Mettur | |
|---|---|
Town | |
 Mettur Dam | |
  Mettur Location in Tamil Nadu, India | |
| Coordinates: 11°48′N 77°48′E / 11.80°N 77.80°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| Region | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Salem |
| Elevation | 238 m (781 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 52,813 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Tamil |
| • Other | Tamil, English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Vehicle registration | TN-52,93 |
Mettur is an industrial and tourist town located in the Salem district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is best known for the Mettur Dam which is the largest dam in south India.
Mettur is also known for its power generation, chemical manufacturing, and aluminium production. Most of the water requirements for irrigation in Tamil Nadu is provided by the Mettur Dam. Usually the dam opens in June every year for irrigation in the Kaveri Delta. Mettur is also one of the primary sources of electricity for Tamil Nadu. The Mettur Thermal Power Station acts as a base load power plant for the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB). As of 2011, the town had a population of 52,813.