Amaravathi Reservoir
Encyclopedia
Amaravathi Reservoir at Amaravathinagar
, 25 km (15.5 mi) south on SH 17 from Udumalpet
, is located in Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park in Tirupur district
, Tamil Nadu
, India
. The reservoir
was created by the steep Amaravathi Dam
built across the Amaravathi River. Amaravathi river is tributary of kaveri. It is notable for its high fisheries yield and South India's
largest wild breeding population of Mugger Crocodile
s, living there and in the rivers leading to it.
The dam was built in 1957 during the K. Kamaraj
administration across the Amaravathi River about 25 km (15.5 mi) upstream and south from Thirumoorthy Dam. Capacity of the dam has shrunk 25% from 4 tmcft
to 3 tmcft due to siltation
. 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. During 2003-04, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board proposed to increase the dams utility by installing 4 MW
capacity hydro-electric
power station
, which is now operating.
fish was introduced here in the 1950s and subsequently this reservoir had highest fish yield in the state by the 1970s. Tilapia now accounts for a major portion of the fish caught in the reservoir. Cast net
s are commonly used for subsistence fishing. Normally, one fisherman can catch over 20 kg/day of fish here. The Fisheries department normally expects a yield of 110 tonne
s/year of fishes from the reservoir. In 1972, a fish yield of 168 kg/ha/yr (168 kg/yr x 931 ha = 156,408 kg/yr. = 156.408 tonnes/yr.) was reported.
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.
The largest wild breeding population of Crocodiles in South India live in the reservoir, and in the Chinnar, Thennar and 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. Other fish predators here include: Oriental Small-clawed Otter
s, Indian Cormorant
s and Indian Flap-shelled Turtles.
The Amaravathi Sagar Crocodile Farm, Established in 1976, the largest Crocodile nursery in India, is One km. 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.,
and Palni Hills
above. This place is being developed as a District Excursion Centre for tourism.
The Park and Crocodile farm are open every day from 9.00 A.M. to 6.00 P.M. Entry fees are 0.50 paise per adult and 0.25 paise per child (below 12 years).
Travel by road From Coimbatore – via Pollachi and Udumalpet to Amaravathynagar is 96 km (59.7 mi).
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.
Amaravathinagar
Amaravathinagar is a village in the foothills of Annamalai Hills in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India; 17.6 km south on SH 17 from Udumalpet and around 90 km from Coimbatore city...
, 25 km (15.5 mi) south on SH 17 from Udumalpet
Udumalaipettai
Udumalai also known as Udumalpet is a town and a municipality in Tirupur district, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Poor Man's Ooty, as it is called, the Udumalpet town is one of the famous summer resorts of Tamil Nadu, surrounded by Mountains on three sides.Its name in the ancient days was "UDUMALAI"...
, is located in Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park in Tirupur district
Tirupur district
Tiruppur District is a district of the Indian state Tamil Nadu, formed in October 2008. This district is formed with these taluks from Coimbatore district and Erode district: Tirupur, Avinashi, Palladam, Dharapuram, Kangeyam, Madathukulam and Udumalpet. Tirupur district is a well-developed and...
, Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
was created by the steep Amaravathi Dam
Amaravathi Dam
Amaravathi Dam at Amaravathinagar, 25 km south on NH 17 from Udumalpet, is located in Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India. The 9.31 km², 33.53 m deep Amaravathi Reservoir was created by this steep dam. It was built primarily for irrigation and flood...
built across the Amaravathi River. Amaravathi river is tributary of kaveri. It is notable for its high fisheries yield and South India's
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
largest wild breeding population of Mugger Crocodile
Mugger Crocodile
The mugger crocodile , also called the Indian, Indus, Persian, or marsh crocodile, is found throughout the Indian subcontinent and the surrounding countries...
s, living there and in the rivers leading to it.
History
K. Kamaraj
Kumarasami Kamaraj better known as K. Kamaraj was an Indian politician from Tamil Nadu widely acknowledged as the "Kingmaker" in Indian politics during the 1960s. He was the chief minister of Tamil Nadu during 1954-1963 and a Member of Parliament during 1952-1954 and 1969-1975...
administration across the Amaravathi River about 25 km (15.5 mi) upstream and south from Thirumoorthy Dam. Capacity of the dam has shrunk 25% from 4 tmcft
Tmcft
Tmcft, , , , is the abbreviation for one thousand million cubic feet , commonly used in reference to volume of water in a reservoiror river flow.-Conversion:1 tmcft. is equivalent to:...
to 3 tmcft due to siltation
Siltation
Siltation is the pollution of water by fine particulate terrestrial clastic material, with a particle size dominated by silt or clay. It refers both to the increased concentration of suspended sediments, and to the increased accumulation of fine sediments on bottoms where they are undesirable...
. 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. During 2003-04, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board proposed to increase the dams utility by installing 4 MW
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
capacity hydro-electric
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
power station
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
, which is now operating.
Fisheries
The non-indigenous TilapiaOreochromis mossambicus
The Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, is a tilapiine cichlid fish native to southern Africa. It is a popular fish for aquaculture...
fish was introduced here in the 1950s and subsequently this reservoir had highest fish yield in the state by the 1970s. Tilapia now accounts for a major portion of the fish caught in the reservoir. Cast net
Cast net
A cast net, also called a throw net, is a net used for fishing. It is a circular net with small weights distributed around its edge.The net is cast or thrown by hand in such a manner that it spreads out on the water and sinks. This technique is called net casting or net throwing. Fish are caught as...
s are commonly used for subsistence fishing. Normally, one fisherman can catch over 20 kg/day of fish here. The Fisheries department normally expects a yield of 110 tonne
Tonne
The tonne, known as the metric ton in the US , often put pleonastically as "metric tonne" to avoid confusion with ton, is a metric system unit of mass equal to 1000 kilograms. The tonne is not an International System of Units unit, but is accepted for use with the SI...
s/year of fishes from the reservoir. In 1972, a fish yield of 168 kg/ha/yr (168 kg/yr x 931 ha = 156,408 kg/yr. = 156.408 tonnes/yr.) was reported.
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.
Crocodiles
Mugger Crocodile
The mugger crocodile , also called the Indian, Indus, Persian, or marsh crocodile, is found throughout the Indian subcontinent and the surrounding countries...
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. Other fish predators here include: Oriental Small-clawed Otter
Oriental Small-clawed Otter
The oriental small-clawed otter , also known as Asian small-clawed otter, is the smallest otter species in the world, weighing less than 5 kg. It lives in mangrove swamps and freshwater wetlands of Bangladesh, Burma, India, southern China, Taiwan, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines,...
s, Indian Cormorant
Indian Cormorant
The Indian Cormorant or Indian Shag is a member of the cormorant family. It is found mainly along the inland waters of the Indian Subcontinent but extending west to Sind and east to Thailand and Cambodia...
s and Indian Flap-shelled Turtles.
The Amaravathi Sagar Crocodile Farm, Established in 1976, the largest Crocodile nursery in India, is One km. 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.,
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 HillsAnaimalai Hills
The Anaimalai Hills is a range of mountains in the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu and Kerala states of South India. The name "Anaimalai" derives from the Tamil word 'Ana' meaning elephant and 'Mala' meaning hill, thus Elephant Hill. The highest peak of the Anaimalai Hills is Anamudi, , located in the...
and Palni Hills
Palni Hills
The Palni Hills are a mountain range in Tamil Nadu state of South India. The Palni Hills are an eastward extension of the Western Ghats ranges, which run parallel to the west coast of India. The Palni Hills adjoin the high Anamalai range on the west, and extend east into the plains of Tamil Nadu,...
above. This place is being developed as a District Excursion Centre for tourism.
The Park and Crocodile farm are open every day from 9.00 A.M. to 6.00 P.M. Entry fees are 0.50 paise per adult and 0.25 paise per child (below 12 years).
Travel by road From Coimbatore – via Pollachi and Udumalpet to Amaravathynagar is 96 km (59.7 mi).
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.