Amaravathi Reservoir

Infobox lake
lake_name = Amaravathi Reservoir
image_lake = Amaravathi Reservoir & Dam.jpg
caption_lake = Amaravathi Reservoir & Dam
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu
coords = coord|10|24.64|N|77|15.6|E|region:IN_type:waterbody|display=inline,title
type = reservoir
inflow = Pambar River → Chinnar River → Amaravathi River
outflow = Amaravathi River
catchment =
basin_countries = Anaimalai Hills and Palni Hills
India
length =
width =
area = km2 to mi2|9.31|abbr=yes
depth =
max-depth = m to ft|33.53
volume =ft3 to m3|3000000000|abbr=yes|spell=Commonwealth|precision=1|wiki=yes [Government of Tamil Nadu, Reservoir Position. [http://www.tn.gov.in/economy/eco-aug2001-4.htm] ]
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = m to ft|427
islands =
cities =

Amaravathi Reservoir at Amaravathinagar, km to mi|num=25|abbr=yes|spell=Commonwealth|precision=2|wiki=no south on NH 17 from Udumalpet, is located in Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India. The reservoir was created by the steep Amaravathi Dam built across the Amaravathi River. It is notable for its high fisheries yield and South India's largest wild breeding population of Mugger Crocodiles, living there and in the rivers leading to it. cite book
last = Whitaker Rom, Whitaker Zai
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title= "Crocodiles, Their Ecology, Management, and Conservation"
publisher = IUCN/SSC Crocodile Specialist Group, Phil Hall, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
date =1989
location = Madras Crocodile Bank, Madras, India.
pages = p. 278
accessdate = 2008-09-30
url = http://books.google.com/books?id=97oE6gTFW8EC&pg=PA278&lpg=PA278&dq=tilapia+%22Amaravathi+reservoir%22&source=web&ots=f-XkHZUttL&sig=V_rinXqD68jA9hYAxrqF-P_v6ZI&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=6&ct=result#PPA276,M1
isbn = 2880329876, 9782880329877]

History

The dam was built in 1957 during the K. Kamaraj administration across the Amaravathi River about km to mi|num=25|abbr=yes|spell=Commonwealth|precision=2|wiki=no upstream and south from Thirumoorthy Dam. Capacity of the dam has shrunk 25% from 4 tmcft to 3 tmcft due to siltation. ["Farmers worried over low water level" Gunasekaran M., The Hindu, Feb 16, 2007 [http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/16/stories/2007021601150200.htm] ] 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. [Tamil Nadu Budget Summary, 2005 -2006 [http://www.tn.gov.in/tnbudget/revenue%20receipts/revenue_summary.pdf] ] During 2003-04, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board proposed to increase the dams utility by installing 4 MW capacity hydro-electric power station, [Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission, Annual Plan, Chapter 11 Infrastructure Development & Tourism, 2004 [http://www.tn.gov.in/spc/annualplan/chapter11-1.htm] ] which is now operating.

Fisheries

The non-indigenous Tilapia fish was introduced here in the 1950's and subsequently this reservoir had highest fish yield in the state by the 1970's.Tilapia now accounts for a major portion of the fish caught in the reservoir. [ Gopalakrishnan, V. Ph.D., "Ethical, Legal and Social Issues Facing Capture Fisheries", Eubios Journal of Asian and International Bioethics 10 (2000), 77-81. [http://www.eubios.info/EJ103/EJ103E.htm ] ] . Cast nets 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 tonnes/year of fishes from the reservoir. [M. Gunasekaran] 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. [Sreenivasan, A., 1972. "Energy transformations through primary productivity and fish production in some tropical freshwater impoundments and ponds." Pages 505–514 in Z. Kajak and A. Hillbricht-Ilkowska (editors) : Productivity problems in freshwaters. Polish Scientific Publishers, Warsaw, Poland. referred to in:"Ecological Studies in Tropical Fish Communities" By Ro McConnell, R. H. Lowe-McConnell, Cambridge University Press, 1987, p.277, ISBN 0521280648, 9780521280648, 382 pages. [http://books.google.com/books?ct=result&dq=tilapia+%22Amaravathi+reservoir%22+fish+sreenivasan&pg=PA277&lpg=PA277&sig=ACfU3U141y8tfx7m-OG_GO3MtjNn6aORiw&q=sreenivasan&id=Eu0T9mDiwnwC&ots=SJ2pA8VnnX] ]

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. [M. Gunasekaran, The Hindu, "Coop. society for tribal fishermen formed", 2007-12-25 [http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/25/stories/2007122553270300.htm] ]

Crocodiles

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 Crocodiles, 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. [Andrews] Other fish predators here include: Oriental Small-clawed Otters, Indian Cormorants 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. [Tamil Nadu Forest Dept, Amaravati Sagar Crocodile Farm [http://www.forests.tn.nic.in/WildBiodiversity/amaravathy_croc.html] , 2007] , [Andrews,Harry V., "Status and Distribution of the Mugger Crocodile in Tamil Nadu" [http://www.wii.gov.in/envis/crocodile/tnadu.htm] ]

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 Hills and Palni Hills above. This place is being developed as a District Excursion Centre for tourism. [Around Pollachi- Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary: [http://www.coimbatore.com/pollachi/around.htm] ]

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 km to mi|num=96|abbr=yes|spell=Commonwealth|precision=2|wiki=no.

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. Contact:
*Forest Range Officer,Amaravathy Range, Amaravathy nagar, Ph. No. 94434 96413
* Wildlife Warden, Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, 365/1 Meenkarai Road, Pollachi-1, Ph. No. 04259 225356, Email: [e-mail]

Notes