Major Dams of India

The major dams in India, including the Tehri Dam, Bhakra Nangal Dam, Hirakud Dam, Sardar Sarovar Dam, Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, Koyna Dam, Indira Sagar Dam, Mettur Dam, Krishna Raja Sagara Dam, and Tungabhadra Dam, are essential for managing water resources, producing hydroelectric power, irrigating land, and controlling floods. These dams, which are spread throughout several Indian states, have a big impact on the exploitation of water resources and the growth of the nation.

Features of Major Dams of India

Here are the descriptions of major dams of India −

Tehri Dam

Tehri Dam is the tallest dam in India and ranks 12th in the world in terms of height with a height of 260.5 m. It is a multi-use rock and earth-fill embankment dam on the Bhagirathi River in the Indian state of Uttarakhand's Tehri Garhwal district. Tehri Dam is a 260.5 m (855 ft) high embankment dam made of rock and earth. It measures 575 m (1,886 ft) in length, 20 m (66 ft) in breadth at the crest, and 1,128 m (3,701 ft) at the base. A 52 km2 (20 sq mi) reservoir with a 3.54 cubic kilometer (2,870,000 acre-ft) volume is produced by the dam. Along with an extra 1,000 MW of hydroelectricity generated via pumped storage, the installed hydro capacity is 1,000 MW.

Bhakra Nangal Dam

The Bhakra Nangal Dam is a concrete gravity dam on the Satluj River in the Himachal Pradesh state of northern India's Bilaspur district, close to the town of Bilaspur. The Gobind Sagar reservoir is created by the dam. The 226 m-tall dams, which is situated in the Himachal Pradesh district of Bilaspur, is close to the village of Bhakra upstream. The dam is 9.1 meters in width and 518.25 meters in length. Its "Gobind Sagar" reservoir can hold up to 9.34 billion cubic meters of water. Over an area of 168.35 km2, the Bhakra Dam's 90 km long reservoir is dispersed. It is India's third-largest reservoir in terms of water volume. Along with Bhakra Dam, Nangal Dam is another dam in Punjab. Even though they are two independent dams, occasionally the two are referred to as the Bhakra-Nangal Dam.

Hirakud Dam

In the Indian state of Odisha, Hirakud Dam is situated across the Mahanadi River, roughly 15 kilometres (9 miles) from Sambalpur. It is the world's longest earthen dam. The 55 km (34 km) long Hirakud Reservoir is a lake that stretches behind the dam. One of the earliest significant multipurpose river valley projects to be undertaken in India since its independence. On October 12, 2021, Hirakud Reservoir was designated as a Ramsar site.

Sardar Sarovar Dam

The Sardar Sarovar Dam is a concrete gravity dam situated on the Narmada River in Navagam, Narmada District, Gujarat, India, not far from the town of Kevadiya. Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan are the four Indian states that will get water and electricity from the project. The Sardar Sarovar Dam is the biggest building that will be constructed out of the 30 dams that are anticipated for the Narmada River. After the Grand Coulee Dam across the Columbia River in the United States, it is the second largest concrete dam in the world in terms of the quantity of concrete used in its construction.

Nagarjuna Sagar Dam

The Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is a masonry structure that spans the Krishna River in Nagarjuna Sagar, forming a boundary between the districts of Nalgonda in Telangana and Palnadu in Andhra Pradesh. The dam provides irrigation water to the West Godavari region as well as the districts of Palnadu, Guntur, Nalgonda, Prakasam, Khammam, and Krishna. It also serves as a generator of electricity for the national grid. The Nagarjuna Sagar Dam was the first of many big infrastructure initiatives known as "modern temples" constructed for India's Green Revolution. It is also among the earliest irrigation and hydroelectric projects in India with multiple uses.

Koyna Dam

One of the biggest dams in Maharashtra, India, is the Koyna Dam. It is a dam made of concrete and rubble that was built on the Koyna River, which originates in Mahabaleshwar, a hill town in the Sahyadri highlands. On the state highway between Chiplun (44 KM) and Karad (58 KM), in the Western Ghats, Koyna Nagar, Satara district, is where it is situated. The dam's primary function is to generate hydroelectric power, with some irrigation in nearby areas. With a total installed capacity of 1,960 MW, the Koyna Hydroelectric Project is now India's largest constructed hydroelectric power project.

Indira Sagar Dam

In terms of the amount of water contained in the reservoir, the Indira Sagar Dam is the biggest in India. It is situated in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa district in the town of Narmada Nagar, Punasa, on the Narmada River. On October 23, 1984, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi laid the project's cornerstone. The main dam's construction got under way in 1992. With an installed capacity of 1,000 MW, the Indira Sagar Project serves a variety of purposes.

Mettur Dam

The Mettur Dam, which is situated across the Kaveri River from where it enters the plains, is one of the biggest dams in India and the biggest in Tamil Nadu. It took 9 years to construct in 1934. The dam can reach a maximum height and width of 214 and 171 feet, respectively. The dam measures 1,700 meters (5,600 feet) in length overall. Stanley Reservoir is produced by the dam. The Tamil Nadu Public Works Department looks after Ellis Park, a park located at the base of the dam. It is regarded as Tamil Nadu's life-giving resource because it supplies irrigation and drinking water facilities for more than 12 districts.

Krishna Raja Sagara Dam

KRS, or Krishna Raja Sagara, is both the name of the lake and the dam that forms it. In the Indian State of Karnataka, they are adjacent to Krishna Raja Sagara's settlement. In the district of Mandya, below the meeting of the Kaveri River and its tributaries Hemavati and Lakshmana Tirtha, is a gravity dam constructed of surki mortar. The dam was built by Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV Maharaj of Mysore during the famine despite the dire financial situation in the State. The dam was given his name in his honour. Brindavan Gardens, an ornamental garden, is connected to the dam.

Tungabhadra Dam

The Tungabhadra Dam, commonly referred to as Pampa Sagar, is an artificial reservoir built across the Tungabhadra River in the Indian state of Karnataka's Hosapete city. It is a multipurpose dam that helps the state with flood management, irrigation, and electricity production. The Mullaperiyar Dam in Kerala is the other one of only two non-cement dams in India. The dam was constructed using surki mortar, a mix of mud and limestone that was widely utilized at the period.

List of Major Dams of India

Here is a table of major dams in India and their locations −

Dam	Location
Tehri Dam	Uttarakhand
Bhakra Nangal Dam	Himachal Pradesh and Punjab
Hirakud Dam	Odisha
Sardar Sarovar Dam	Gujarat
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam	Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
Koyna Dam	Maharashtra
Indira Sagar Dam	Madhya Pradesh
Mettur Dam	Tamil Nadu
Krishna Raja Sagara Dam	Karnataka
Tungabhadra Dam	Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh

Conclusion

Major dams that support irrigation, power production, and water management can be found throughout India. Dams with high capacities and multiple uses, including Tehri Dam, Bhakra Nangal Dam, and Sardar Sarovar Dam, are notable examples. These dams are carefully positioned throughout numerous states, utilizing the power of rivers to support a variety of industries and sectors, including agriculture. They are essential to the nation's sustainable development, flood management, and supply of water.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the tallest dam in India?

Tehri Dam is the tallest dam in India, standing at a height of 260.5 meters.

Where is the Sardar Sarovar Dam located?

The Sardar Sarovar Dam is located in Gujarat, India.

What is the primary purpose of the Hirakud Dam?

The Hirakud Dam serves multiple purposes, including flood control, irrigation, and hydroelectric power generation.

Which state is the Mettur Dam situated in?

The Mettur Dam is located in Tamil Nadu, India.

What is the significance of the Bhakra Nangal Dam?

The Bhakra Nangal Dam is one of India's major multipurpose river valley projects and provides water and electricity to the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.