Will Tamil Nadu get another dam ever?

Thus, Tamil Nadu is perennially short of water. Is it because not enough dams have been built? Or is it because administrators are showing a lack of interest in constructing dams?

Historically, the Tamils pioneered in dam construction. But today, neighbouring States have overtaken Tamil Nadu in effective water storage and construction of dams.

The Grand Anicut, was constructed 2000 years ago by Karikal Chola. Veeranam dam was constructed later by the Cholas. The Chembarambakkamdam, which is one of the main drinking water sources for Chennai, was constructed by the Pallavas. Reservoirs, including Kalingarayan and Kodiveri dams, were gifts of princely States. 

Though the kings did not construct many big reservoirs, they dug numerous lakes and ponds. There was not a village without a lake or a pond. They spotted the water flowing channels and dug 39,202 lakes.

Dams during the British rule It was the British who constructed the Mettur, Mullaiperiyar, Papanasam and Pechiparai dams and reservoirs such as Wellington Lake, Poondi, Puzhal and Sholavaram.

After the British, during the Congress rule post Independence, the Perunchani, Aliyar, Amaravathi,

Sathanur, Manimuthar, Krishnagiri, Vaigai, Vidur, Komuki, Parambikulam, Bhavanisagar, Sakthiyar, Manjalar, Thirumoorthy and Upparu dams were constructed.

Most of these dams are big enough and have been important water sources for the State. In Cuddalore district, apart from Veeranam constructed by the Cholas and Wellington Lake constructed by the British, there has been no dam construction.

In Kancheepuram, apart from Chembarambakkam Lake, there are no lakes. In Tiruvallur district, apart from Puzhal, Sholavaram and Poondi lakes constructed by the British, no other new lakes came up.

During the DMK and the AIADMK period, only small dams were constructed. Most of them could store only few 100 cubic feet of water while some could store even only lesser. These reservoirs were environmentfriendly.

Notable dams constructed during the DMK period are the Kuthiraiaru, Sothuparai, Shenbagathoppu, Nallathangal Odai, Upparu, Ponniaru, Nambiaru, Ramanadhi, Karuppanadhi, Manimuthanadhi and the Mambalathuraiaru reservoir, which was opened in 2010. During the AIADMK period, the Pambaru, Nagavathi, Vaniaru, Kundaru and Shanmuganadhi dams were constructed. During the Congress rule between 1951 and 1956, 27.5 per cent of the budget was allocated for construction of dams in the State.

“It is true that most of the important dams were constructed during the rule by kings, the British and the Congress. Though 45 dams were constructed during the DMK period, they were medium and small dams.

The reason being big dams were already constructed in most of the prominent riverbeds during Kamarajar’s rule. Hence small dams and check dams were only possible,” said A Veerappan, former Chief Engineer, Public Works Department.

The Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states have taken steps to prevent surplus water from draining into the sea and to store it. Andhra Pradesh has spent Rs 1,80,000 crore for their water management programme ‘Jalyagnam’ while in neighbouring Telangana, under various schemes like ‘Mission Bhagiratha’ (a project for safe drinking water supply to every village and city household) and ‘Mission Kakatiya’ (a programme for restoring all the minor irrigation tanks and lakes), the State is spending Rs 80,182 crore.

Tamil Nadu has, however, spent only Rs 6,000 crore in 50 years for the construction of dams. People have been stressing for the construction of 40 check dams on Cauvery river alone as every year 90 tmc of the river water drains into the sea. The State does not properly utilise the Cauvery, Mullaiperiyar and Palar water it gets from the neighbouring States. Recently, the State government has taken steps to construct a few check dams on the Cauvery and Palar.

News Research Department