Places in news: Veeranam Lake 

Why in the news?

• Chennai’s main drinking water source Veeranam Lake dries up.
• Its supply was halted due to the lack of inflow from the Mettur dam located across the Kaveri River.

About Veeranam Lake

• Veeranarayanapuram Lake, commonly known as Veeranam Lake, serves as a crucial water source for Chennai city.
• It is a manmade lake with 16-km long dam. It was about 20 km long and 7 km wide back then in 10th century.
• It situated approximately 235 km away in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu.
• The lake, located near Kattumannarkoil, has a storage capacity of around 1,465 million cubic feet (mcft) and plays a vital role in supplying water to Chennai.

Historical Significance of Veeranam Lake

• Constructed during the 10th century by Rajaditya Chola, a ruler of the Greater Cholas.
• It was originally named as Veeranarayana Mangalam Lake,
• It was built with the efforts of Rajaditya Chola and his soldiers during their leisure time while camped at Thirumunaipadi for a war against Pallava kings.

Water Sources and Inflow

• Veeranam Lake primarily receives water from the Kollidam River via the Vadavaru River.
• The lake’s inflow is supplemented by water released from the Mettur dam through the Kollidam River and Lower Anicut, ensuring sufficient water availability during certain periods.