Veeranam Lake
This is a major tank attached to Chidambaram Division of South Arcot. PWD circle
and the Lalpet Section of PWD is incharge of the maintenance and operation of irrigation
systems of this tank. The location of this tank is between latitudes 11 15 ‘ E and
11 25’ E and Longitudes 79 30’ N and 79 35’ N
Veeranam Climate and Rainfall
Generally, like Tamilnadu, this area of Veeranam tank and its watershed is situated
in the rain shadow region for south west monsoon. It has got sub tropical climate.
Veeranam Tank is situated nearer to the seashore I,e. about 30km from Bay of Bengal.
Hot weather prevails in the months of March to June, and the maximum tesperature
varies from 30 to 38 C. This area is mostly seved by the North East Monsoon and
the South West Monsoon lean not have much effect in this area. Because of its to
the sea-shore, cyclonas, hit the sea shore during South East Monsoon, resulting
in heavy rains. Two rainfall are situated in Veeranam Tank one at its right flank
i.e. Kattumannarkoil and another at left flank i.e. Sethiathope. The average rainfall
in these stations is more than the state average of 950mm. During the last 18 years
the average annual rainfall in Kattumannarkoil is 1025 mm. In Sethiathope, the average
annual rainfall during the last 25 years is 1273 mm. But due to the Vagaries of
North East Monsoon, Veeranam tank has to depend on water from Mettur dam often.
History of the Veeranam Lake
Veeranam Tank is one of the biggest tank in Tamilnadu and also an age old one. This
tank has been referred briefly in the book called “ Ponniyen Selvan” Written by
the famous author ‘Kalki’ in the year 1950. This book gives the information on the
age of this tank and it has been mentioned that the tank was formed at a period
of more than 1000 years by the Prince Rajathithar Son of Parandage Chola. The tank
was originally called as Veeranarayanan Tank.
When king Paranthaga Cholan I ruled over Chola Kingdom during the 9th Century i.e.
907 to 935 AD he wanted to improve the Irrigation facilities in and around Chidambaram.
He formed a village called as ‘Veera Narayana Sathurvethi Mangalam. This Village
was gifted to the Scholars who were well versed in the Four Vedhas. This Village
is now called as Kattumannarkoil which is situated in the right flank of Veeranam
Tank. He then formed the biggest tank and named it as ‘Veera Narayanan Eri’ ‘Veera
Narayanan’ is the nick name given to king Paranthaga Cholan I for his Valour. Subsequently
this tank is now called as Veeranam Tank.
During the later period of Chola Kingdom, King Rajendra Cholan I who ruled during
the period 1012 AD to 1044 AD, Spreaded his kingdom upto Ganga. He conquered the
lands upto River Ganga. In Memomory of his Victory he formed the Village ‘ Gangai
Konda Cholapuram’ during the year 1024 AD. In addition to that in order to improve
the Irrigation facilities in and around the new Village, he formed a new tank and
called it as ‘Chola ‘ Gangam’. He made a link between ‘Chola gangam’ and Veeranarayanan
Eri so that the former surpluses into the later. The tank ‘Chola Gangam’ is now
called as ‘ Ponneri Tank’ which is situated at the road connecting Jeyamkondam and
Gangaikonda Cholapuram. These details were collected from Saraswathi Mahal Library
at Tanjore.
In the olden days this tank has served as a connecting link between the Khan Sahip
canal and Vedavar. Havigation was I Vogue from Coimbatore and Trichy to South Arcot
Terminating at Portonovo. The South Arcot District Gazettee by Francis Esq. I.C.S.
– 1906 records as follows