| Krishna Raja Sagara (kRS DAM) | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Interactive map of Krishna Raja Sagara (kRS DAM) | |
| Country | India |
| Location | Mandya,Karnataka |
| Coordinates | 12°25′29″N76°34′20″E / 12.42472°N 76.57222°E /12.42472; 76.57222 |
| Purpose | Water supply, irrigation |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1911 |
| Opening date | 1932 |
| Construction cost | ₹10.34 million (US$120,000)[1] |
| Operator | Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Gravity dam |
| Impounds | Kaveri River |
| Height | 39.8 m (131 ft) |
| Length | 2,620 m (8,600 ft) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Krishna Raja Sagara |
| Total capacity | 1,368,847,000 m3 (1,109,742 acre⋅ft) |
| Active capacity | 124,421,000 m3 (100,870 acre⋅ft) |
| Catchment area | 10,619 km2 (4,100 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 129 km2 (50 sq mi) |
Krishna Raja Sagara, also popularly known asKRS, is alake and thedam that creates it. They are close to the settlement ofKrishna Raja Sagara in the IndianState ofKarnataka. Thegravity dam made ofsurki mortar is below the confluence of riverKaveri with its tributariesHemavati andLakshmana Tirtha, in the district ofMandya.[2]
Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV Maharaj of Mysore constructed the dam during the famine despite the critical financial condition of State. It was after him that the dam was named.[3]There is an ornamental garden,Brindavan Gardens, attached to the dam.[4]
The region ofMysore and especially Mandya had historically been dry and had witnessed mass migration to adjoining areas in the hot summers. A severedrought in 1875–76 had wiped out one-fifth of the population of theKingdom of Mysore. Crop failures were common due to a lack of water for irrigation.[5] The Kaveri river was seen as a potential source of irrigation water for the farmers in and aroundMysore in the erstwhileKingdom of Mysore.
The Chief Engineer of Mysore,Sir. M. Visvesvaraya, faced opposition from the finance ministry of the government of Mysore, who said the project would "serve no purpose" and that the electricity produced from it would not be of complete use due to lack of demand. He then approachedT. Ananda Rao, theDiwan of Mysore and the MaharajaKrishna Raja Wadiyar IV for a reconsideration.[6] Upon examining, the latter gave his consent issuing an order on 11 October 1911 to begin the project and a sum of₹81lakh was set aside for it.Madras Presidency then opposed the project and urged the imperial government not to approve it. UponVisvesvaraya's persuasion, the government consented. However, the initial plan to build a dam 194-feet high to hold an estimated 41,500,000,000 cu ft (1.18 km3) of water had to be dropped.[1]
Construction began in November 1911, and 10,000 workers were employed. A mortar known assurki was used in place of cement, as the latter was not manufactured in India at the time and importing would prove costly for the state.[6] By the time construction was completed in 1931, around 5,000 to 10,000 persons had lost their homes to the project. However, they were rehabilitated and provided with agricultural land in the adjacent areas by the government.[6]The head priest Hindupur Panduranga Rao presided over the inauguration ceremony.
In place ofspillways that prevent over-topping of dams, Visvesvaraya employed 48 automatic gates that open and close at the rise and fall of water in the reservoir, in six sets, with eight in each. Each gate consists of a sill, lintel, and side grooves and plates; balance weight;float; chains and pulleys; and inlet and outlet pipes. The gates are made ofcast iron and were manufactured at theVisvesvaraya Iron and Steel Plant inBhadravati.[7]
The eight sets of gates are connected by means of chains and pulleys to a dead weight, which in turn is connected to a float, making up the 'balance weight' together, working inside a masonry well, both on the rear of the dam.[citation needed] The deadweight and float are placed one behind the other so as to have four gates on each side of it. When all eight gates close thesluice, the balance weight moves to the top of its swing and floats to the bottom of the well. The well has an inlet pipe 1 ft (0.30 m) in diameter from the reservoir that allows water in when the reservoir reaches the maximum permissible level causing the float to rise, and the balance weight to fall pulling the gates up and allowing discharge of water. In the same mechanism, the well gets emptied through an exit pipe when the water level in the reservoir falls.[7]
Foundation Stone to dam was laid on 11 November 1911. The dam was built across the riverKaveri in 1924. It is the main source of water for the districts ofMysore. The water is used for irrigation in Mysore andMandya, and it is the main source of drinking water for all of Mysore, Mandya and almost the whole ofBengaluru city, the capital ofKarnataka.[8] The water released from this dam flows into the state ofTamil Nadu and is stored inMettur dam in the Salem district.[9]
TheBrindavan Gardens is a show garden that has a botanical park, with fountains, as well as boat rides beneath the dam. Brindavan gardens were built by MaharajaJayachamarajendra Wadiyar.It was designed by German botanistGustav Hermann Krumbiegel.[10]
Diwan Sir Mirza Ismail of Mysore planned and built the gardens in connection with the construction of the dam.(citation needed) KRS Dam was the first to install automated Crest gates during 1920, which was initiated by Sir. Erwin who was British chief engineer. Display items include a musical fountain. Various biological research departments are housed here.
The landscape of the area represents a complexity of agricultural land, rural habitation, sparingly spread trees and patches of original vegetation at the close byRanganathittu Bird Sanctuary, which attracts wide varieties of local and migrant birds. Nearly 220 species[11] of birds have been recorded here in large numbers.
