Major Dams in India
Major Dams in India
India has several major dams across the country, serving various purposes such as irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, and flood control.It is one of the most important topics that are asked in the General Awareness for all Government exams such as SSC exams, RRB exams,Bank exams etc. This section is the knowledge about Dams.
What is Dam?
A dam is a large, man-made structure built across a river or other watercourse to create a reservoir or artificial lake. Dams work by blocking the natural flow of a river, creating a reservoir behind the dam where water can be stored. The water can then be released in controlled amounts as needed to meet the demands of various uses, such as irrigation, drinking water supply, hydroelectric power generation, and recreation. Dams are typically made of concrete, rock, or earth materials. Dams can vary in size and shape, from small earthen embankments to massive concrete structures that span miles across.
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Arch dams: These dams are curved in shape and are designed to transfer the weight of the water to the sides of the valley through the arch. They are often used in narrow canyons where the width of the valley is limited.
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Gravity dams: These dams are designed to resist the force of the water by their own weight. They are typically made of concrete and can be designed in different shapes such as straight and curved gravity dams.
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Buttress dams: These dams use a series of reinforced concrete buttresses to support the weight of the dam and the water behind it. They are often used in areas where the foundation is weak or the valley is wide.
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Arch-gravity dams: These dams combine the features of both arch and gravity dams. They have a curved shape to transfer the weight of the water to the sides of the valley through the arch, and their weight also contributes to the overall stability of the dam.
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Concrete dams: These dams are made of concrete and are often used for large-scale projects due to their strength and durability. They can be designed in different shapes such as gravity dams, arch dams, and buttress dams.
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Embankment dams: These dams are made of earth, rock, or other natural materials and are often used in areas where the natural terrain can provide additional support for the dam. They can be designed in different types such as homogeneous earthfill dams, rockfill dams, and composite dams.
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Coffer dams: These temporary dams are built to isolate a construction area in a water body such as a river or lake. They are typically made of steel or concrete sheets, and they allow the water to be pumped out of the enclosed area so that the construction can take place.
Major dams in India, State and Rivers
Here is a list of major dams in India, along with the state where they are located and the river they are built on:
- Bhawani Sagar Dam - Rajasthan - Bhawani River
- Tungabhadra Dam - Karnataka/Andhra Pradesh - Tungabhadra River
- Maithon Dam - Jharkhand/West Bengal - Barakar River
- Rihand Dam - Uttar Pradesh - Rihand River
- Koyna Dam - Maharashtra - Koyna River
- Bhakra Dam - Punjab/Himachal Pradesh - Sutlej River
- Hirakud Dam - Odisha - Mahanadi River
- Nagarjuna Sagar Dam - Telangana/Andhra Pradesh - Krishna River
- Sardar Sarovar Dam - Gujarat - Narmada River
- Bhakra Dam - Punjab/Himachal Pradesh - Sutlej River
- Hirakud Dam - Odisha - Mahanadi River
- Nagarjuna Sagar Dam - Telangana/Andhra Pradesh - Krishna River
- Cheruthoni Dam - Kerala - Cheruthoni
- Indira Sagar Dam - Madhya Pradesh - Narmada River
- Krishnarajasagar Dam - Karnataka- Kaveri River
- Mettur Dam - Tamil Nadu - Cauvery River
- Bilaspur Dam - Rajasthan - Banas River
- Tehri Dam - Uttarakhand - Bhagirathi River
- Ukai Dam - Gujarat - Tapti River
The Bhawani Sagar Dam is a concrete gravity dam with a height of 59 meters and a length of 570 meters. The dam has a storage capacity of 595 million cubic meters and is primarily used for irrigation purposes, providing water to the surrounding agricultural areas. The dam also serves as a source of drinking water for nearby towns and villages.
The construction of the Bhawani Sagar Dam began in 1984 and was completed in 2004. The project was undertaken by the Water Resources Department of the Government of Rajasthan and was funded by the Government of India.
The Tungabhadra Dam is a concrete gravity dam with a height of 49 meters and a length of 2446 meters. It has a storage capacity of 135 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) and a catchment area of 28,122 square kilometers. The dam was built primarily for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation purposes.
The dam provides water for irrigation to over 1.5 million acres of land in the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The power station located at the dam has an installed capacity of 147.6 MW and generates about 645 million units of electricity annually. The dam also serves as a major tourist attraction in the region, with its scenic surroundings and various recreational activities.The Tungabhadra Dam is jointly operated by the governments of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
The Maithon Dam is a concrete gravity dam with a height of 165 meters and a length of 4,764 meters. It has a storage capacity of 6,920 million cubic meters and is primarily used for hydroelectric power generation and irrigation purposes. The power station located at the dam has an installed capacity of 60 MW and generates about 230 million units of electricity annually.
The Maithon Dam also serves as a major tourist attraction in the region, with its scenic surroundings and various recreational activities. The dam and its reservoir provide opportunities for boating, fishing, and water sports. The surrounding hills and forests also offer great opportunities for trekking and nature walks.
The Rihand Dam is a concrete gravity dam with a height of 91 meters and a length of 934 meters. It has a storage capacity of 9,860 million cubic meters and is primarily used for hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and drinking water supply. The power station located at the dam has an installed capacity of 3000 MW, making it one of the largest hydroelectric power stations in India.
The dam provides irrigation water to about 1.17 million hectares of land in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar. The reservoir also serves as a major source of drinking water for the cities of Varanasi and Vindhyanagar, and several other towns and villages in the surrounding areas.
The Koyna Dam is a concrete gravity dam with a height of 103 meters and a length of 807 meters. It has a storage capacity of 2,524 million cubic meters and is primarily used for hydroelectric power generation. The power station located at the dam has an installed capacity of 1,960 MW, making it one of the largest hydroelectric power stations in India.
The dam and the reservoir formed by it also serve as a major tourist attraction in the region, with its scenic surroundings and various recreational activities. The reservoir provides opportunities for boating, fishing, and water sports. The surrounding forests and hills also offer great opportunities for trekking and nature walks.
The Bhakra-Nangal Dam is a concrete gravity dam with a height of 226 meters and a length of 518 meters. It has a storage capacity of 9,340 million cubic meters and is primarily used for hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and drinking water supply. The power station located at the dam has an installed capacity of 1,325 MW and generates about 7,500 million units of electricity annually.
The dam provides irrigation water to about 1.6 million hectares of land in the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, and also supplies drinking water to several cities and towns in the region. The reservoir formed by the dam also serves as a major tourist attraction in the region, with its scenic surroundings and various recreational activities. The reservoir provides opportunities for boating, fishing, and water sports. The surrounding hills and forests also offer great opportunities for trekking and nature walks.
Hirakud dam
The Hirakud Dam is a large multipurpose dam located on the Mahanadi River in the state of Odisha, India. It is situated near the town of Sambalpur, about 15 km from the city of Sambalpur. The dam was constructed between the years 1948 and 1957, making it one of the earliest and largest dams in India.
The Hirakud Dam is a composite structure, consisting of an earthen embankment, a concrete spillway, and a power plant. It has a height of 60 meters and a length of 4.8 km. It has a storage capacity of 4,779 million cubic meters and is primarily used for hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and flood control.
The power station located at the dam has an installed capacity of 307.5 MW and generates about 1,347 million units of electricity annually. The dam provides irrigation water to about 2.5 million hectares of land in the state of Odisha, and also serves as a major source of drinking water for several cities and towns in the region.
The reservoir formed by the dam also serves as a major tourist attraction in the region, with its scenic surroundings and various recreational activities. The reservoir provides opportunities for boating, fishing, and water sports. The surrounding hills and forests also offer great opportunities for trekking and nature walks.
Nagarjun sagar dam
The Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is a large masonry dam located on the Krishna River in the state of Telangana, India. It is situated near the town of Nagarjuna Sagar, about 150 km from the city of Hyderabad. The dam was constructed between the years 1955 and 1967 by the Government of India and the state governments of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
The Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is a masonry dam with a height of 124 meters and a length of 1,450 meters. It has a storage capacity of 11,472 million cubic meters and is primarily used for irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, and drinking water supply. The power station located at the dam has an installed capacity of 815 MW and generates about 2,979 million units of electricity annually.
The dam provides irrigation water to about 1.2 million hectares of land in the state of Andhra Pradesh, and also supplies drinking water to several cities and towns in the region. The reservoir formed by the dam also serves as a major tourist attraction in the region, with its scenic surroundings and various recreational activities.
The Sardar Sarovar Dam is a concrete gravity dam with a height of 163 meters and a length of 1,210 meters. It has a storage capacity of 9,500 million cubic meters and is primarily used for irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, and drinking water supply. The power station located at the dam has an installed capacity of 1,450 MW and generates about 4,000 million units of electricity annually.
The dam provides irrigation water to about 1.8 million hectares of land in the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, and also supplies drinking water to several cities and towns in the region. The project faced opposition from various environmental and social groups. However, the project was eventually completed, and the dam has played a significant role in the socio-economic development of the region by providing irrigation facilities to the surrounding agricultural areas, a reliable source of electricity, and drinking water supply to several cities and towns.
The Cheruthoni Dam is a concrete gravity dam with a height of 138 meters and a length of 650 meters. It has a storage capacity of 2,403 million cubic meters and is primarily used for hydroelectric power generation. The power station located at the dam has an installed capacity of 780 MW and generates about 2,580 million units of electricity annually.
The reservoir formed by the Cheruthoni Dam is an important source of water for irrigation, drinking, and industrial purposes in the surrounding areas. The dam and the reservoir also serve as major tourist attractions in the region, with their scenic surroundings and various recreational activities.
The construction of the Idukki Hydroelectric Project, including the Cheruthoni Dam, was a major engineering feat and involved the displacement of several thousand people living in the region. However, the project has played a significant role in the socio-economic development of the region by providing a reliable source of electricity to the state of Kerala and neighboring states.
The Indira Sagar Dam is a concrete gravity dam with a height of 92 meters and a length of 653 meters. It has a storage capacity of 12,200 million cubic meters and is primarily used for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation. The power station located at the dam has an installed capacity of 1,000 MW and generates about 4,615 million units of electricity annually.
The reservoir formed by the Indira Sagar Dam is an important source of water for irrigation, drinking, and industrial purposes in the surrounding areas. The dam and the reservoir also serve as major tourist attractions in the region, with their scenic surroundings and various recreational activities. The surrounding hills and forests offer great opportunities for trekking, camping, and nature walks.
The construction of the Narmada Valley Project, including the Indira Sagar Dam, was a major engineering feat and involved the displacement of several thousand people living in the region.
Krishnarajasagar Dam has a height of 49 meters and a length of 3,650 meters. The dam has a storage capacity of 49.38 billion cubic feet and can irrigate over 120,000 hectares of farmland in the region. The dam also has four floodgates, which can be opened during monsoons to release excess water to prevent flooding downstream.
The dam also has a hydroelectric power plant, which generates 42 MW of electricity. The power plant uses the water released from the dam to generate electricity, which is supplied to the surrounding areas.
Krishnarajasagar Dam is a popular tourist destination and attracts visitors from all over the country. The dam has a beautiful garden, called Brindavan Gardens, which is spread over an area of 60 acres and has a musical fountain that is a major attraction for visitors. The garden also has several species of plants and trees, and is a great place for a leisurely walk or picnic.
The Mettur Dam was built in 1934 and has a height of 66 meters and a length of 1,700 meters. It has a storage capacity of 93.47 billion cubic feet of water and can irrigate over 2 million acres of farmland in the region. The dam also has a hydroelectric power plant, which generates 240 MW of electricity.
The reservoir formed by the Mettur Dam is an important source of drinking water for the cities of Salem, Erode, and Tiruchirapalli, and also provides water for industries in the region. The dam also serves as a major tourist attraction, with its scenic surroundings and various recreational activities such as boating, fishing, and bird watching.
The Bisalpur Dam has a height of 39.3 meters and a length of 574 meters. It has a storage capacity of 1.04 billion cubic meters of water and can irrigate over 43,000 hectares of farmland in the region. The dam also has a hydroelectric power plant, which generates 172 MW of electricity.
The reservoir formed by the Bisalpur Dam is an important source of drinking water for the region and has played a significant role in meeting the water needs of the rapidly growing city of Jaipur. The dam has also contributed to the economic growth of the region by providing irrigation water for agriculture and a source of hydroelectric power.
The Tehri Dam was constructed in 2006 and has a storage capacity of 4.0 billion cubic meters of water. It has a power generation capacity of 1,000 MW, which is supplied to the surrounding areas. The dam also serves as a major source of drinking water for the region, with a capacity of providing 270 million gallons of water per day.
The construction of the Tehri Dam was a major engineering feat, as the region is prone to earthquakes and the dam had to be designed to withstand seismic activity. The dam has also faced criticism from environmentalists, who have raised concerns about its impact on the ecology of the region and the displacement of people living in the area.
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