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

Team Aspirant Forum