Since standard V, most of us have been studying famous dams in India. Quite simply put, these dams are meant to act as reservoirs for river water, also serving as barriers during floods. These civil engineering wonders could be recognized as the strongest tangible structures on the face of the Earth. Even a powerful explosive shell may not be able to crack a dam’s walls easily.
BENEFITS OF DAMS
These important dams in India are for efficient survival. Their main benefits are:
- Providing hydroelectric power supply
- Availability of water for irrigation, domestic, and industrial purposes
- Storage of excess water
- Controlling floods
- Acting as fishing areas for fishermen
- They can be developed as tourist spots
As per the data from 2016, India has more than 4200 large and small dams. Abundant rivers in the country ensure tremendous potential in the generation of electricity every year.
WHICH ARE THE FAMOUS DAMS IN INDIA?
TEHRI DAM
Constructed on the Bhagirathi River, the Tehri Dam is the 8th highest dam in the world. The dam has a height of 261 meters and a length of 575 meters. It can store more than 32,00,000 acre-feet of water. Its original hydro capacity was 1,000 MW, with an additional 1,000 MW of stockpiling electricity. In terms of architecture, it is a beautiful place to visit if you are somewhere near Mussoorie.
BHAKRA NANGAL DAM
Among the various dams in India, this is built on the Satluj river in Himachal Pradesh. It is the second-highest and the largest dam in the country, towering at 225 meters and with a length of 520 meters. It was built post- Independence as a series of multipurpose dams for waterway advancement. Gobind Sagar store gravity is the third biggest source of water supply in India. While holding water, the dam protects fields from rainstorms. Ten power generators are present on both sides.
HIRAKUD DAM
This dam is one of the longest in the world, with a length of 26 km. Built across the Mahanadi River in Odisha, it consists of two observation towers, namely the Nehru Minar and the Gandhi Minar. This structure has led to several nearby tourist attractions, including the Huma temple, Vimleshwar temple, and the Ushakothi Wildlife Sanctuary. Hirakud Dam’s reservoir measures 55 km in length and is useful for power generation, irrigation, and flood control.
NAGARJUNA SAGAR DAM
This structure has the unique distinction of being the world’s largest masonry dam. Built over the Krishna River in Telangana, it has a height of 124 meters. Interestingly, this is also the largest man-made lake in the world, with a length of 1.6 km and 26 gates. It serves as an exhibition of India’s technical and architectural know-how.
INDIRA SAGAR DAM
This concrete gravity dam has been built on the Narmada River and has been majorly responsible for managing the water crisis in this area. With a water capacity of 79,04,454 acre-feet, it is the largest water reservoir in the country. The installed capacity of this dam is 1000 MW.
METTUR DAM
Situated on the Cauvery River in Tamil Nadu, this is one of the oldest dams in India, having been constructed in 1934. It has a very powerful power-generating capacity and is responsible for irrigation and hydroelectricity in the Salem district.
Do remember that dams in India, both the ones in this blog and the others, do not always have places to stay in the vicinity. Ensure that you research to find the best place to stay while visiting one of the famous dams in India.
Source:
https://www.bestwebsiteinindia.com/blog/10-most-powerful-and-biggest-dams-in-india/
