cooperative Society to give [[tribals]] fishing rights in the Amaravathi Reservoir. In 2007, fifty tribals who reside at Karattupathi settlement, close to the reservoir,  enrolled themselves as members of the society and eight of them have received a fishing licence.<ref>M. Gunasekaran, The Hindu, ''Coop. society for tribal fishermen formed'', 2007-12-25 [https://web.archive.org/web/20071228090400/http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/25/stories/2007122553270300.htm]</ref>

== Crocodiles ==
[[File:Amaravathi Crocodile sign.jpg|thumb|left|Crocodile Rearing Center]]
The largest wild breeding population of crocodiles in South India live in the reservoir, and in the [[Chinnar River|Chinnar]], [[Thennar River|Thennar]] and [[Pambar River (Kerala)|Pambar]] rivers that drain into it. These broad-snouted [[mugger crocodile]]s, also known as marsh crocodiles and Persian crocodiles, are the most common and widespread of the three species of crocodiles found in India. They eat fish, other reptiles, small and large mammals and are sometimes dangerous to humans. Their total wild population here is currently estimated to be 60 adults and 37 sub-adults.<ref>Andrews</ref> Other fish predators here include: [[Oriental small-clawed otter]]s, [[Indian cormorant]]s and [[Indian flap-shelled turtle]]s.<ref name=Whitakers/>

The Amaravathi Sagar Crocodile Farm, established in 1976, the largest crocodile nursery in India, is 1 kilometre before the Amaravathy dam site. Many adult crocodiles have been reintroduced from here into the wild. Eggs are collected from wild nests along the perimeter of the reservoir to be hatched and reared at the farm. Many crocodiles of all sizes can be seen basking in the sun and suddenly making a stride or piled up on one another. There are now 98 crocodiles (25 male  + 73 female) maintained in captivity here. Three Forest Department personnel manage and maintain the centre.,<ref>
Tamil Nadu Forest Dept, Amaravati Sagar Crocodile Farm
[http://www.forests.tn.nic.in/WildBiodiversity/amaravathy_croc.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151230014639/http://www.forests.tn.nic.in/WildBiodiversity/amaravathy_croc.html |date=30 December 2015 }}, 2007
</ref><ref>Andrews, Harry V., ''Status and Distribution of the Mugger Crocodile in Tamil Nadu'' [https://archive.today/20041220055759/http://www.wii.gov.in/envis/crocodile/tnadu.htm]</ref>

==Visitor information==

There is a well laid-out park where one may climb steep steps on the dam to have a picturesque view north of the plains below and south to the [[Anaimalai Hills]] and [[Palni Hills]] above. This place is being developed as a District Excursion Centre for tourism.<ref>[http://www.coimbatore.com/pollachi/around.htm Around Pollachi- Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary]</ref>

The park and crocodile farm are open every day from 9:00&nbsp;a.m. to 6:00&nbsp;p.m.

Travel by road From Coimbatore – via Pollachi and [[Udumalpet]] to Amaravathynagar is {{convert|96|km|mi|abbr=on}}.

Accommodation is available for four persons, with advance reservation, at a forest rest house near the crocodile farm. Rent is Rs.150 per day for two persons per suite.

==Gallery==

<gallery>
File:Amaravathi Reservoir & Dam.jpg|Amaravathi Reservoir & Dam
File:Amaravathi Crocodile sign.jpg|Sign at Amaravathi Crocodile Rearing Center
File:Fish Hatchery below Amaravathi Dam.jpg|Fish Hatchery below Amaravathi Dam
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Amaravathi Dam}}
{{stack|{{Portal|Water|Renewable energy}}}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20161009225719/http://www.panoramio.com/photo/1546557 South West View from Dam] of [[Anamalai Hills]],
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20161010233742/http://www.panoramio.com/photo/3374456 Photo of Spillway],
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_7qYe6Hd3s 5:53 Video at the Dam]
*[http://www.thagamai.com/amaravathi-dam-park-images-history-in-tamil amaravathi dam in tamil]

{{Hydrography of Tamil Nadu}}
{{Coimbatore district}}
{{National Parks of India}}
{{Protected Areas of India}}
{{Hydrology of Tamil Nadu}}

[[Category:IUCN Category II]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Coimbatore district]]
[[Category:Reservoirs in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Tiruppur district]]
[[Category:Geography of Coimbatore]]
[[Category:Dams on the Kaveri River]]
[[Category:Dams in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Hydroelectric power stations in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Dams completed in 1957]]
[[Category:1957 establishments in Madras State]]
[[Category:20th-century architecture in India]]