Dams in India

Dams of India have been built across many perennial rivers since the
independence of India. These dams in India are a part of several multi-purpose
projects to serve a variety of needs. In a multi-purpose project, a river forms a
unit and a river valley is developed, by exploiting all the resources of the river.
Basically, dams are built to harness the river water so that it can be utilised
according to the needs. A multipurpose project is launched often for storing
water for irrigation purposes, generating hydro-electricity by utilising the water
stored by the dams, preventing floods and facilitating afforestation in the
catchments areas of the reservoirs. Moreover, the dams also provide drinking
water, using the canals for navigation in some areas and also facilitating
pisciculture and recreational activities. The main multipurpose projects
constituting Indian dams are the Hirakud Dam in Orissa, the Bhakra-Nangal
Projectin Punjab, the Damodar Valley Project in Bihar and West Bengal, the
Tungabhadra Project in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, the Rihand Project in
Uttar Pradesh

Large Dams in India

At independence, in 1947, there were fewer than 300 large dams in India. By
the year 2000 the number had grown to over 4000, more than half of them built
between 1971 and 1989. India ranks third in the world in dam building, after US
and China. While some of these dams were built primarily for flood control,
water supply, and hydroelectric power generation, the primary purpose of most
Indian dams (96 percent) remains irrigation. In fact, large dam construction has
been the main form of investment in irrigation undertaken by the Indian
government. But, starting in the 1980s, public investment in large dams in India
has been the subject of a sustained controversy—epitomized by the
SardarSarovar Project—centering on the balance between the social,
environmental, and economic costs of dams and their benefits. This essay
analyzes the economic impact of large irrigation dams in India, focusing on
both their aggregate productivity effects and their distributional effects.
Given that the economic gains and losses from dams, like those from many
other public investments, often accrue unevenly to different groups in society,
one way to begin is to identify the putative winners and losers. Most irrigation
dams in India are embankment dams. That is, they consist of a wall built across
a river valley to impound water so as to form a reservoir upstream and a system
of spillways and gates to bypass the wall so as to maintain normal river flow
and convey water to a network of canals feeding irrigated regions downstream.
The upstream areas that feed the dam and those submerged by its reservoir
make up its “catchment” area, and the downstream areas fed by its irrigation
canals make up its “command” area. Before any mitigating effects of
resettlement and compensation, whether a household stands to gain or lose

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depends on its location relative to the placement of the dam. People living in the
catchment area, who lose property and livelihood but gain little, if anything,
from irrigation, tend to lose out, while people living in the command area, who
bear little of the social cost but gain the most from irrigation, typically gain.
Proponents of large dams focus on the aggregate productivity benefits,
emphasizing the role of dams in enabling irrigation. And, even though this is
controversial, on their role in recharging the water table, which had been
lowered by overuse of underground water sources for irrigation. Between 1951
and 2000, India’s production of food grains increased fourfold, from 51 million
tonnes to about 200 million tonnes. This not only obviated the importation of
food grains, with attendant saving in foreign exchange, but left India with a
marginal food grain surplus. Proponents point to the fact that about two thirds of
this increase was in irrigated areas, and that by the year 2000, areas irrigated by
dams constituted 35 percent of irrigated land in India. The most optimistic
estimates attribute 25 percent of the increase in food grainproduction to dam
irrigated areas. But it is incorrect to attribute the entire production gains in dam
irrigated areas to dams. First,

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the increase in irrigation coincided with increased uptake of other inputs and
technologies, such as high yield varieties beginning in the 1960s, fertilizer,
machinery, and multi-cropping. Even though the contribution of these cannot be
readily disentangled, we can surmise that it lowers the proportion of the
productivity increase due to irrigation alone. Second, there are other methods of
harvesting water for irrigation, and so some of the dam-irrigated areas would still
have been irrigated even if the dams had not been built.
Indeed, other methods of harvesting water for irrigation, such as ground water
and small dykes, remain pervasive in India. Even so, proponents of large dams
have argued that these cannot be relied upon to meet the needs of India’s large
and growing population. Moreover, it has been argued, these forms of water
harvesting are not cost-effective and do not have have the added advantages of
hydropower generation and flood management.
Opponents of large dams, on the other hand, emphasize the social costs of dams.
They point out that the economic gains accrue disproportionately to people
living in the command areas.
The losses, on the contrary, are suffered disporportionately by people living in
the catchment areas. Dam construction and submersion leads to significant loss
of arable farmland and forest. Water logging and increased salinity reduce
agricultural productivity in the vicinity of the reservoir. Policies to ensure
adequate flow into the reservoir sometimes prohibit water harvesting in the
catchment area, reducing agricultural productivity even more. Large-scale
impounding of water increases exposure to vector-borne diseases, such as
malaria, schistosomiasis, filariasis, and river blindness. Furthermore, the Indian
government’s compensation policy towards the displaced remains insufficient in
many cases. In particular, since the compensation is based on the amount of
land owned, landless households were typically not compensated whatsoever.
Nor were people compensated for loss of income or subsistence derived from
communal holdings, such as common grasslands and forests. Although dams
may also increase economic activity in the catchment area—through
construction and economic activity around the resevoir, such as tourism and
fishing—these increase are either temporary or depend on the ability to learn
new trades, and often can not compensate for the loss of familiar livelihood.
Ultimately, both the aggregate economic impact of dams and their distributional
impact remain complicated empirical questions. As has been said already,
whether a household accrue net losses or gains depends in part on the placement
of the dam. That, in turn, depends on several factors determine, including the
political and financial power of the local governments; the relative strengths of
proponent and opponent civic organizations; and the potential of improved
agricultural productivity in the would-be command region. All these factors
may have direct impact on both agricutural production and poverty quite
independently of the construction of the dam. As such, a simple comparison of
the areas in the command or the catchment areas of dams and other areas

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does not directly inform us about the impact of dams, since these areas are
likely to differ along these other salient dimensions, and it is difficult to
disentangle their effect and the effect of the dams.
One specific determinant of dam placement, however, is geographic suitability.
Dam location is strongly influenced by river gradient. A river flowing at a
moderately positive gradient favors irrigation dams; higher water levels
upstream facilitate water storage and diversion into irrigation canals.
Consequently, within states, new dams tend to be built in those regions that
have river flowing at a moderate incline. After one accounts for the impact of
the overal hilliness of the district and the availability of rivers, the gradient of
the rivers is unlikely to have a direct impact on changes in agricultural
productivity or other district-level outcomes before and after a state builds new
dams. It is possible, therefore, to use the variation in dam construction induced
by differences in river gradient across districts within Indian states to determine
the impact of large dams.
In Duflo and Pande (2005), we use this strategy to estimate the impact of dam
construction on district agriculture and poverty outcomes. We find that
agricultural productivity in the catchment areas is unaffected, but poverty and
vulnerability to rain shocks increase. Poverty increases in terms of both the
headcount ratio (the fraction of rural population with consumption levels below
the poverty line) and in terms of the poverty gap (how much income would be
needed to bring the poor to a consumption level equal to the poverty line). In the
command areas, irrigation and agricultural productivity increase, and poverty
and vulnerability to rainfall shocks decline.
A cost-benefit analysis suggests that the dams are, on average, only marginally
cost-effective, although there is large variation from dam to dam. We also
estimate that large dams increased all-India agricultural productivity by about 9
percent, a number close to the World Commission on Dams’s estimate of 10
percent, which has been criticized as too low by proponents of dams.
The increase in poverty in the catchment areas suggests that, even though losers
are clearly identified, as those who live in the vicinity and upstream of the dam,
they are are rarely adequately compensated. This finding suggests that losers do
not have the instutional capacity to negotiate higher compensation. To explore
this further, we took a cue from Banerjee and Iyer (2005), who show that Indian
districts where the British colonial authorities had delegated the setting and
collection of land taxes a class of landlords tend to have less collective action
and public good provision than districts where the individual cultivator paid the
taxes directly to the colonial authorities. We found that, while the impact of
dams on production is similar in both types of districts, the increase in poverty
due to large dams is twice as large in districts where taxation had been
delegated to landlords. The fact that historically disadvantaged groups are
disproportionately represented among the displaced (scheduled

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tribes represent 8% of the population, but 47% of the displaced) also suggests
inadequate capacity to negotiate higher compensation. Planning authorities
facing groups that have poor capacity to negotiate may not adequately account
for the costs of resettlement and compensation, overestimating the economic
viability of a dam, which may also increase poverty. .
Large dam construction has been an important and expensive undertaking for
the Indian government. While dams have enhanced agricultural productivity in
India, there is no evidence that they have been very cost effective, and they have
significantly adverse distributional implications. The case of large dams
suggests strongly that distributional implications of public polcies should be
central to any evaluation. Clearly, the case of large dams suggests the need to
understand the institutions, and power structures, that led to the implementation
of these projects.

1. Tehri Dam:Tehri Dam located on the Bhagirathi River, Uttaranchal Now

become Uttarakhand. Tehri Dam is the highest dam in India,With a height of
261 meters and the eighth tallest dam in the world.

TEHRI DAM, UTTARANCHAL

Introduction: The TehriHydel Project has been creating controversy since the
time it was envisaged. This largest dam in Asia has displaced thousands of
people and is under scrutiny for its structural strength.

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Fact File
The 2400MW TehriHydel Project was announced in 1965. The dam will
form
a lake spreading over 42 sq.km.
Executing body: Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC)
Protests and objections of several agencies, organisations and local groups
have since delayed this Rs 8500 crore project. This dam is planned for a
260.5m height, is the largest in Asia, and among the largest in the world.
Its construction started in 1978. However was stopped by the residents who
were concerned about their lives and livelihoods and were to be displaced;
environmentalists worried about the possible adverse affects of the dam.
A committee was formed in 1980 to look into the environmental implications;
however, their report came out 6 years later.
The project got a go-ahead in 1990 by the Union Forest and Environment
Ministry after debates on the safety of the dam.
There were protests and hunger strikes held by eminent environmentalist Mr.
Sunder LalBahuguna and the local people. Construction was at a snails
pace.
The demands of the local residents now shifted to proper rehabilitation, which
resulted in the HanumanthaRao Committee in 1996.
Till September 2003, over Rs 600 crore had been spent in resident
rehabilitation, with 100 families still left.
The Supreme Court cleared the legal hurdles for the ongoing construction of
this controversial project in September 2003 saying that there was no material
on record to show that statutory environmental conditions had not been
compiled with. The bench also said that tunnels number 1 and 2 should not
be closed and no further impounding of water should be carried out till the
rehabilitation work is complete. Because once the tunnels are closed the
water level will begin to rise and the 188-year-old Tehri will submerge. Also
an expert committee should be set up to carry out all scientific tests, including
a 3-D seismic survey.
The Research Foundation for Science Technology and Ecology, an NGO, has
however resented the Supreme Court’s verdict. As over 1 lakh people
uprooted from their ancestral homes and thus displaced have yet to be
relocated. Also, the benefit of the Tehri Dam will go to Sue z, the world’s
biggest water MNC.
The project is nearing completion and is in the final stage now.

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Controversial Aspects

The soil on the upper slopes is unstable and grouting can only take care of
surface problems. The volume of water envisaged (maximum of 15540
cusecs) would further weaken the slopes and affect the dam’s life span.
THDC has assumed the dam’s life span to be 150 years, while independent
experts say 50 years.
The catchment area management by the forest department has been
entrusted with planting trees to bind the soil. The department is alleged to
have failed in doing its job despite huge amounts of money given to them.
ShoorVir Singh Sajwan, Minister of Irrigation agrees with this allegation.
However the Principal Conservator of Forests, Uttaranchal, M MHarbola
claims that thought the catchment area is about 7 lakh hectares, the forest
department was entrusted with the task of greening 52000 odd hectares of
which 44000 hectares had already been covered.
39 villages of 3355 families will be totally submerged along with Tehri town
while 72 villages with about 2074 families will be partially submerged.
According to an NGO Matu, the project affects around 125 villages of which
86 will be partially submerged. This number of fully and partially affected
villages may increase since a fresh survey of the rim area has been
commissioned. Many villages are located in the unstable rim area, including
villages like Khola, Kangsali and Jawalgaon.
Houses on either side of the road have been assigned different rates of
compensation in an arbitrary fashion.
People are angry over the unrealistic amount of compensation. As the
rehabilitation package was made in 1976, the project is vastly delayed and
the current market value of the compensation is nothing.
Those lucky enough to get compensation are still awaiting their promised
land. For example, Pipola hamlet is yet to get the land that has been allotted
atPashulok in Rishikesh.
Besides, the cutoff date for compensation being 1976, the right to
compensation rests to owners long dead and gone. The package does not
factor in claimants who were minors then and are adults now.
The construction of this big project in an active seismic zone had rendered
the dam unsafe as no tests regarding the safety of the dam from earthquakes
experienced frequently in the region, had been carried out so far. This project
in the Garhwal hills is situated in one of the most quake-prone zones of the
world.
Also with muscleflexing, people have used their influences to get 4 to 5 times
as much compensation, while the less fortunate ones have got nothing.
The project is nearing completion with its rehabilitation still incomplete.
Furthermore, injustice and delay seems to be the inherent attitude towards the

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project affected persons.

2. BhakraNangal Dam:BhakraNangal Dam is a gravity dam across the

sutlej river Himachal Pradesh. BhakraNangal is the largest dam in India, with a
height of 225 meters and second largest Dam in Asia. Its reservoir, known as
the “GobindSagar Lake” it is the second largest reservoir in India, the first being
Indira Sagar dam.

One of the famous dams of India, BhakraNangal Dam holds great significance.
Being largest dam of India, tourist travel to the site of dam to witness the dam's
architecture and design. Apart from the architectural beauty of the dam,
BhakraNangal dam is also known for its scenic beauty and environment.

Described as 'New Temple of Resurgent India’ by Late PanditJawaharLal

Nehru, the first prime minister of India, BhakraNangal Dam is situated across
the river Sutlej that falls under the region of Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh.
BhakraNangal Dam is one of the largest dam in India and highest gravity dam
in the world. Nestling between the border of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh,
amidst the lush green forests, the dam gives a fantastic view of the region and
attracts huge number of tourists from all over the India.

3. Hirakud Dam:Hirakud dam built across the Mahanadi River in Orissa.

Hirakud Dam is one of the longest dams in the world about 26 km in length.
There are two observation towers on the dam one is “Gandhi Minar” and
another one is “Nehru Minar”.

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Hirakud Dam - Longest Dam in World

Hirakud Dam is located at a distance of around 15 Km to the north of
Sambalpur in Orissa India. Hirakud Dam was one of the 1st river valley projects
of Independent India. Hirakud Dam is the longest Dam in World. It is about 4.8
kms in length. Hirakud dam is bordered by earthern dykes on both right and left
sides. Along with these dykes on the borders the length of the dam increases to
25.8 Kms. Built across the river Mahanadi Hirakud dam is a complex structure
and provides irrigation and helps in flood control with the storage capacity of
5818 m. The dam is also used in producing hydro electricity.

The reservoir of Hirakud Dam is spread over 743 Sq. Km and forms one of the
biggest artificial lakes of Asia. At the top of the dam is revolving minaret also
known as Gandhi Minar which is enthralling and enchanting. The 21 Km stretch
along the dykes is very mesmerising with fascinating and panoramic view. It
gives a rejuvinating effect to the visitors.

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4. Nagarjunasagar Dam: NagarjunaSagar Dam is the world’s largest

masonry dam with a height of 124 meters, built across Krishna River in Andhra
Pradesh. NagarjunaSagar Dam is certainly the pride of India-considered the
largest man-made lake in the world.

Location :NagarjunaSagar
Famous For : Tallest Masonry Dam In The World
Ideal Time To Visit : October To February

¤ A Popular Picnic Spot

One of the tallest masonry dams of the world, the Nagarjuna Dam irrigates over
10 lakh acres of land in Guntur, Prakasam, Nalgonda, Khammam and Krishna
districts. It is located on the borders Guntur - Nalgonda districts. The
construction of the dam was completed in 1966. This mighty dam is 124m high
and 1-km long. It is built across the river Krishna and has one of the largest
networks of canal systems.

There is also a lake here, which is one of the largest artificial lakes. The
Nagarjunakonda island emerges out of this lake.

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The relic of an Buddhist settlement has been renovated on the right bank of the
reservoir. On a trip to this lake, oen can see pious stupas, viharas, monasteries, a
university and a sacrificial altar.

¤ Major Attraction Around The Dam

The Lake

The lake near the dam is the third largest artificial lake in the world. It is located
4-km away from the dam. This dam provides some exotic views of the
outstandingly beautiful landscape. Here you can also see an idol of Lord
Nagarjuna, placed on a tower, very near to the dam.

¤ Other Attractions

Apartform the lake, there are many other attractions around the NagarjunaSagar
like Ethipothala waterfalls, and the densely forested Srisailam Wildlife Reserve.
There is also the famous Buddhist relics and an exquisite museum, located just a
20-minute ride away by a motorboat across the river Krishna. The dam offers
some eye pleasing views during attracting innumerable tourists to take a trip to
the dams.

5. SardarSarovar Dam:SardarSarovar Dam also known as “Narmada

Dam” is the largest dam to be built, with a height of 138 meters, over the Sacred
Narmada River in Gujarat. Drought prone areas of Kutch and Saurashtra will
get irrigate by this project. The Narmada dam is India’s most controversial dam
project.

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The SardarSarovar Dam is a dam on the Narmada River near Navagam, Gujarat,
India. The dam is the largest dam in and part of the Narmada Valley Project, a
large hydraulic engineering project involving the construction of a series of
large irrigation and hydroelectricmulti purposedams on the Narmada River. The
project was first conceived of in the 1940s by the country's first prime minister,
Jawaharlal Nehru. The project only took form in 1979 as part of a development
scheme to increase irrigation and produce hydroelectricity.

Of the thirty large dams planned on river Narmada, SardarSarovar Dam (SSD)
is the largest structure to be built. It has a proposed final height of 136.5 m (448
ft). The project will irrigate more than 18,000 km2 (6,900 sq mi), most of it in
drought prone areas of Kutch and Saurashtra. Critics maintain that its negative
environmental impacts outweigh its benefits. It has created discord between its
government planners and the citizens group Narmada BachaoAndolan.

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Projected benefits
The benefits of the dam as listed in the Judgement of Supreme Court of India in
2000 were:

"The argument in favour of the SardarSarovar Project is that the benefits are so
large that they substantially outweigh the costs of the immediate human and
environmental disruption. Without the dam, the long term costs for people
would be much greater and lack of an income source for future generations
would put increasing pressure on the environment. If the waters of the Narmada
river continuous to flow to the sea unused there appears to be no alternative to
escalating human deprivation, particularly in the dry areas of Gujarat.

The project has the potential to feed as many as 20 million people, provide
domestic and industrial water for about 30 million, employ about 1 million, and
provide valuable peak electric power in an area with high unmet power demand
(farm pumps often get only a few hours power per day). In addition, recent
research shows substantial economic multiplier effects (investment and
employment triggered by development) from irrigation development. Set
against the futures of about 70,000 project affected people, even without the
multiplier effect, the ratio of beneficiaries to affected persons is well over
100:1."[2]

The dam will irrigate 17,920 km2 (6,920 sq mi) of land spread over 12 districts,
62 talukas and 3393 villages (75% of which is drought-prone areas) in Gujarat
and 730 km2 (280 sq mi) in the arid areas of Barmer and Jalore districts of
Rajasthan. The dam will also provide flood protection to riverine reaches
measuring 30,000 ha (74,000 acres) covering 210 villages and Bharuch city and
a population of 400,000 in Gujarat.[1]

Height issues

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The SardarSarovar Dam,

undergoing height increase in 2006.

 In February 1999, the Supreme Court of India gave the go ahead for the
dam's height to be raised to 88 m (289 ft) from the initial 80 m (260 ft).
 In October 2000 again, in a 2 to 1 majority judgment in the Supreme
Court, the government was allowed to construct the dam up to 90 m (300
ft).[3]
 In May 2002, the Narmada Control Authority approved increasing the
height of the dam to 95 m (312 ft).
 In March 2004, the Authority allowed a 15 m (49 ft) height increase to
110 m (360 ft).
 In March 2006, the Narmada Control Authority gave clearance for the
height of the dam to increased from 110.64 m (363.0 ft) to 121.92 m
(400.0 ft). This came after 2003 when the Supreme Court of India refused
to stay the height of the dam again.

Official name The SardarSarovar Dam Locale Navagam, Gujarat Coordinates

21°49′49″N 73°44′50″E / 21.83028°N 73.74722°E Construction began 1964
Dam and spillways Type of damConcrete gravity dam Height

Design FRL (Full reservoir level): 138 m (453 ft)

Maximum water level: 146.5 m (481 ft) Length 1,210 m (3,970 ft) Base width
100 m (330 ft) Impounds Narmada River Spillway capacity 84,949 m3/s
(2,999,900 cu ft/s)

Reservoir Capacity 4,700,000 acre feet (5.80×109 m3) Catchment area

88,000 km2 (34,000 sq mi) Surface area 375.33 km2 (144.92 sq mi) Power
station Owner(s) Narmada Control Authority Operator(s) SardarSarovar
Narmada Nigam Limited Commission date June, 2006 Installed capacity 1,450
MW (River bed power house-1200 MW, Canal head power house-250 MW)[1]
Maximum capacity Firm power: 439 M
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6.Krishna raj sagar dam:

The dam was built across river Kaveri, the life giving river for the Mysore and
Mandya districts, in 1924[1]. Apart from being the main source of water for
irrigation in the most fertile Mysore and Mandya , the reservoir is the main
source of drinking water for almost the whole of Bangalore city, the capital of
the state of Karnataka. The water released from this dam is further used as an
important source of water in the state of Tamil Nadu, which has its own Mettur
dam in the Mettur district. Sir.MokshagundamVisvesvarayya served as the chief
engineer during the construction of this dam. The dam is named for the then
ruler of the Mysore Kingdom, KrishnarajaWodeyarIV[1].

Krishna Raja Sagara (Kannada: ಕೃಷ್ಣ ರಾಜಸಾಗರ), also popularly known as

KRS (ಕಕ.ಕಕಕ.ಕಕಕ.), is the name of both a lake and the dam that causes it.
For information about the settlement near the dam and reservoir, see
Krishnarajasagara. The dam is across Kaveri River, in Mandya District near
Mysore in Karnataka state, India. There is an ornamental garden attached to the
dam, called Brindavan Gardens.

Mandya District, Karnataka,

Locale
India

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12°24′58″N
Coordinates 76°34′26″E12.41611°N
76.57389°E

Opening date 1932

Dam and spillways

Height 125 feet

Length 3.5km

Impounds Kaveri River

Reservoir

Creates Krishna Raja Sagara

Capacity: 49 billion ft³ (1.4 km³)

7.Linganamakki Dam:

The Linganamakki dam was constructed by the Karnataka State Government

in 1964. Located in the Sagarataluk, the dam has a length of 2.4 km, stretching
across the Sharavathi river. It is located about 6 km from Jog Falls.

The dam was designed to impound 4368 million cubic meter of water in an area
of around 300 km², submerging 50.62 km² of wetland and 7 km² of dry land,
with the remaining being forest land and wasteland.[1]

The dam's height is 1,819 feet (554 m) above sea level[2]. It receives water
mainly from rainfall and also from the Chakra and Savahaklu reservoirs, which
are linked to Linganamakki through a canal. The water from the Linganamakki
dam flows to Talakalale Balancing Reservoir through a trapezoidal canal with a
discharge capacity of 175.56 cumecs. The length of this channel is about
4318.40 m with a submersion of 7.77 km². It has a catchment area of about
46.60 km².[3]

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Behind the dam is a large reservoir. The discharge from the dam can be quite
heavy. When the dam's sluice gates are closed upstream from Jog Falls, it is
possible to walk down into the fall's ravine.[4]

The power house has a power generation capacity of 55 MW, from two
generating units. They are driven by bertical axis Kaplan turbines. The power
house is on the left side of the dam.

Linganamakki,
Locale
SagaraTaluk, Karnataka

17°7′18″N
74°53′31″E17.12167°N
74.89194°ECoordinates:
Coordinates
17°7′18″N
74°53′31″E17.12167°N
74.89194°E
Construction began 1964
Dam and spillways
Height 193 ft
Length 2.4 km
Impounds Sharavathi River
Reservoir
Linganamakki
Creates
Reservoir

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Catchment area 1991.71 km²

8.Bhadra Dam:
The Bhadra Dam, (Kannada language: ಕಕಕಕಕಕಕಕಕಕಕಕಕ), which has
created the Bhadra Reservoir (ಕಕಕಕಕಕಕಕಕಕ), is located on the Bhadra
River (Kannada: ಭದ್ರಾ ನದಿ) a tributary of Tungabhadra River in
Chikkamagaluru district in TarikereTaluk, in the western part of Karnataka in
South India. The benefits derived from the reservoir storage are irrigation with
gross irrigation potential of 162,818 hectares (402,330 acres),[1] hydro power
generation of 39.2 MW (three powerhouses, located on the right and left bank
main canals[3][4]), drinking water supply and industrial use. The dam
commissioned in 1965 is a composite earth cum masonry structure of
59.13 metres (194.0 ft) height with length of 1,708 metres (5,604 ft) at the crest
level, which submerges a land area of 11,250.88 hectares (27,801.5 acres).[1][5][6]

Official name Bhadra Locale Chikkamagaluru district – TarikereTaluk, North

Karnataka Coordinates 13°42′0″N 75°38′24″E / 13.7°N 75.64°ECoordinates:
13°42′0″N 75°38′24″E / 13.7°N 75.64°E Construction cost Rs.520 crores
Dam and spillways Height 59.13 metres (194.0 ft) Length 1,708 metres (5,604
ft) Impounds Bhadra River, a tributary of Krishna River Reservoir Creates
Multipurpose Capacity 71.50 billion cubic feet Catchment area 1,968 km2 (760
sq mi) Surface area

11,250.88 hectares (27,801.5 acres)

hectares

Geography

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 Dams in India

The Bhadra River rises at Samse in the Western GhatsAroli hill range of
Kudremukh range, and flows east across the Deccan Plateau. It is joined by its
tributaries, the Somavahini (drains from a crater and meets Bhadra River at
Hebbe), Thadabehalla, and Odirayanahalla. The river flows through the city of
Bhadravathi and the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary. The Bhadra meets the Tunga
River at Koodli, a small town near Shivamogga. The combined river continues
east as the Tungabhadra, a major tributary of the Krishna, which empties into
the Bay of Bengal. The Bhadra Dam is built across the Bhadra River,
1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) from Lakkavalli village and 50 kilometres (31 mi)
upstream of the confluence of the Bhadra River and Tungabhadra
River.[7]Shimoga city is located 28 kilometres (17 mi) north of the dam.[8] The
Bhadra Dam drains a catchment area of 1,968 square kilometres (760 sq mi) out
of which the forest area is 717.49 hectares (1,773.0 acres), cultivable land is
3,274.65 hectares (8,091.8 acres) and fallow land is 7,258.74 hectares (17,936.7
acres).[1][2][6][7] The catchment and command areas of the project lie in
Chikamagalur, Shimoga and Davanagere districts.[6] A number of industries,
urban and rural settlements dependent on assured water supply lie on the banks
of the river and in the project command area; Kudremukh Iron Ore Company
Ltd, the Mysore Paper Mills and Vishweshvarayya Iron and Steel Industries are
the major industrial activity noted in the command area of the project. Fishing
activities have also increased on the bank of the river; 81 fish species from 8
orders with 14 families are recorded as endemic to the Bhadra River.[6]

Map

The Bhadra River basin receives an average annual rainfall of 2320 mm with
rainfall occurring during monsoon period (June to November).[3] The rainfall is
experienced both during the Southwest Monsoon and North East monsoon;
inflow contribution is 82 % from SW monsoon (June to September) and 18%
from north-eastern monsoon (October to December). The annual yield assessed

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 Dams in India

from a catchment area of 1,968 square kilometres (760 sq mi) at the dam site is
84.63 BCF (billion cubic feet) in a 75% dependable year.[1][3][7] Based on
recordings taken over a period of 25 years, it has an estimated annual mean
evapotranspiration of 1,678 mm.[9]

Project features
The Bhadra Dam project was the irrigation scheme to be undertaken by the
National Water Management Project (NWMP), with the aim of increasing
agricultural prosperity, particularly for rice production.[9] The dam was built to a
height of 59.13 metres (194.0 ft) (above the river bed level) between 1947 (start
of construction) and 1965 (year of commissioning). It has a gross storage
capacity of 2.025 km3,[5] live storage of 63.00 BCF at full reservoir level and a
dead storage of 8.50 BCF at RL (reservoir level) of 631.54 metres (2,072.0
ft).[1][5] The storage created by the reservoir is according to the allocation of
61.70 BCF (1.747 km3 including direct evaporation of 0.14 km3) of water made
under the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal Award.[5] The dam is built on a
shattered rock based with a central masonry spillway. It has an earthen
embankment on the left side and a rock hillock on the opposite side.[10] The
Ogee type spillway in the middle section of the river has been provided with
four numbers of vertical lift gates over a width of 18.28 metres (60.0 ft) and
designed for a discharge of 3,020 cubic metres (107,000 cu ft)/s. In addition,
two number river sluices are also provided to pass a discharge of 13,300 cubic
metres (470,000 cu ft)/s. The annual siltation load considered in the design is
10.78 million cubic feet per square kilometer of catchment area. The canal
outlets provided in the dam, initially for Hydropower generation followed by
irrigation, consists of the left Bank canal outlet to discharge 10.76 cubic metres
(380 cu ft)/s and two right bank canal outlets to pass a discharge of 75.03 cubic
metres (2,650 cu ft)/s.[1][5][7] There are several islands in the reservoir area which
have been developed for tourism.[8]

Submergence

The reservoir created by the dam submerged 27 villages.[1] The reservoir

submergence extends to water stretch of 13 kilometres (8.1 mi)/s upstream of
the dam.[6]

During the flood season, flooding of the Bhadravathi town have been
experienced when large flows were released from the dam.[6]

Irrigation benefits

The Left Bank Canal is designed to carry a discharge of 10.76 cubic metres
(380 cu ft)/s, starting from the tail race of the left bank powerhouse provides
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 Dams in India

irrigation facilities over its total length of 77 kilometres (48 mi).[1] The Right
Bank canal, originating from the tail race channel of the right bank powerhouse
provides irrigation facilities through its length of the main canal of
103 kilometres (64 mi) designed to carry a discharge of 75.03 cubic metres
(2,650 cu ft)/s and its branch canal system of 284.9 kilometres (177.0 mi).
Gross command area from the project is 162,818 hectares (402,330 acres),
cultivable command is 121,500 hectares (300,000 acres) and irrigated command
and cropped area is 105,570 hectares (260,900 acres). The soils encountered in
the Right Bank Canal irrigation command consisted of Black Cotton Soils 8.5%
and Red soil 93.5%, while on the Left Bank Canal command it comprises Black
Cotton Soils 7.0% and Red soil 93%.[1]

The irrigation component of the project was planned to provide an annual

cropping intensity of 200 percent to irrigate semi-dry crops in nearly 60 percent
of the command area dominated by red loamy soils.[7] Irrigated area spreads
over Chitradurga, Shivamogga, Chikmagalur and Bellary districts comprising
predominantly red loamy soils except in some portions of the right bank canal
area which consist of Black Cotton soils. However, the actual cropping was
predominately rice and also sugarcane and permanent gardens;[3] 90% area on
the left bank canal system and 60% area of the right bank canal system was
dominated by rice. This practice resulted in heavy demand on water causing
serious concerns on the irrigation system itself. Consequently, National Water
Management Project (NWMP) was launched with the objective to "rehabilitate
and provide more equitable, predictable and reliable irrigation service which
could improve agricultural productivity and farm income". This project has
resulted in substantial improvements in both the area brought under irrigation
and consequent agricultural crop production.[7]

Power benefits

The water stored in the reservoir is diverted through the right and left bank
power houses into the respective irrigation canal systems. The right bank
powerhouse utilises the irrigation releases for power generation from two units
of Kaplan-type turbine generators and one unit of 6MW capacity. The left bank
powerhouse at the river bed utilizes the irrigation releases to generate power
from two units of 12 MW capacity each and another power house on the left
bank canal of one unit of 2 MW capacity. The three power stations together
have a power generation capacity of 39.2 MW.[3][4]

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 Dams in India

Environment and ecology

Fauna

Marsh crocodiles found in abundance in the Bhadra River and Bhadra Reservoir

Smooth-coated Otter found in the reservoir

The Bhadra River flows through the Bhadra Tiger Reserve and Wildlife
Sanctuary and the Bhadra Reservoir is on its northern border. The sanctuary has
rich avifauna such as Junglefowl, red spurfowl, Painted Bush-quail, emerald
dove, southern Green Imperial Pigeon, great black woodpecker, Malabar
Parakeet and hill myna. Reptiles reported in the river and the reservoir are the
Marsh crocodiles and monitor lizards. Common otter and the Smooth Indian
Otter, Gaurs, leopards are also commonly sighted fauna in the reserve. The
wildlife can be viewed by taking a boat ride in the reservoir when
Tyavarekoppa Lion and Tiger Safari and the Sakkrebyle Elephant camp can
also be visited.[11][12]

Marsh crocodiles are found all along the Bhadra River and more so after the
river enters the sanctuary area and further flows through midst of the
undisturbed moist deciduous forests till it joins the back waters of the reservoir
of the Bhadra Dam.[13]

Vegetation

The back water of the reservoir extends into the forest reserve which has "moist
deciduous forest of the Tectona-Dillenia-Lagerstroemia series with patches of
dry deciduous forest of the Anogeissus–Tectona-Terminalia type forests
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 Dams in India

occurring in the northern fringes". A key ecological feature of the forest is the
presence of five species of bamboos, three are profusely found in the reserve
forests.[14]

Ecology

A study on ecological impact on native fish, fish habitat and riverine fisheries
carried out by the Department of Studies in Environmental Science, University
of Mysore in the downstream reaches of the Bhadra River indicate adverse
changes in the hydrological regime and water quality which have affected fish
catches (and livelihood of people dependent on fisheries), particularly, large
fishes are affected. Thus, from ecological considerations maintaining a
minimum river flow by releasing minimum water from the reservoir to the
downstream of the river became essential.[6]

Recreation

The reservoir is also a popular venue for water sports activities like sailing,
kayaking, water-cycling, water-trampoline and sport fishing.

9. Amaravathi Dam:
Amaravathi Dam at Amaravathinagar, 25 km south on NH 17 from
Udumalpet, is located in Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary in Coimbatore
district, Tamil Nadu, India. The 9.31 km², 33.53 m deep[1]Amaravathi Reservoir
was created by this steep dam. It was built primarily for irrigation and flood
control and now also has 4 megawatts of electric generating capacity installed.
It is notable for the significant population of Mugger Crocodiles living in its
reservoir and catchment basin.

Official name Amaravathi Dam Locale Amaravathinagar in Indira Gandhi

Wildlife Sanctuary, Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India Coordinates
10°24.64′N77°15.6′E / 10.41067°N 77.26°ECoordinates:

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 Dams in India

10°24.64′N77°15.6′E / 10.41067°N 77.26°E Opening date 1957 Dam and

spillways Height 2090 ft (27 m) Length 1511 ft (0.30 m) Base width ?1 ft (0.30
m) Impounds Amaravati River Reservoir Creates Amaravathi Reservoir

History
The dam was built in 1957 during the K. Kamaraj administration across the
Amaravati River about 25 km upstream and south from Thirumoorthy Dam.
Capacity of the dam has shrunk 25% from 4 tmcft to 3 tmcft due to siltation of
the reservoir.[2]during 2003-04, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board proposed to
install 4 MW electric generating capacity from the dam,[3] which is now in
operation.

The Amaravati River is a tributary of Kaveri River in Coimbatore District,

Tamil Nadu state, South India. It is continuation of the Pambar and Chinnar
rivers in Kerala.

Route
The 175 km long Amaravati River begins at the Kerala/Tamil Nadu border at
the bottom of Manjampatti Valley between the Annamalai Hills and the Palni
Hills in Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park. It descends in a
northerly direction through Amaravathi Reservoir and Amaravathi Dam at
Amaravathinagar. It is joined by the Kallapuram River at the mouth of the
Ajanda valley in Udumalaipettai. It joins with the Kaveri at Thirumukkudal,
about 10km from Karur.[1]

Use
This river irrigates over 60,000 acres (240 km2) of agricultural lands in
Coimbatore, Erode and Karur districts.[2] The Amaravathi Dam has 4
Megawatts electric generating capacity installed. The Amaravathi River and its
basin, especially in the vicinity of Karur, are heavily used for industrial
processing water and waste disposal and as a result are severely polluted due to
large amount of textile dyeing and bleaching units.[3]

10. MahaRanaPratapSagar dam:

MaharanaPratapSagar (Devanagari: महाराणाप्रतापसागर), also known as Pong

Dam Reservoir or Pong Dam Lake was created in 1975 building the highest
earthfill dam in India on the Beas River in the wetland zone of the Siwalik Hills
of the Kangra district of the state of Himachal Pradesh, in India. Named in the

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 Dams in India

honour of the patriot MaharanaPratap (1572 –1597), the reservoir or the lake is
a well known wildlife sanctuary and one of the 25 wetland sites declared in
India by the Ramsar Convention.

Location Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh Coordinates 32°01′N 76°05′E /

32.017°N 76.083°ECoordinates: 32°01′N 76°05′E / 32.017°N 76.083°ELake
typereservoir (low altitude) Catchment area 12,561 km2 (4,850 sq mi) Basin
countries India
Max. length 42 km Max. width 2km Surface area 240 km2 (93 sq mi)
and450 km2 (174 sq mi) during floods] Max. depth 97.84 m (321.0 ft) Water
volume 8570 Mm3 Surface elevation 433.12 m (1,421.0 ft).

Location

The closest railway stations to the project are Mukerian30 km (18.6 mi) and
Pathankot 32 km (19.9 mi). NagrotaSurian and Jawali located on the periphery
of the reservoir are connected by the narrow gauge railway line, the Kangra
railway line, which connects Pathankot to Jogindernagar.

The reservoir is connected by a good network of roads to major cities in

Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.[1][3]

Topography

The reservoir is bounded by the rugged Dhauladhar mountain range, the low
foothills of the Himalaya on the northern edge of the Indo-Gangetic plains and
the mountain streams cutting through valleys.[4]

Hydrology and engineering features

The hydrology of the river system and the engineering features of the Pando
Dam are elaborated.

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 Dams in India

Hydrology

View of 2 km long Pong Dam

The Beas River on which the Pando dam is located is one of the five major
rivers of the Indus basin. The river rises from the Beas Kund near Rohtang Pass,
in the upper Himalayas, and traverses generally in a north-south direction till
Largi from where it turns sharply at nearly a right angle and flows in a westerly
direction up to the Pando dam. The river traverses a total length of about116 km
(72.1 mi) from the source to the Pando dam.[5]

The reservoir drains a catchment area of 12,561 km2 (4,850 sq mi) out of which
the permanent snow catchment is 780 km2 (301 sq mi) 780 km. Monsoon
rainfall between July and September is a major source of water supply into the
reservoir, apart from snow and glacier melt. The project area experiences hot
summers with maximum temperature of 40 °C (104.0 °F) with hot and humid
climate. Winters are fairly cold and mostly dry. The dam acts as a sponge for
flood flows and reservoir regulation prevents the inundation of surrounding
upland areas from routine flooding during the monsoon season.[6] The reservoir
stretch is 42 km (26.1 mi) long with a maximum width of 19 km (11.8 mi) and
with a mean depth of 35.7 m (117.1 ft). While the surface water temperature
varies between 22.2 °C (72.0 °F) and 25.1 °C (77.2 °F), the incoming river
water has a temperature range of 6 °C (42.8 °F) to 26 °C (78.8 °F).

Engineering features

Subsequent to the partition of India, the waters of the Indus river system were
allocated river wise, with certain stipulations, as per the Indus Water Treaty
(1960), between India and Pakistan with India getting exclusive use of the three
eastern rivers (the Ravi, the Beas and the Satluj) and Pakistan getting the
exclusive use of the three western rivers (the Indus, the Jhelum and the
Chenab). Following this treaty, India prepared a master plan to utilize the waters
of 3 rivers which came to its share and the Bhakra Dam was constructed across
Satluj River and then the Beas River was tapped in two stages with the Pong

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 Dams in India

dam forming the second stage development. Ravi River has also been developed
through the RanjitSagar Dam Project or Thein Dam. All three river
developments are multipurpose in nature involving irrigation, water supply and
hydropower generation.[5]

View of flood discharge down the Chute Spillway

The Beas Dam has been built on the Beas River as it enters the plains at
Talwara, also called as another temple of modern India. It is an earth core gravel
shell dam of 435 ft (132.6 m) height above the deepest foundation and is the
highest earthfill dam in India.[citation needed] The reservoir or the lake has a storage
capacity of 8570 million cubic metres. The designed maximum flood discharge
of 437,000 cu ft/s (12,400 m3/s) is discharged through a gated chute spillway
(pictured) located on the left abutment of the dam.[7]

The confirmed ruling features of the dam are as under.[8]

Top of dam EL. 436 m (1,430 ft)

Normal reservoir level EL. 427 m (1,401 ft)

Maximum reservoir level EL. 433 m (1,421 ft)

Dead storage level EL. 384 m (1,260 ft)

Gross storage capacity 8,570,000,000 cubic metres (6,950,000 acre·ft)

Live storage capacity 7,290,000,000 cubic metres (5,910,000 acre·ft)

Reservoir length 41.8 km (26.0 mi)

Maximum reservoir depth 97.84 m (321.0 ft)

The hydro power plant located down stream, on the right side of the spillway
structure, has an installed capacity of 390 MW with six generating units (1x60 +

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 Dams in India

5x66 MW). Water from the reservoir is led into the power house through
penstock pipes, each of 5.025 m (16.5 ft) diameter.[7]

Reservoir operation is a crucial aspect since both Bhakra dam and Pong dam
Projects necessitate their operation in an 'Integrated Manner' to achieve optimal
benefits of Irrigation and Power. Water stored in the reservoir during summer
and rainy season, after meeting with the irrigation requirements of the partner
states, is released in a regulated manner during lean period in a fixed schedule
of Filling Period–Depletion Period for both the reservoirs; the filling and
depletion period for

1. the Bhakra reservoir is from 21 May to 20 September and 21 September

to 20 May, and
2. for Pong dam reservoir from 21 June to 20 and 21 September to 20 June
respectively.

A technical committee of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB)

authorizes the monthly releases appropriately honouring the requirements
projected by the partner states. The operation manuals titled "Designer's Criteria
for the Operation, Maintenance and Observation" for the Bhakra, Pong & Pando
reservoirs, duly updated as required, provide the guiding rules for the efficient
integrated operation of the reservoirs.[5] The two reservoirs supply irrigation and
drinking water to Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi and Chandigarh. Himachal
Pradesh is also provided with drinking water supply

11. 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
2nd largest capacityhydroelectric 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, 240.79 m (790.0 ft) high and has 12
radial crest gates. It has a huge reservoir of 800 km2 (310 sq mi). The left bank
hydroelectric power station generates 6 × 150 MW of power and right bank
generates 7 × 110 MW of power. the dam also surrounded by thick forests and
beautiful sceneries.

The Srisailam project began in 1960, initially as a power project, across the
Krishna, near Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh. After several delays, the main dam
was finally completed twenty years later in 1981. In the meantime the project
was converted into a multipurpose facility with a generating capacity of 770
MW by its second stage which was expected to be completed in 1987. The dam
is to provide water for an estimated 2,000 km2 (770 sq mi) with its catchment
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 Dams in India

area of 206,040 km2 (79,552 sq mi) and water spread of 1,595 km2 (616 sq mi).
Under the right branch canal 790 km2 (310 sq mi) in Kurnool and Cuddapah
districts will have assured irrigation. From the initial modest estimate of
Rs.384.7 million for a power project the total cost of the multipurpose project
was estimated to cross Rs.10 billion in its enlarged form. The 143 m (469 ft)
high and 512 m (1,680 ft) wide dam has alone cost Rs.4.04 billion together with
the installation of four generating sets of 110 MW each. The right branch canal
is estimated to cost Rs.4.49 billion and the initial investment of Rs.1.4 billion
has been provided by the World Bank. The projected cost-benefit ratio of the
project has been worked out at 1:1.91 at 10% interest on capital outlay.[citation
needed]

On 2 October 2009, SriSailam dam experienced a record inflow which

threatened the dam.[citation needed]

Locale Srisailam, India Coordinates 16°05′13″N 78°53′50″E /

16.08694°N 78.89722°ECoordinates: 16°05′13″N 78°53′50″E / 16.08694°N
78.89722°E Construction began 1960 Opening date 1981 Dam and spillways
Height 241 m (791 ft) Length 512 m (1,680 ft) Impounds River Krishna
Reservoir Creates Srisailam Reservoir Catchment area 206,040 km2 (79,550
sq mi) Surface area 800 km2 (310 sq mi) Power station Type No Turbines 6 ×
150MW (left bank)
7 × 110MW (right bank) Installed capacity 1,670 MW

Locale Srisailam, India Coordinates 16°05′13″N 78°53′50″E / 16.08694°N

78.89722°E / 16.08694; 78.89722Coordinates: 16°05′13″N 78°53′50″E /
16.08694°N 78.89722°E / 16.08694; 78.89722 Construction began 1960
Opening date 1981 Dam and spillways Height 241 m (791 ft) Length 512 m
(1,680 ft) Impounds River Krishna Reservoir Creates Srisailam Reservoir
Catchment area 206,040 km2 (79,550 sq mi) Surface area 800 km2 (310 sq mi)
Power station Type No Turbines 6 × 150MW (left bank) 7 × 110MW (right
bank) Installed capacity 1,670 MWTheSrisailam Dam is a dam constructed
across the Krishna River at Srisailam in the Kurnool district in the state of

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 Dams in India

Andhra Pradesh in India and is the 2nd 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, 240.79 m (790.0 ft) high and has 12
radial crest gates. It has a huge reservoir of 800 km2 (310 sq mi). The left bank
hydroelectric power station generates 6 × 150 MW of power and right bank
generates 7 × 110 MW of power. the dam also surrounded by thick forests and
beautiful sceneries.

The Srisailam project began in 1960, initially as a power project, across the
Krishna, near Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh. After several delays, the main dam
was finally completed twenty years later in 1981. In the meantime the project
was converted into a multipurpose facility with a generating capacity of 770
MW by its second stage which was expected to be completed in 1987. The dam
is to provide water for an estimated 2,000 km2 (770 sq mi) with its catchment
area of 206,040 km2 (79,552 sq mi) and water spread of 1,595 km2 (616 sq mi).
Under the right branch canal 790 km2 (310 sq mi) in Kurnool and Cuddapah
districts will have assured irrigation. From the initial modest estimate of
Rs.384.7 million for a power project the total cost of the multipurpose project
was estimated to cross Rs.10 billion in its enlarged form. The 143 m (469 ft)
high and 512 m (1,680 ft) wide dam has alone cost Rs.4.04 billion together with
the installation of four generating sets of 110 MW each. The right branch canal
is estimated to cost Rs.4.49 billion and the initial investment of Rs.1.4 billion
has been provided by the World Bank. The projected cost-benefit ratio of the
project has been worked out at 1:1.91 at 10% interest on capital outlay.[citation
needed]

On 2 October 2009, SriSailam dam experienced a record inflow which

threatened the dam.[citation needed]

12.Godavari Dam:

The Godavari (Marathi: ಕಕಕಕಕಕಕ, Telugu: గోదావరి) is a river that runs

from western to southern India and is considered to be one of the big river
basins in India. With a length of 1465 km, it is the second longest river in India
(only after the Ganges), that runs within the country. It originates near Trimbak
in Nashik District of Maharashtra state and flows east across the Deccan Plateau
into the Bay of Bengal near Narasapuram in West Godavari district of Andhra
Pradesh.[2]

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 Dams in India

Country India States Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh Region South

IndiaTributaries - left Purna, Pranahita, Indravati, Sabari, Taliperu - right
Pravara, Manjira, PeddaVagu, Manair, Kinnerasani City Rajamundry Source -
location Brahmagiri Mountain, Tryambakeshwar, Nashik, Maharashtra, India -
elevation 920 m (3,018 ft) - coordinates 19°55′48″N73°31′39″E / 19.93°N
73.5275°E Mouth - location Antarvedi into Bay of Bengal, West Godavari,
Andhra Pradesh, India - elevation 0 m (0 ft) - coordinates 17°0′N81°48′E /
17°N 81.8°E [1] Length 1,465 km (910 mi)

Course
The Godavari River is a major waterway in central India, originating in the
Western GhatsTrimbakeshwar,in the Nashik Subdivision or District Of
Maharashtra and flowing eastwardly across the Deccan Plateau through the state
of Maharashtra. It is known as dakshinganga (Southern Ganges). It enters
Andhra Pradesh at Kandhakurthi in Nizamabad district, While passing through
telangana region of Andhra Pradesh it touches a small village called
Dharmapuri which is a pilgrimage village with many ancient Hindu temples and
river Godavari serving as spiritual place in true sense for bathing in Godavari
river spread over rocks and sand. While crossing the Deccan Plateau and then
turns to flow in a southeast direction until it empties into the Bay of Bengal
through two mouths.[3]Basara, on the banks of Godavari in Adilabad District, is
home to a famous temple for Goddess Saraswati and is the second temple for
the Goddess in India.

Rajahmundry, is the largest city on the banks of Godavari. At Rajahmundry,

Godavari is in its widest form having a width of approximately 5 km from
Rajahmundry to the other bank at Kovvur.

The Sri Ram Sagar Project which was constructed on this river (1964–69)
serves the irrigation needs of Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Warangal
districts.

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 Dams in India

Although the river arises only 80 kilometres from the Arabian Sea, it flows
1,465 km to empty into the Bay of Bengal. Just above Rajamundry, there is a
dam that provides water for irrigation. Below Rajahmundry, the river divides
into two streams that widen into a large river delta which has an extensive
navigable irrigation-canal system, Dowleswaram Barrage that links the region
to the Krishna River delta to the southwest.[4]

The Godavari River has a drainage area of 3,42,812 km² that includes more than
one state which is nearly one-tenth of India and is greater than the areas of
England and Ireland put together. The Pravara, Indravati, Wainganga, Wardha,
Pench, Kanhan and Penuganga rivers, discharge an enormous volume of water
into the Godavari system. Its tributaries include Indravati, Manjira River,
Bindusara River and Sabari River.

Significance
Religious significance

The Godavari River is sacred to Hindus and has several pilgrimage centers on
its banks. It has been held as a special place of pilgrimage for many thousands
of years. Many famous personalities, including Baladeva (5000 years ago) and
more recently ChaitanyaMahaprabhu (500 years ago) have bathed in her waters
as an act of worship.

Godavari is considered the Dhakshin (Southern) Ganges and Rajahmundry

DhakshinKasi. Every twelve years, Pushkaram fair is held on its banks of the
river. Crores of people have a holy dip in the sacred waters of the river to purify
themselves of all their sins.

Legend has it that Sage Gautama lived on the Brahmagiri Hills at

Trayambakeshwar with his wife Ahalya. The rishi kept his stock of rice in a
granary. Once, a cow entered his granary and ate up the rice. When the rishi
tried to ward the cow away with Durbha grass, it fell dead. The rishi wanted to
relieve himself of the sin of ‘Gohatya’. He worshipped Lord Shiva and
requested him to bring the Ganges to purify his hermitage. Lord Shiva pleased
with the rishi appeared as Triambaka and brought along the river Ganges. Since
the Ganges was brought down to Triambakeshwar by Sage Gautama, it is
known here as Gautami. It is also known as Godavari because the river helped
Sage Gautama to relieve his sins.

Ecology
The Coringa mangrove forests in the Godavari delta are the second largest
mangrove formation in the country. Part of this has been declared as the
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 Dams in India

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, renowned for its reptiles. They also provide an
important habitat to a wide variety of fish and crustaceans. These forests also
act as barriers against cyclones, tropical stroms and tidal waves thus protecting
the nearby villages.

The Krishna Godavari basin is one of the main nesting sites of the endangered
Olive Ridley turtle.

Godavari is the second largest river in India after river Ganges.

Advantages of Dams of India

In the year 1947, there were around 300 large dams throughout the country and
number gradually increased by 2000 when it reached to almost 4000. India
holds a strong position in the list of dam building countries, after US and China.
Primarily some of the dams in India were constructed for the prevention of
floods, supplying water for irrigation and generation of electricity. Dam
construction is considered as one of the greatest investments in the field of
irrigation.

Most irrigation dams in India are embankment dams, meaning that they consist
of a wall built across a river valley to impound water so as to form a reservoir
upstream and a system of spillways and gates to bypass the wall so as to
maintain normal river flow and convey water to a network of canals feeding
irrigated regions downstream. The upstream areas that feed the dam and those
submerged by its reservoir are called its `catchments` area, and the downstream
areas fed by its irrigation canals and are known as the `command` area. Owing
to the construction of dams in India, the country`s food grain production
increased rapidly over the past few decades. As a result importation rate has
also increased tremendously.

Disadvantages of Dams of India

However, there are also certain disadvantages of dams in India. Large-scale
confiscation of water raises contact to several vector-borne diseases, like
filariasis, malaria, schistosomiasis, and river blindness.

One particular determinant of construction of dams in India is topographic

suitability. River gradient strongly influences the location of dams. Like for
instance, a river flowing at comparative positive gradient usually favours
irrigation dams; while elevated water levels upstream.

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