Mettur Dam and Tunnel Hydropower Plant

Mettur Dam and Tunnel Hydropower Plant is erected in the Cauvery river in the Mettur town of Salem district in Tamil Nadu. The power project is commissioned in 1934 with a total installed capacity of 240 MW. The basic of the power plant is Cauvery river and the hydroelectric basin of the plant is East Flowing Rivers. The project type is Major as its total capacity is more than 25 MW. The type of plant is One Powerhouse erected on the toe of dam and second powerhouse is via tunnel. The status of power station is Operational. The hydro power station is situated in the Southern Hydroelectric Region of the country. The hydroelectric development type of plant is Storage and the structure type is as that of a Dam. The source of water for the working of the power plant is from Cauvery River.

The power project is owned by the Tamil Nadu State Government under the control of Tamil Nadu State Electricity Board. The Beneficiary States of the power project are Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. The construction of the power plant was completed in 1946 and soon it started its operations. The Turbine Type of power plant is Horizontal Francis (1st to 4th units) and Vertical Kaplan (5th to 8th units). BTH England and Machine Export USSR are the makers of the Turbine and Generator of the power house in the plant. There are eight turbines in the power house and capacity per turbine is 4 nos of 10 MW and 4 nos of 50 MW. The unit size of the power plant is 240 MW. There are eight units and all are commissioned.

How to Reach: Mettur Dam Hydropower Plant is located in the Mettur town of Salem district in Tamil Nadu. You can reach this destination from Salem via Road. Mettur Dam Railway Station is the nearest Railway Station.

Project Details:

• Name of Project – Mettur Dam and Tunnel Hydropower Plant

• Commission Date – 1934

• Approved Capacity in MW – 240 MW

• Installed Capacity in MW – 240 MW

• Basin - Cauvery

• Hydroelectric Basin - East Flowing Rivers

• Type of Project – Major (> 25 MW)

• Type of Plant – One Powerhouse on toe of dam and second is via tunnel

• Hydroelectric Project Status – Completed and Working

• Hydroelectric Region – Southern Hydroelectric Region

• Hydroelectric Development Type – Storage

• Structure Type – Dam

• River – Cauvery River

• Owner – State Government

• Operating Company – Tamil Nadu State Electricity Board

• Address – Mettur, Tamil Nadu, India

• Nearest City - Salem

• District - Salem

• State – Tamil Nadu

• Contact Number – 044-28520409

• Email – cehe@tnebnet.org

• Website – www.tangedco.gov.in

• Beneficiary States/ Union Territories – Tamil Nadu and its nearby states

• Completion of Power Project – 1946

• Turbine Type - Horizontal Francis (1st to 4th units) and Vertical Kaplan (5th to 8th units)

• Turbine Manufacturer - BTH England and Machine Export USSR

• Generator Manufacturer - BTH England and Machine Export USSR

• Number of Turbines – 8

• Capacity per Turbine – 10 MW x 4, 50 MW x 4

• Unit Sizes – 240 MW

• Total Units – 8

• Units Commissioned – All the eight units are commissioned