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Important Dams in India | Location and Features

Posted on 24/06/202102/10/2021 By GK Questions No Comments on Important Dams in India | Location and Features
Home » Geography » Important Dams in India | Location and Features
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1 Dams in India
1.1 A detailed list of Important Dams in India
1.1.1 Hirakud Dam
1.1.2 Tehri Dam
1.1.3 Bhakra Nangal Dam
1.1.4 Sardar Sarovar dam
1.1.5 Idukki Dam
1.1.6 Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
1.1.7 Mullaperiyar Dam
1.1.8 Maithon Dam
1.1.9 Tungabhadra Dam
1.1.10 Banasura Sagar Dam
1.1.11 Malampuzha Dam
1.1.12 Pong Dam / Beas Dam
1.1.13 Krishna Raja Sagara Dam (KRS Dam)
1.1.14 Rihand Dam
1.1.15 Srisailam Dam
1.1.16 Almatti Dam
1.1.17 Manchanabele Dam
1.1.18 Indirasagar Dam
1.1.19 Salal Dam

Dams in India

In this article, detailed information about the important and major dams in India is given. The Jawaharlal Nehru once said that the dams of India are the “modern temples of India”, this shows the importance of the dams in India. The importance of dams in India can be seen from this that dams in India provide water in every sector from agriculture to power generation. Let’s discuss the detail of the dams in India.

A detailed list of Important Dams in India

The detailed list of major dams in India is given below:

Hirakud Dam

Features

Detail of Hirakud Dam

Location

Located in the Sambalpur district, Odisha

River

It is built across the Mahanadi River.

Length

4.8 KM

Height

60.96 m (200 ft.)

Topwater level

642 ft. (195.680)

Catchment Area

83,400 km2

Description

  • Hirakud Dam is one of the first multipurpose valley projects started after independence in India. Hirakud dam was built to control the fluid on the Mahanadi River in Sambalpur, Odisha.
  • longest major earthen dam in India.
  • The biggest artificial lake in India is formed by the Hirakud dam.

 

Tehri Dam
Features

Detail of Tehri Dam

Location

Situated near Tehri in Uttarakhand.

River

Built on the Bhagirathi River.

Length

575 m (1,886 ft)

Height

260.5 m (855 ft)

Power capacity

1000 MW

Topwater level

825 meters

Catchment Area

7293 Km2

Description

  • The Tehri Dam project was started in 1972 and was completed in 2006.
  • Financial and technical assistance was given by the USSR in the initial years.
  • Tehri Dam is a multipurpose high rock and earth-fill embankment dam.
  • It is the tallest dam in India.
  • Power generated by the Tehri dam is distributed to Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh.

 

Bhakra Nangal Dam

Features

Detail of Bhakra Nangal Dam

Location

Bhakra dam is located in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh and Nangal Dam is located in Punjab.

River

Bhakhra dam is built on the Satluj River.

Length

1,700 ft (520 m)

Height

741 ft (226 m)

Topwater level

1680 feet

Area

168.35 km2

Power capacity

1325 MW

Description

  • On the downstream of Bhakra dam, the Nangal dam is located in Punjab.
  • Govind Sagar reservoir forms by the Bhakra dam.
  • After the Indra Sagar dam in Madhya Pradesh and Nagarjuna Sagar dam, the Bhakra dam is the third largest reservoir in India.
  • Jawaharlal Nehru described Bhakra dam as the “New Temple of Resurgent India”.
  • It is counted as one of the highest gravity dams in the world.

 

Sardar Sarovar dam

Features

Detail of Sardar Sarovar dam

Location

Sardar Sarovar dam is located in Narmada District, Gujarat.

River

Sardar Sarovar dam is built on the Narmada River.

Length

1,210 m (3,970 ft)

Height

138.68 meters

Topwater level

140.21 meters (460 feet.)

Power capacity

1,450 MW

Catchment Area

88,000 km2

Description

  • It is a gravity dam.
  • Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh receive the power generated by the Sardar Sarovar Dam.
  • Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation of the project in 1961.
  • It is funded by the World Bank.
  • Construction of the Sardar Sarovar dam was started in 1987 but because of Narmada Bachao Andolan supreme court of India put the ban on the project.
  • After the Grand Coulee dam of the US, Sardar Sarovar Dam is the world’s second-largest concrete dam.

 

Idukki Dam

Features

Detail of Idukki Dam

Location

Located in the Idukki district of Kerala.

River

Idukki dam is built on the Periyar River.

Length

365.85 m (1,200 ft)

Height

168.91 m (554 ft)

Power capacity

780 MW

Topwater level

2,403 feet

Catchment Area

649.3 km2

Description

  • Idukki Dam is a double arch architecture structure built on the gorge of two granite hills.
  • It is considered one of the highest arch dams in Asia.
  • Idukki dam was aided by the government of Canada.
  • Idukki dam construction was started in the year 1969 and the dam was started operationally in the year 1973.

 

Nagarjuna Sagar Dam

Features

Detail of Nagarjuna Sagar Dam

Location

Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is located in Nalgonda district, Telangana and Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh.

River

It is built on the Krishna River.

Length

1,550 metres (5,085 ft)

Height

124 meters (407 ft)

Power capacity

816 MW

Topwater level

594 ft.

Catchment Area

215,000 km2

Description

  • The construction of the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam was started in the year 1955 and completed in the year 1967.
  • “Modern Temples” project is the large infrastructure project after the independence for achieving the green revolution and Nagarjuna Sagar Dam was the earliest in this series.
  • One of the earliest hydroelectric and multi-purpose irrigation projects in India.
  • Around 80% of the water from Nagarjuna Sagar Dam used by the city of Hyderabad.

 

Mullaperiyar Dam

Features

Detail of Mullaperiyar Dam

Location

Mullaperiyar Dam is located on the Cardamom Hills in the Idukki district of Kerala.

River

On the confluence of the Periyar river and Mullayar river, the dam is built. And in Kerala, it is built on the Periyar River.

Length

365.85 m (1,200 ft)

Height

53.66 m (176 ft)

Power capacity

161 MW

Topwater level

142 ft.

Catchment Area

624 sq. km

Description

  • Construction of the Mullaperiyar Dam was started in the year 1887 and completed in the year 1895.
  • Mullaperiyar Dam is a masonry gravity dam.
  • Around the dam, Periyar national park is located.
  • The old name of the Mullaperiyar Dam is Periyaru dam. Its name changed because of the rivers on which it is built that are the Periyar river and the Mullayar river.

 

Maithon Dam

Features

Detail of Maithon Dam

Location

Maithon Dam is located in the Dhanbad District of Jharkhand.

River

It is constructed on the Barakar River.

Length

15,712 ft (4,789 m)

Height

165 ft (50 m)

Power capacity

60,000 kW

Topwater level

441 ft.

Catchment Area

6293 Km2

Description

  • Maithon Dam started its operation in the year 1957.
  • Maithon lake which is around 65 km2 is created by the dam.
  • It has an underground power station which is in whole Southeast Asia first of its kind.
  • Maithon dam is operated by the Damodar Valley Corporation.

 

Tungabhadra Dam

Features

Detail of Tungabhadra Dam

Location

Tungabhadra Dam is located in Hosapete, Vijayanagara district of Karnataka.

River

Built on the Tungabhadra River.

Length

2,449 m (8,035 ft)

Height

49.50 m (162 ft)

Power capacity

127MW

Catchment Area

28,180 km2

Description

  • Tungabhadra Dam is also known as the Pampa Sagar.
  • It is a multipurpose dam for control of floods, power generation, irrigation, etc.
  • It was started by the Madras presidency and the Hyderabad State in the year 1949 and completed in the year 1953.

 

Banasura Sagar Dam
Features

Detail of Banasura Sagar Dam

Location

Banasura Sagar Dam is located in the Wayanad, Kerala.

River

It impounds the Kabini River tributary Karamanathodu river.

Length

NA

Height

NA

Topwater level

775.6 m

Catchment Area

61.44 km2

Description
  • In 1979, a dam and a canal project named Indian Banasurasagar started and Banasura Sagar Dam was part of the project.
  • Banasura Sagar project was made to fulfill the demand for drinking water, irrigation and to support the Kakkayam Hydro Electric power project.
  • Banasura Sagar Dam is the second-largest earthen in Asia and the largest earth dam in India.
  • In name of Banasura the son of Mahabali who was the king (mythological) of Kerala the name of Banasura Sagar Dam was kept.

 

Malampuzha Dam

Features

Detail of Malampuzha Dam

Location

Malampuzha Dam is located in the Palakkad District, of Kerala.

River

It is built on the Malampuzha river.

Length

2,069 m

Height

115.06 m

Total capacity

226 million m3

Topwater level

NA

Catchment Area

147.63 sq. km.

Description

  • It is one of the largest reservoirs and dams in Kerala.
  • The construction of the Malampuzha Dam was started in the year 1949 and completed in the year 1955.
  • Malampuzha Dam is a masonry demand that creates the Malampuzha reservoir.

 

Pong Dam / Beas Dam

Features

Detail of Pong Dam

Location

Pong Dam is located in Talwara Himachal Pradesh.

River

It is built on the Beas River.

Length

1,951 m (6,401 ft)

Height

133 m (436 ft)

Power capacity

396 MW

Topwater level

NA

Catchment Area

12,560 km2

Description

  • Pong dam is also known as Beas Dam.
  • It is an earth-fill embankment dam whose construction was started in the year 1961 and completed in the year 1974.
  • Maharana Pratap Sagar Lake and reservoir are created by the Pong Dam.
  • In the year 1926 first the idea of creating the dam on the Pong site at the Beas was proposed.

 

Krishna Raja Sagara Dam (KRS Dam)

Features

Detail of KRS Dam

Location

KRS dam is located in the Mandya district of Karnataka.

River

It is built on the Kaveri River.

Length

2,620 m (8,600 ft)

Height

39.8 m (131 ft)

Topwater level

125 ft

Catchment Area

10,619 km2

Description

  • The construction of the KRS dam was started in the year 1911 and was completed in the year 1938.
  • It is a gravity dam and surki a kind of mortar was used in place of cement.
  • Because of the famine condition, Maharaja of Mysore Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV constructed the KRS dam.

 

Rihand Dam
Features

Detail of Rihand Dam

Location

Rihand Dam is located in the Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh.

River

It is built on the tributary of Son River that is Rihand River.

Length

91.46 m (300 ft)

Height

934.45 m (3,066 ft)

Power capacity

300 MW

Catchment Area

13,333.26 km2

Description

  • Construction of the Rihand dam was started in the year 1954 and it was completed in the year 1962.
  • Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar is the reservoir that is created by the Rihand dam that’s why the Rihand dam is also known as Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar.
  • It is known as India’s largest artificial lake (man-made lake).
  • Rihand is a gravity dam.
  • Rihand’s area of the reservoir is on the border of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
  • The catchment area of the Rihand dam is extended over Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh.

 

Srisailam Dam

Features

Detail of Srisailam Dam

Location

Srisailam Dam is located in the Sri Sailam, Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh.

River

It is built across the Krishna River.

Length

512 m (1,680 ft)

Height

145.10 m (476 ft)

Power capacity

1,670 MW

Topwater level

885 ft.

Catchment Area

206,040 km2

Description

  • Construction of the Srisailam Dam was started in the year 1960 and it was completed in the year 1981.
  • It is constructed in the deep gorge on the Nallamala Hills.
  • It is a masonry gravity dam.
  • Srisailam Dam is known as the second-largest working capacity hydroelectric station in India.

 

Almatti Dam

Features

Detail of Almatti Dam

Location

Almatti Dam is located in the Bijapur district of Karnataka.

River

It is built on the Krishna River.

Length

1565.15 ft

Height

524.26ft

Catchment Area

33,375 sq. km

Description

  • Almatti Dam is also known as the Lal Bahadur Shastri Dam.
  • It is completed in the year 2005.
  • Upper Krishna Irrigation Project has the main reservoir as the Almatti dam.
  • Almatti dam has two power generating units that are Almatti 1 Powerhouse and Almatti II Powerhouse.

 

Manchanabele Dam

Features

Detail of Manchanabele Dam

Location

Manchanabele Dam is located in the Magadi taluk of Karnataka.

River

It is built across the Arkavathy River which is the tributary of the Cauvery River.

Length

362.20 m

Height

28.74 m

Storage Capacity

34.58 M.Cum

Water spread area

365 ha

Catchment Area

It has the highest ratio of the catchment to reservoir area.

Description

  • It is a tourist destination because of its serene lush green view and crystal-clear water.
  • Manchanabele Dam supplies water to the Magadi town.
  • A wide variety of species of water snake are also observed here.

 

Indirasagar Dam

Features

Detail of Indirasagar Dam

Location

Indirasagar Dam is located in the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh.

River

It is built on the Narmada River.

Length

653 m (2,142 ft)

Height

92 m (302 ft)

Power capacity

1,000 MW

Catchment Area

61642 Sq. Km

Description

  • The Foundation of the Indirasagar Dam was laid by Indira Gandhi in the year 1984 and the construction was completed in the year 2005.
  • It is a gravity dam.
  • The downstream projects of Indirasagar Dam are Sardar Sarovar, Maheshwar, and Omkareshwar Project.
  • With the storage capacity of water Indirasagar Dam is the largest reservoir in India.
  • The dam is built by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation and the Government of Madhya Pradesh.

 

Salal Dam

Features

Detail of Salal Dam

Location

Salal Dam is located in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.

River

It is built on the Chenab River.

Length

487 m (1,597.8 ft)

Height

113 m (370.7 ft)

Power capacity

690 MW

Catchment Area

21497 km2

Description

  • Construction of the Salal Dam started in the year 1970 and completed in the year 1987.
  • Salal Dam is the first hydropower project under the Indus Water Treaty built in Jammu and Kashmir by India.
  • It creates the Salal lake.
  • National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) was the implementing agency of this project.
  • Out of the total energy generated only 12.5% is used by Jammu and Kashmir and the rest is Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab.

 

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