MAJOR DAMS IN INDIA
After independence we have made lots of progress in dams and water reservoirs, Now India is one of the world’s most prolific dam-builders. Around 4300 large dams already constructed and many more in the pipeline, Almost half of which are more than twenty years old. These dams are major attraction of tourists from all over India.
TEHRI DAM
The Tehri Dam is a multi-purpose rock and earth-fill embankment dam on the Bhagirathi River near Tehri in Uttarakhand, India. It is the primary dam of the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Ltd. and the Tehri hydroelectric complex. The dam is a 260 metres (850 ft) high rock and earth-fill embankment dam. Its length is 575 metres (1,886 ft), crest width 20 metres (66 ft), and base width 1,128 metres (3,701 ft).
MULLAPERIYAR DAM
Kerala Government has long been demanding construction of a new dam in Mullaperiyar on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. Many believe that the existing 116-year-old dam could pose safety hazard.
While the matter rests with the apex court, we look at some of India’s biggest and most famous dams, hailed by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru as ‘The Temples of a Resurgent India’.
BHAKRA DAM
Bhakra Dam is a concrete gravity dam across the Sutlej River, and is near the border between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh in northern India. The dam, located at a gorge near the (now submerged) upstream Bhakra village in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh, is Asia’s second highest at 225.55 m (740 ft) high next to the 261m Tehri Dam. The length of the dam (measured from the road above it) is 518.25 m; it is 9.1 m broad. Its reservoir, known as the “Gobind Sagar”, stores up to 9.34 billion cubic meters of water, enough to drain the whole of Chandigarh, parts of Haryana, Punjab and Delhi.The 90 km long reservoir created by the Bhakra Dam is spread over an area of 168.35 km2. In terms of storage of water, it withholds the second largest reservoir in India, the first being Indira Sagar dam in Madhya Pradesh with capacity of 12.22 billion cu m.Nangal dam is another dam downstream of Bhakra dam.
HIRAKUD DAM
Hirakud Dam is built across the Mahanadi River, about 15 km from Sambalpur in the state of Orissa in India. Built in 1957, the dam is one of the world’s longest earthen dam. Hirakud Dam is the longest man-made dam in the world, about 16 mi (26 km) in length. It is one of the first major multipurpose river valley project started after India’s independence.
NAGARJUNA SAGAR DAM
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is the world’s largest masonry dam built across Krishna River in Nagarjuna Sagar, Nalgonda District of Andhra Pradesh, India, between 1955 and 1967. The dam contains the Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir with a capacity of up to 11,472 million cubic metres. The dam is 490 ft (150 m). tall and 1.6 km long with 26 gates which are 42 ft (13 m). wide and 45 ft (14 m). tall. Nagarjuna Sagar was the earliest in the series of large infrastructure projects initiated for the Green Revolution in India; it also is one of the earliest multi-purpose irrigation and hydro-electric projects in India.
SARDAR SAROVAR DAM
The Sardar Sarovar Dam is a gravity dam on the Narmada River near Navagam, Gujarat, India. It is the largest dam and part of the Narmada Valley Project, a large hydraulic engineering project involving the construction of a series of large irrigation and hydroelectric multi-purpose dams on the Narmada River. The project took form in 1979 as part of a development scheme to increase irrigation and produce hydroelectricity. It is the 30th largest dams planned on river Narmada, Sardar Sarovar Dam (SSD) is the largest structure to be built. It has a proposed final height of 163 m (535 ft) from foundation. The dam is one of India’s most controversial dam projects and its environmental impact and net costs and benefits are widely debated. The World Bank was initially a funder of the SSD, but withdrew in 1994. The Narmada Dam has been the centre of controversy and protest since the late 1980s.
INDIRASAGAR DAM
The Indirasagar Dam is a multipurpose key project of Madhya Pradesh on the Narmada River at Narmadanagar in the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh in India. The Project envisages construction of a 92 m high and 653 m long concrete gravity dam. It provides Irrigation in 1,230 square kilometres of land with annual production of 2700 million units in the districts of Khandwa and Khargone in Madhya Pradesh and power generation of 1000 MW installed capacity (8×125). The reservoir of 12,200,000,000 m3 (9,890,701 acre•ft) was created.
TUNGABHADRA DAM
Tungabhadra dam, Hospet, Karnataka stand at 8th position.
BHAVANISAGAR DAM
The Bhavanisagar Dam and Reservoir, also called Lower Bhavani Dam, is located on the Bhavani River between Mettupalayam and Sathyamangalam in Erode District, Tamil Nadu, South India. The dam is situated around 16 km (9.9 mi) west to Satyamangalam and 35 km (22 mi) from Gobichettipalayam, 36 km (22 mi) north-east to Mettuppalayam and 70 km (43 mi) from Erode and 75 km (47 mi) from Coimbatore.
The dam is considered to be among the biggest earthen dams in the country. Bhavani Sagar dam is constructed on Bhavani River, which is merely under the union of Moyar River. The dam is used to divert water to the Lower Bhavani Project Canal.
KOYNA DAM
The Koyna Hydroelectric Project is the largest completed hydroelectric power plant of India It is a complex project consisting of total four dams with the largest Dam built on Koyna River known as Koyna Dam hence the name Koyna Hydroelectric project. The total Installed capacity of the project is 1,920 MW. The project consists of 4 stages of power generation. Due to the project’s electricity generating potential the Koyna River is considered as the life line of Maharashtra.
IDUKKI DAM
The Idukki Dam, located in Kerala, India, is a 168.91 m (554 ft) tall arch dam. The dam stands between the two mountains – Kuravanmala (839) m and Kurathimala (925)m. It was constructed and is owned by the Kerala State Electricity Board. It supports a 780 MW hydroelectric power station.
It is built on the Periyar River, in the ravine between the Kuravan and Kurathi Hills in Kerala, India. At 167.68 metres, it is one of the highest arch dams in Asia and third tallest dam in India.
KRISHNA RAJA SAGARA
Krishna Raja Sagara, also popularly known as KRS, is the name of both a lake and the dam that causes it.Sir. Mokshagundam Visvesvarayya served as the chief engineer during the construction of this dam. The dam is named for the then ruler of the Mysore Kingdom, Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV.
METTUR DAM
The Mettur Dam is a large dam in India built in 1934.[1] It was constructed in a gorge, where the Kaveri River enters the plains. The dam is one of the oldest in India. The total length of the dam is 1,700 m (5,600 ft).
SRISAILAM DAM
The Srisailam Dam is a dam constructed across the Krishna River at Srisailam in the Kurnool district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India and is the second largest capacity hydroelectric project in the country. The dam was constructed in a deep gorge in the Nallamala Hills, 300 m (980 ft) above sea level. It is 512 m (1,680 ft) long, 145 m (476 ft) high and has 12 radial crest gates. It has a reservoir of 800 km2 (310 sq mi).
BANASURA SAGAR DAM
The Banasura Sagar Dam is located 21 km from Kalpetta, in Wayanad District of Kerala in the Western Ghats. It is the largest earthen dam in India and the second largest in Asia.
OTHER DAMS
Name of Dam | State | River |
Nizam Sagar Dam | Telangana | Manjira River |
Somasila Dam | Andhra Pradesh | Pennar River |
Srisailam Dam | Andhra Pradesh | Krishna River |
Singur dam | Telangana | Manjira River |
Ukai Dam | Gujarat | Tapti River |
Dharoi Dam | Gujarat | Sabarmati River |
Kadana dam | Gujarat | Mahi River |
Dantiwada Dam | Gujarat | Banas River |
Pandoh Dam | Himachal Pradesh | Beas River |
Bhakra Nangal Dam | Himachal Pradesh and Punjab Border | Sutlej River |
Nathpa Jhakri Dam | Himachal Pradesh | Satluj River |
Chamera Dam | Himachal Pradesh | Ravi River |
Baglihar Dam | Jammu and Kashmir | Chenab River |
Dumkhar Hydroelectric Dam | Jammu and Kashmir | Indus River |
Uri Hydroelectric Dam | Jammu and Kashmir | Jhelum River |
Maithon Dam | Jharkhand | Barakar River |
Chandil Dam | Jharkhand | Swarnarekha River |
Panchet Dam | Jharkhand | Damodar River |
Tunga Bhadra Dam | Karnataka | Tungabhadra River |
Linganamakki dam | Karnataka | Sharavathi River |
Kadra Dam | Karnataka | Kalinadi River |
Alamatti Dam | Karnataka | Krishna River |
Supa Dam | Karnataka | Kalinadi or Kali river |
Krishna Raja Sagara Dam | Karnataka | Kaveri River |
Harangi Dam | Karnataka | Harangi River |
Narayanpur Dam | Karnataka | Krishna River |
Kodasalli Dam | Karnataka | Kali River |
Malampuzha Dam | Kerala | Malampuzha River |
Peechi Dam | Kerala | Manali River |
Idukki Dam | Kerala | Periyar River |
Kundala Dam | Kerala | Kundala Lake |
Parambikulam Dam | Kerala | Parambikulam River |
Walayar Dam | Kerala | Walayar River |
Mullaperiyar Dam | Kerala | Periyar River |
Neyyar Dam | Kerala | Neyyar River |
Rajghat Dam | Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh Border | Betwa River |
Barna Dam | Madhya Pradesh | Barna River |
Bargi Dam | Madhya Pradesh | Narmada River |
Bansagar Dam | Madhya Pradesh | Sone River |
Gandhi Sagar Dam | Madhya Pradesh | Chambal River |
Yeldari Dam | Maharashtra | Purna river |
Ujani Dam | Maharashtra | Bhima River |
Pawna Dam | Maharashtra | Maval River |
Mulshi Dam | Maharashtra | Mula River |
Koyna Dam | Maharashtra | Koyna River |
Jayakwadi Dam | Maharashtra | Godavari River |
Bhatsa Dam | Maharashtra | Bhatsa river |
Wilson Dam | Maharashtra | Pravara River |
Tansa Dam | Maharashtra | Tansa river |
Panshet Dam | Maharashtra | Ambi River |
Mula Dam | Maharashtra | Mula river |
Kolkewadi Dam | Maharashtra | Vashishti River |
Girna Dam | Maharashtra | Girana river |
Vaitarna Dam | Maharashtra | Vaitarna river |
Radhanagari Dam | Telangana | Bhogawati River |
Lower Manair Dam | Telangana | Manair River |
Mid Manair Dam | Telangana | Manair River and SRSP Flood Flow Canal |
Upper Manair Dam | Telangana | Manair River and Kudlair River |
Khadakwasla Dam | Maharashtra | Mutha River |
Gangapur Dam | Maharashtra | Godavari river |
Jalaput Dam | Andhra Pradesh and Odisha Border | Machkund River |
Indravati Dam | Odisha | Indravati River |
Hirakud Dam | Odisha | Mahanadi River |
Vaigai Dam | Tamil Nadu | Vaigai River |
Perunchani Dam | Tamil Nadu | Paralayar River |
Mettur Dam | Tamil Nadu | Kaveri River |
Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar Dam also Rihand dam | Uttar Pradesh | Rihand River |
Tehri Dam | Uttarakhand | Bhagirathi River |
Dhauli Ganga Dam | Uttarakhand | Dhauli Ganga River |
RESERVOIRS | ||
Dindi Reservoir | Telangana | Krishna River |
Lower Manair Reservoir | Telangana | Manair River |
Tatipudi Reservoir Project | Andhra Pradesh | Gosthani River |
Gandipalem Reservoir | Andhra Pradesh | Manneru River |
Himayat Sagar Reservoir | Telangana | Osman Sagar |
Shriram Sagar Reservoir | Telangana | Godavari River |
Gobind Sagar Reservoir | Himachal Pradesh | Sutlej River |
Maharana Pratap Sagar Reservoir | Himachal Pradesh | Pong Dam Lake |
Ghataprabha Reservoir | Karnataka | Ghataprabha River |
Hemavathi Reservoir | Karnataka | Hemavati River |
Tawa Reservoir | Madhya Pradesh | Tawa River |
Balimela Reservoir | Odisha | Sileru River |
Aliyar Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | Aliyar River |
Chittar Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | Chittar River |
Krishnagiri Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | Thenpennai River |
Manimuthar Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | Tamirabarani River |
Pechiparai Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | Kodayar River |
Shoolagiri Chinnar Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | Chinnar River |
Thunakadavu Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | Thunacadavu River |
Varattu Pallam Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | |
Vidur Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | |
Amaravathi Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | Amaravathi River |
Gundar Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | Berijam Lake |
Kullursandai Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | Arjuna Nadi |
Pambar Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | Pambar River |
Periyar Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | Periyar River |
Stanley Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | Kaveri River |
Uppar Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | |
Vattamalaikarai Odai Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | Odai River |
Willingdon Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | Periya Odai River |
Bhavanisagar Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | Bhavani River |
Kodaganar Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | Kodagananar River |
Manimukthanadhi Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | |
Parambikulam Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | Parambikulam River |
Sholayar Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | |
Thirumurthi Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | Parmabikulam and Aliyar River |
Varadamanadhi Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | |
Vembakottai Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | Vaippar River |
Manjalar Reservoir | Tamil Nadu | |
Salal Project | Jammu and Kashmir | Chenab River |
Chutak Hydroelectric Project | Jammu and Kashmir | |
Indirasagar Project | Madhya Pradesh | Narmada River |
Narmada Dam Project | Madhya Pradesh | Narmada River |
Rihand Project | Uttar Pradesh | Rihand River and Son River |

Courtsey: Maps of india
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