The unique idea of harnessing the westward flowing water of the Periyar river and diverting it to the eastward flowing Vaigai river was first explored in 1789 by Pradani Muthirulappa Pillai, a minister of the Ramnad king Muthuramalinga Sethupathy, who gave it up as he found it to be expensive. The location of the dam had first been scouted by Captain J. L. Caldwell, Madras Engineers (abbreviated as M.E.)
The concept of utilizing the Periyar river's water for diverting it to the Vaigai river was first explored in 1789 by Pradani Muthirulappa Pillai, a minister under the Ramnad king Muthuramalinga Sethupathy. The location of the dam had been initially investigated by Captain J. L. Caldwell, Madras Engineers (abbreviated as M.E.).