Mettur dam is one of the largest dam in India. Like other dams of India the purpose of this dam was also

• Conserving river water for various uses.
• Storage of water to be used at different period of time.
• Promotion of other water related activities.

The Mettur dam is located on the river Kaveri (Cauveri). It is located in Mettur in the district of salem. Salem is in the Tamilnadu district of India. It is said that the history of this dam dates back to 1834 and 1934. This is one century. Like other dams of India even this dam had to undergo a lot of paper work and discussions.

• This is also one of the largest dam in the world.
• In the year 1994 the dam celebrated its Dimond jubilee (60 years).

The importance of the Dam

Kaveri river is one the most important rivers of the country. Especially in the southern states of the India. Kaveri is also a sacred river. It attaches the same values that river Ganga has for the entire nation. As per Hindu mythology these rivers have been quoted to be worshipped.

Mettur dam which is one of the Dams of India constructed on the Kaveri River has huge importance for the states and nearby places.

• The river Kaveri flows in the two important sates of India. Karnataka and Tamilnadu. The states are economically sound and the agricultural activities are highly dependent on the river water. Since Kaveri flows in both the states it helps both the states to best utilize the river water.
• The reason why the dam is one of the largest dam in india is that the state of Tamilnadu needed a huge water reservoir to collect water and help the entire state.

Why mettur dam was a must?

Mettur dam is the only source of largest reservoir in Tamilnadu. Tamilnadu is a southern state of India. It is also known as the “rice bowl of Tamilnadu”.

• Rice is the staple food of the southern India.
• The paddy farms (rice cultivation) need water logged land.
• Other water related activities like hydroelectricity and fishery.
• Kaveri is a rain fed river and the water is seasonal.

The chronology of river and dam

River kaveri and the usage of its water has been a point of discussion in the country for a long period. In the time period between 1892 and 1924 the usage of the water was regulated.

• Princely state of Mysore (Mysuru) and the Province of Madras now Karnataka and Tamilnadu were given guidelines for the usage of the river water. Kerala which is another important state of the southern India was not a part of this treaty.
• A tribunal for the cauvery water distribution was formed in the year 1990. This was a result of the expiry of 1924 agreement.
• The states were not content with the regulations and the water sharing deals.
• In the year 2002 monsoon was a failure. Both the states and the rivers were in dearth of water. Hence the need for kaveri distribution revoked.
• Karnataka has been unhappy with the decision.
• The Supreme Court of India is the final authority to decide on the disturbed distribution.

The highest capacity of this one of the largest dam in India is 120 feet. The river and the water dispute seldom let the dam to fill its extreme capacity.

The latest rows and disturbance for the kaveri water has been seen in Karnataka and Tamilnadu in the month of September 2016.