Sathanur Dam which forms the Sathanur reservoir, is one of the major dams in Tamil Nadu. It is constructed across the
Thenpennai River
The South Pennar River (also known as ''Dakshina Pinakini'' in Kannada and ''Thenpennai or Ponnaiyar'' or ''Pennaiyar'' in Tamil) is a river in India. Bangalore, Hosur, Tiruvannamalai, and Cuddalore are the important cities on the banks of Sout ...
also called as
Pennaiyar River
The South Pennar River (also known as ''Dakshina Pinakini'' in Kannada and ''Thenpennai or Ponnaiyar'' or ''Pennaiyar'' in Tamil) is a river in India. Bangalore, Hosur, Tiruvannamalai, and Cuddalore are the important cities on the banks of Sout ...
in
Thandarampet taluk among Chennakesava Hills. The dam can be reached by road from Tiruvannamalai City. It was constructed in 1958. There is also a large
crocodile
Crocodiles (family (biology), family Crocodylidae) or true crocodiles are large semiaquatic reptiles that live throughout the tropics in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia. The term crocodile is sometimes used even more loosely to inclu ...
farm and a fish grotto. Parks are maintained inside the dam for tourists to visit and the gardens have been used by the film industry.
History
The Sathanur Dam Project was proposed in the First
Five Year Plans of India and started in the year 1953. The Dam works are completed in the Second
Five Year Plans of India and is operational from 1958.
The project was inaugurated by the then
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu K. Kamaraj
Kumaraswami Kamaraj (15 July 1903 – 2 October 1975, hinduonnet.com. 15–28 September 2001), popularly known as Kamarajar was an Indian independence activist and politician who served as the Chief Minister of Madras State (Tamil Nadu) ...
. This is one of the Major
irrigation schemes were planned in
Kamaraj's period . The other projects are
Lower Bhavani,
Krishnagiri Dam,
Mani Muthuar ,
Cauvery Delta , Aarani River,
Vaigai Dam ,
Amravathi ,
Sathanur , Pullambadi,
Parambikulam and Neyaru Dams.
The approved cost of the project is ₹2.02 Crores. The project was completed within ₹3.59 Crore (Actual cost). The project is covered under CADA (Command Area Development Authority) Scheme.
Technical details
The reservoir has a capacity of with a full level of . An area of of land is benefited by the left bank canal and of land is benefited by the right bank canal in
Thandrampet and
Thiruvannamalai blocks. The temple is a popular picnic area in the region.
See also
*
List of dams and reservoirs in India
sovoor
References
{{Hydrography of Tamil Nadu
Dams in Tamil Nadu
Reservoirs in Tamil Nadu
Dams completed in 1958
1958 establishments in Madras State