The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Mettur dam to celebrate platinum jubilee

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Tuesday, Jul 08, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Mettur dam to celebrate platinum jubilee

Special Correspondent

A 75 feet-high view tower with lift facilities to be erected

File Photo: P. Goutham

Engineering marvel: A view of the Mettur dam across the river Cauvery. —

METTUR: The Stanley Reservoir, standing majestically across the river Cauvery for 75 eventful years, is all set to celebrate its platinum jubilee year.

The Mettur dam project, which has been the lifeline of Tamil Nadu, was conceived in 1910 and handed over to Col. W. M. Ellis for execution. The first blast was carried out on July 20, 1925 and after nine years of uninterrupted work it was commissioned on August 21, 1934.

An engineering marvel, the reservoir commands a catchment area of 16300 square miles with a back up of 33 miles reaching out to Hoganekkal falls. It impounds 93,500 mcft of water to irrigate 13.52 lakh acres in delta districts, the major beneficiaries of the Stanley reservoir. The dam’s total length is 5,300 feet. The Public Works Department is making arrangements to celebrate the occasion. Cauvery Technical Cell Chairman Mohanakrishnan visited the dam and held discussions.

An official said that a 75 feet high view tower with lift facilities would be erected. It would house an exhibition of rare pictures concerning the dam and its construction activities. The dates for the function were yet to be finalised.

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