Dams in Tamil Nadu

Dam questions are matching questions. This is the pairing table, with the one-line fact that distinguishes each dam.

Syllabus: GS Unit II (Geography: water resources)
DamRiverDistrict / note
Mettur (Stanley Reservoir)CauverySalem; opened 1934, TN's key irrigation reservoir
BhavanisagarBhavaniErode; among the largest earthen dams
VaigaiVaigaiTheni; feeds Madurai belt irrigation
AmaravathiAmaravathiTiruppur (Udumalpet)
SathanurThenpennaiTiruvannamalai
KrishnagiriThenpennaiKrishnagiri
PapanasamThamirabaraniTirunelveli
ManimutharManimuthar (Thamirabarani trib.)Tirunelveli
AliyarAliyarCoimbatore (Pollachi)
SholayarSholayarCoimbatore; among India's deeper dams
ParambikulamParambikulamPart of the Parambikulam-Aliyar project with Kerala
MullaperiyarPeriyarLocated in Kerala, operated by Tamil Nadu, a standing inter-state topic

Two pairs share a river and trip up matching questions: Sathanur and Krishnagiri are both on the Thenpennai, and Papanasam and Manimuthar both serve the Thamirabarani system in Tirunelveli.

Frequently asked questions

Which dam is on the Cauvery in Tamil Nadu?
The Mettur dam (Stanley Reservoir) in Salem district, opened in 1934, the state's most important irrigation reservoir.
Why is Mullaperiyar unusual?
The dam sits in Kerala but is operated by Tamil Nadu under a long-standing lease, making it a recurring inter-state-relations question.

Related lists

Compiled from official Tamil Nadu government sources and standard references. Time-sensitive counts carry an as-of note on the page. Sources: TNPSC official notifications. Figures are indicative and may change with each official notification. Data last reviewed: July 2026.

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