- Veeranam Lake, Chennai’s main supply of drinking water, has dried up.
- Its supply was suspended due to a lack of input from the Mettur dam, located across the Kaveri River.
About Veeranam Lake
- Veeranarayanapuram Lake, also known as Veeranam Lake, is an important water source for Chennai City.
- It’s a man-made lake with a 16-kilometer-long dam. In the tenth century, it was around 20 kilometres long and 7 kilometres wide.
- It is located in Tamil Nadu’s Cuddalore district, around 235 km distant.
- The lake, located near Kattumannarkoil, has a storage capacity of around 1,465 million cubic feet (mcft) and plays an important role in supplying water to Chennai.
Historical Significance of Veeranam Lake
- Built in the tenth century by Rajaditya Chola, a Greater Chola emperor.
- The lake, formerly known as Veeranarayana Mangalam Lake, was constructed by Rajaditya Chola and his warriors during their stay in Thirumunaipadi during a war against the Pallava rulers.
Water sources and inflow
- Veeranam Lake receives water from the Kollidam River via the Vadavaru River.
- The lake’s inflow is supplemented by water discharged from the Mettur Dam via the Kollidam River and Lower Anicut, assuring enough water supply at times.
Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/water/another-bengaluru-in-the-making-chennai-s-main-drinking-water-source-veeranam-lake-dries-up-95592