General Awareness is an ample combination of three different sections i.e Current, Financial & Static Segment. Though it is important for us to cover up all the topics being asked under this section, So today we are sharing a static topic about Dams which will definitely help you to know more details about Dams in India.
A dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or retards the flow, often creating a reservoir, lake or impoundment. “Dam” refers to the reservoir rather than the structure. Most dams have a section called a spillway or weir over which or through which it is intended that water will flow either intermittently or continuously.
Dams are classified according to structure, intended purpose or height. Based on structure and the materials used, dams are classified as timber dams, embankment dams or masonry dams, with several subtypes. According to the height, dams can be categorised as large dams and major dams or alternatively as low dams, medium height dams and high dams.
Why do we seek to build dams?
Ans. Large dams can ensure the storage of adequate water not just for irrigation, but also for generating electricity. It also helps to control flooding.
List of Dams in India
State | Dams |
Uttarakhand | Tehri Dam |
Himachal Pradesh | Bhakra Dam |
Kerala | Idukki arch Dam |
Uttarakhand | Lakhwar Dam |
Gujarat | Sardar Sarover Dam |
Telangna/Andhra Pradesh | Srisailam Dam |
Punjab | Ranjit Sagar Dam |
Jammu & Kashmir | Baglihar Dam |
Telangna/Andhra Pradesh | Nagarjuna Sagar Dam |
Jammu & Kashmir | Salal Dam |
Maharashtra | Koyna Dam |
Uttar Pradesh | Rihand Dam |
Gujarat | Ukai Dam |
Madhya Pradesh | Indira Sagar Dam |
Jammu & Kashmir (Kargil district) | Chutak Hydroelectric Power plant |
Jammu & Kashmir (Leh district) | Nimoo Bazgo Hydroelectric Power plant |
Jammu & Kashmir (Baramula district) | Uri Dam |
Tamil Nadu | Mettur Dam |
Odisha | Hirakud Dam |
Rajasthan | Jawahar Sagar Dam |
Rajasthan | Rana Pratap Sagar Dam |
Uttarakhand | Koteshwar Dam |
Madhya Pradesh | Gandhi Sagar Dam |
Madhya Pradesh | Omkareshwar Dam |
Kerala (idukki district) | Mullaperiyar Dam |
Important Dams:-
Tehri Dam, Uttrakhand – This dam is on the Bhagirathi River near Tehri in Uttarakhand, India. It is the world's fifth and Asia's largest multidimensional dam project.
- Height: 850 ft.
- Length: 1886 ft
- Type: Pumped-storage Dam
- River: Bhagirathi River
- Location: Uttarakhand
- Installed capacity: 1000 MW
Bhavanisagar Dam, Tamil Nadu - The Bhavani Sagar Dam is constructed across Bhavani river, in Coimbatore city, Tamil Nadu. This dam is very beautiful and known to be the tourist spot. This dam is 8 km long and it is the longest masonry dam in the world.
- Height: 105 ft
- Length: 1700 meters
- Type: Earthen dam
- River: Bhavani River
- Location: Tamil Nadu
- Installed capacity: 1,920 MW
TungaBhadra Dam, Karnataka – This Dam is constructed across the Thungabhadra river, a tributary of River Krishna, located approximately five km away from the Hospet town in Karnataka, which is also the largest dam in Karnataka. It offers a majestic sight, along with a Japanese garden, musical mountain and a beautiful scenery of nature.
- Height: 49.38 meters
- Length: 2441 meters
- Type: Earthen Gravity Dam
- River: Tungabhadra River
- Location: Karnataka
- Installed capacity: 72 MW
Rihand Dam, Uttar Pradesh – This dam has been built across Rihand River a tributary of Sone river, near Pipri in the Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh.
- Height: 299 ft
- Length: 3064 ft
- Type: Concrete Gravity dam
- River: Rihand River
- Location: Uttar Pradesh
- Installed capacity: 300 MW
Maithon Dam, Jharkhand - Maithon Dam is built on the river Barakar located at Maithon and is a huge dam in Jharkhand. This dam is specially designed for flood control and generates high electric power. There is an underground power station, the first of its kind in the whole of South East Asia. Maithon Dam is the biggest reservoir in the Damodar Valley.
- Height: 165 ft
- Length: 15,712 ft
- Type: Concrete cum Earthen dam
- River: Barakar River
- Location: Jharkhand
- Installed capacity: 60 MW
Koyna Dam, Maharashtra - Koyna Dam is built across river koyana in Koyna Naga Maharashtra& known to be one of the largest dams in Maharashtra located at western ghats.
- Height: 339 ft.
- Length: 2,648 ft
- Type: Rubble-Concrete dam
- River: Koyna River
- Location: Maharashtra
- Installed capacity: 1,920 MW
Indira Sagar Dam, Madhya Pradesh - This dam is built on Narmada river, located in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh. Indira sagar project was the key project on Narmada river providing excellent storage site of water & also has the biggest reservoir in India.
- Height: 92 m
- Length: 653 m
- Type: Concrete Gravity Dam
- River: Narmada River
- Location: Madhya Pradesh
- Installed capacity: 1,000 MW
Mettur Dam, Tamil Nadu - Mettur Dam is built across the Kaveri River at Salem district in Tamil Nadu. It is one the largest and oldest dam built in India. Mettur Dam has biggest and the most power generating capacity dam in Tamil Nadu.
- Height: 120 ft.
- Length: 1700 meters
- Type: Concrete Dam
- River: Kaveri River
- Location: Tamil Nadu
- Installed capacity: 32 MW
Cheruthoni Dam, Kerala - Cheruthoni Dam, is located close to Idukki arch dam. It is the third highest dam in India across the river Cheruthoni. These two dams are one of best picnic spot for the tourists, The Idukki and Cheruthoni dams are opened to the public in connection with the Onam festival season.
- Height: 450 feet
- Length: 2300 feet
- Type: Concrete Gravity Dam
- River: Cheruthoni River
- Location: Kerala
- Installed capacity: 32 MW
Krishnarajasagar Dam, Karnataka - Krishnarajasagar dam is built across Kaveri River near Mysore in Karnataka. It is one of the principal and largest dam built on the river Kaveri in Karnatakain, South India.
- Height: 125 feet
- Length: 3.5km
- Type: Masonry Dam
- River: Kaveri River
- Location: Karnataka
- Installed capacity: 200 MW
Bisalpur Dam, Rajasthan – This is the greatest dam of Rajasthan-Bisalpur, located in Tonk District of Rajasthan. The dam is built across the Banas River between two mountains.
- Height: 130 ft.
- Length: 1883 ft
- Type: Gravity Dam
- River: Banas River
- Location: Rajasthan
- Installed capacity: 172 MW
Bhakra Nagal Dam, Himachal Pradesh - This Dam is one of the oldest after India's independence. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru on 18 November laid the foundation of this dam. It is considered to be Asia's second highest dam.
- Height: 741 ft.
- Length: 1700 ft
- Type: Concrete gravity Dam
- River: Satluj River
- Location: Himachal Pradesh
- Installed capacity: 1325 MW
Hirakud Dam, Orrisa – It is across the Mahanadi river in orrisa. Hirakud Dam is the longest man-made dam in the world & was officially inaugurated by the first Prime Minister of independent India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
- Height: 200 ft.
- Length: 26Km
- Type: Composite Dam and Reservoir
- River: Mahanadi River
- Location: Orrisa
- Installed capacity: 347.5 MW
Some Interesting Facts:-
- Nurek Dam in Tajikistan is the tallest dam in the world with the height of 980 ft.
- The Three Gorges Dam, is considered as the largest dam in the world. It is the hydroelectric dam across the Yangtze river in China with length of 7661 ft.
- Hoover Dam is world’s largest concrete structure and largest hydroelectric power station. It is built in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the U.S. states of Nevada and Arizona.
- India has 5,202 large dams. According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), a large dam is one with height of at least 15m from its deepest foundation to the crest.
- Kallanai Dam, also known as Grand Anicut, is the oldest dam in India & the fourth oldest dam in the world.
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