Comprehensive List of Major Dams in India
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Introduction
India is blessed with fauna, flora, and agriculture and faces six types of climatic changes. After the independence era, lots of Indian dams were constructed. India has a rich history in architecture. India is the country with the 3rd most number of dams. Further information about the longest dam in India, the highest dam in India, the biggest dam in India, the smallest and a list of important dams in India are discussed to gain more insights.
1. What is Dam?
A dam is a structure constructed across a flowing river, stream, or firth to add a barrier to water flow. The main aim of building a dam is to generate electricity which is generally carried out by hydroelectric power plants. The dams are also used to store and supply drinking water to people, perform agricultural activities, and aquacultural activities, control floods, and for industrial purposes.
2. Major Dams in India
The dams in India are useful for the country in many ways as mentioned below:
- Dams supply a sufficient amount of water for farming as India is considered an agricultural powerhouse by the world.
- Electricity generation with the help of hydroelectric power plants.
- These dams act as a tourist attraction for many people and activities like boating and fishing are carried out too.
- As the sea level is rising the construction of Dams is necessary to control floods.
The dams in India have a total count of 4407 large dams. The dams are said to be large when their height of 15m above the foundation of their crest.
Highlights of Dams
| Longest Dam in India | Hirakud Dam (Odisha) | Length: 25.79 km Main Dam length: 4.8km River: Mahanadi Year of completion: 1953 |
| Highest Dam in India | Tehri Dam (Uttarakhand) | Length: 575 meters Height: 206.5 meters River: Bhagirathi Location: Uttarakhand Year of Completion: 2006 (phase 1) |
| India’s smallest Dam | Mukkombu Dam (Tamil Nadu) | Length: 650.9 meters Height: 138.2 meters River: Kaveri Year of Completion: 1838 |
8 Major Dams in India
| No | Dam | River |
| 1 | Bhavani Sagar Dam (Tamil Nadu) | Bhavani |
| 2 | Tehri Dam (Uttarakhand) | Bhagirathi |
| 3 | Hirakud Dam (Odisha) | Mahanadi |
| 4 | Bhakra Nangal Dam (Himachal Pradesh) | Sutlej |
| 5 | Rihand Dam (Uttar Pradesh) | Richard |
| 6 | Nagarjuna Sagar Dam (Andhra Pradesh) | Krishna |
| 7 | Tungabhadra Dam (Karnataka) | Tungabhadra |
| 8 | Koyna Dam (Maharashtra) | Biradar |
Some of the important dams in India are mentioned as follows:
3. Bhavani Sagar Dam (Tamil Nadu): 2nd Largest Dam in the World
The dam was constructed on the bank of the Bhavani River in the year 1955. It is considered the 2nd largest dam in the world and the largest earthen dam in India and the southern part of Asia. The dam is 8.4 km in length and 130 feet in height. The plant generates around eight megawatts of electricity and is located 16 km west of the Sathyamangalam region of Tamil Nadu and was the first irrigation project after the country’s Independence.
4. Tehri Dam (Uttarakhand): India’s highest dam
Tehri Dam is considered the highest dam in India and is mentioned in the list of top ten dams on the globe. This dam was built on the Bhagirathi River in the year 2006. This is owned by National Thermal Power Corporation Limited and is located in the Tehri area of Uttarakhand. It is a hydroelectric dam that is 855 feet tall and 1,886 feet long. It is known to generate 1000 megawatts of electricity in India.
5.Hirakud Dam (Odisha)
This dam is governed by the Odisha State Government and is the longest earthen dam in the world with a length of 55km and a height of 200 feet respectively. The dam is an imposing structure created in the year 1957 at the mouth of the river Mahanadi. It is one of India’s first significant multifunctional river and dams in India valley initiatives after the country gained its independence. The composite dam is located in the Sambalpur district of Odisha.
6. Bhakra Nangal Dam (Himachal Pradesh): 2nd in Top 10 Tallest Dam in India
This dam is known as the 3rd largest reservoir in the country and comes second in the list of top 10 tallest dams in Asia. The dam is 741 feet tall and is located in the Bilaspur district on the border of the Himachal Pradesh and Punjab provinces. This concrete gravity dam comes under Himachal Pradesh State Government and is one of India’s major tourist destinations which provides livelihood to the people in that locality.
7. Rihand (Uttar Pradesh): Gravity Dam in India
Situated in the Sonbhadra city of Uttar Pradesh the dam was constructed in the year 1962 on the bank of the RihandRiver. This concrete gravity dam has a water holding capacity of 10.6 billion cubic meters and so it is known as the largest dam in India in terms of the volume of water. The height of the dam is 300 feet and it is under the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
Conclusion
Major dams in India are crucial for the country’s growth. They provide water for farming, generate electricity, and help prevent floods. These dams are key for managing water resources, supporting agriculture, and meeting energy needs. As India continues to develop, these major dams will remain vital for progress and environmental protection.
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FAQs
How many dams are in India?
According to the National Register in India, 4407 large dams are fully constructed and in working condition while 447 are still under construction. Most of them are found in the northern and southern parts of the country and India comes on the 3rd rank in the list of top 10 countries having the most dams.
What are the 8 major dams in India?
The 8 major dams in Inda are Bhavani Sagar Dam (Tamil Nadu) Bhavani river, Tehri Dam (Uttarakhand) Bhagirathi River, Hirakud Dam (Odisha) Mahanadi river, Bhakra Nangal Dam (Himachal Pradesh) Sutlej river, Rihand Dam (Uttar Pradesh) Rihand river, Nagarjuna Sagar Dam (Andhra Pradesh) Krishna river, Tungabhadra Dam (Karnataka) Tungabhadra river, Koyna Dam (Maharashtra) Biradar river.
Which is the world’s largest dam?
The Three Gorges Dam is located in China and is considered the world’s largest dam and hydroelectric facility. It generates the highest amount of electricity in the world and has a capacity of 22,500 MW. The generation of electricity varies according to the climatic changes in the country and the water supply in the river Yangtze.
Which is India’s smallest dam?
Cheruthoni Dam is the smallest which is located in the Idukki region of Kerela province. This dam is only 138 meters tall and is a concrete gravity dam. It was constructed by the Hindustan Construction Company and a Canadian consultancy and was given monetary grants by the state of Canada.
Which is the highest dam in India?
Ans. The Tehri is the highest in India. This dam was built on the Bhagirathi River in the year 2006. This is located in the Tehri area of Uttarakhand. It is a hydroelectric dam that is 855 feet tall and 1,886 feet long and known to generate 1000 megawatts of electricity in India.