Context:
A second flood warning for five southern districts has been issued after the water level in Vaigai Dam touched 68.50 ft. (the maximum permissible level is 71 ft.) recently.
Relevance:
GS III: Infrastructure
Dimensions of the Article:
- Vaigai Dam
- Vaigai River
Vaigai Dam:
- Location: Constructed near Andipatti, Theni district, Tamil Nadu, across the Vaigai River.
- Year of Construction: Built in 1959.
- Significance: Often termed the lifeline of the region, providing water for irrigation and drinking water for Madurai and Andipatti.
- Dimensions: Stands at a height of 111 feet, with a storage capacity of 71 feet of water.
- Purpose: Primarily built for irrigation in Madurai and Dindigul districts, as well as drinking water supply.
Vaigai River:
- Origin: Rises in the Varushanad Hills of the Western Ghats.
- Course: Flows through the Pandya Nadu region of Tamil Nadu, with a length of 258 kilometers.
- Tributaries: Main tributaries include Suruliyaru, Mullaiyaru, Varaganadhi, Manjalaru, Kottagudi, Kridhumaal, and Upparu.
- Periyar Dam Connection: Receives a significant water supply from the Periyar Dam in Kerala through a tunnel in the Western Ghats.
- Endpoint: Empties into the Palk Strait near the Pamban Bridge in Ramanathapuram district.
- Role: Meets the drinking water needs of five Tamil Nadu districts and supports irrigation for 200,000 hectares of agricultural land.
-Source: The Hindu
