Master10
Rivers, Lakes, Dams & Water Resources Module

Major Dams & Multipurpose Reservoirs

Multipurpose dam projects and reservoirs are critical hydraulic infrastructure that support hydroelectric generation, agricultural irrigation, flood control, and municipal water supply. Key historic projects include the Bhakra-Nangal project on the Sutlej River, the Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi River (the world's longest earthen dam), and the Tehri Dam on the Bhagirathi River (India's tallest dam). In peninsular India, the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada and the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam on the Krishna River sustain extensive canal networks. Understanding reservoir storage capacities, spillway designs, and inter-state river basin jurisdictions is foundational to studying water resource engineering and economic geography.

Key Concepts & Examination Highlights

  • Tehri Dam in Uttarakhand, constructed across the Bhagirathi River, is the tallest dam in India at a height of 260.5 metres.
  • Hirakud Dam in Odisha, built across the Mahanadi River, is one of the world's longest earthen dams, featuring an overall length of 25.8 km including dykes.
  • Bhakra Dam is a concrete gravity dam on the Sutlej River in Himachal Pradesh, forming the Gobind Sagar reservoir.
  • Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River in Gujarat is one of the largest gravity dams in the world, supplying irrigation to Gujarat and Rajasthan.
  • The Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), established in 1948 modeled on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), was independent India's first multipurpose river valley project.
  • Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, built across the Krishna River between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, is one of the world's largest masonry dams, forming the Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir.
  • Idukki Dam in Kerala, constructed across the Periyar River between the Kuravan and Kurathi hills, is a double curvature concrete arch dam and the first of its kind in Asia.
  • Koyna Dam in Maharashtra, built across the Koyna River, supports the largest completed hydroelectric power project in India and experienced a famous reservoir-induced earthquake (M 6.3) in 1967.
  • Mullaperiyar Dam, located in Kerala but operated by Tamil Nadu under a 999-year lease agreement signed in 1886, is constructed across the Periyar River.
  • Indira Sagar Dam on the Narmada River in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh possesses the largest water storage capacity among all reservoirs in India.
  • Stanley Reservoir, formed by the Mettur Dam built across the Kaveri River in Salem district of Tamil Nadu in 1934, is one of the oldest multipurpose dams in South India.
  • The Rihand Dam (Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar) across the Rihand River in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh is India's largest artificial reservoir by surface area.
  • Tehri Dam on the Bhagirathi River in Uttarakhand is the highest dam in India, standing at a height of 260.5 meters as a rock and earth-fill embankment dam.
  • Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi River in Sambalpur, Odisha, is the longest earthen dam in India and one of the longest in the world, stretching over 25.8 km including dykes.
  • Bhakra Dam is a concrete gravity dam on the Sutlej River in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, forming the massive Gobind Sagar reservoir.
  • Nagarjuna Sagar Dam on the Krishna River between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana is one of the world's largest masonry dams, forming the Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir.
  • Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River in Kevadia, Gujarat, is a major concrete gravity dam providing irrigation and power to Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.
  • Idukki Dam on the Periyar River in Kerala is a double curvature parabolic concrete arch dam, one of the highest arch dams in Asia.
  • Mettur Dam (Stanley Reservoir) on the Cauvery River in Tamil Nadu, built in 1934, is one of the oldest multipurpose dams in South India.
  • Almatti Dam (Lal Bahadur Shastri Dam) is a major hydroelectric and irrigation project on the Krishna River in North Karnataka.
  • Koyna Dam on the Koyna River in Maharashtra is a rubble-concrete dam that forms Shivsagar Lake and experienced a famous reservoir-triggered earthquake in 1967 (magnitude 6.3).
  • Rihand Dam (Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar) on the Rihand River in Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh, creates India's largest artificial reservoir by volume.
  • Tungabhadra Dam (Pampa Sagar) near Hosapete in Karnataka is a major multipurpose dam on the Tungabhadra River, a key tributary of the Krishna.
  • Pong Dam (Maharana Pratap Sagar) on the Beas River in Himachal Pradesh was built for water storage and power generation, also serving as a renowned Ramsar wetland site.
  • Salal and Baglihar Dams are major run-of-the-river hydroelectric projects constructed on the Chenab River in the Jammu division of Jammu & Kashmir.
  • Tehri Dam on the Bhagirathi River in Uttarakhand is the tallest dam in India and the eighth-tallest dam in the world, standing at a height of 260.5 meters.
  • The Tehri Hydro Power Complex has a total installed capacity of 2,400 MW, comprising Tehri Dam, Tehri PSP, and the Koteshwar Dam.
  • Bhakra Dam on the Sutlej River in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh is India's highest straight gravity dam at 226 meters.
  • The reservoir created by Bhakra Dam is known as Gobind Sagar Lake, named in honor of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru.
  • Nangal Dam is situated downstream of Bhakra Dam in Punjab, diverting water into the Bhakra Main Canal for irrigation across Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
  • Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi River in Sambalpur, Odisha, is the longest earthen dam in India and one of the longest in the world, spanning 25.79 km.
  • Hirakud Dam was the first major multipurpose river valley project launched in India after independence, commissioned in 1957.
  • Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River near Kevadiya in Narmada district, Gujarat, is the largest dam in the Narmada Valley Project.
  • Sardar Sarovar Dam supplies drinking water and irrigation to water-scarce regions of Saurashtra and Kutch, and power to Gujarat, MP, and Maharashtra.
  • The Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), established in July 1948 by an Act of the Constituent Assembly, was India's first multipurpose river valley authority modeled on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
  • The DVC project includes four major dams: Tilaiya and Maithon on the Barakar River, and Konar and Panchet Hill on the Damodar and Konar rivers.
  • Nagarjuna Sagar Dam on the Krishna River, straddling Nalgonda (Telangana) and Palnadu (Andhra Pradesh) districts, is the world's largest masonry dam.
  • Nagarjuna Sagar Dam created one of the largest man-made water reservoirs in India, holding over 11.5 billion cubic meters of water.
  • Srisailam Dam on the Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh is one of the 12 largest hydroelectric power generating facilities in India.
  • Koyna Dam on the Koyna River in Satara district, Maharashtra, is the largest completed hydroelectric power facility in Maharashtra (1,960 MW).
  • The 1967 Koynanagar earthquake (magnitude 6.6) is one of the world's classic examples of Reservoir-Induced Seismicity (RIS).
  • Idukki Dam on the Periyar River in Kerala is a double-curvature parabolic thin arch dam, the first of its kind in India, spanning between Kuravan and Kurathi hills.
  • Mullaperiyar Dam on the Periyar River in Kerala is operated and maintained by the State of Tamil Nadu under a 999-year lease signed in 1886.
  • Indira Sagar Dam on the Narmada River in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh possesses the largest water storage reservoir capacity in India (12.22 billion cubic meters).
  • Omkareshwar Dam on the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh is home to India's largest floating solar power project.
  • Rihand Dam (Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar) on the Rihand River in Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh, is the largest artificial reservoir in India by surface area.
  • Farakka Barrage in Murshidabad district of West Bengal diverts water from the Ganga into the Bhagirathi-Hooghly system to flush silt from the Port of Kolkata.
  • Krishnarajasagara (KRS) Dam on the Cauvery River in Mandya district of Karnataka was engineered by Sir M. Visvesvaraya and commissioned in 1931.
  • Brindavan Gardens, a world-famous Mughal-style terraced garden with dancing musical fountains, is situated adjoining the Krishnarajasagara Dam.
  • Mettur Dam (Stanley Reservoir) on the Cauvery River in Salem district of Tamil Nadu is one of the oldest large dams in India, completed in 1934.
Curriculum & Reference Sources: Central Water Commission (CWC), Ministry of Jal Shakti, and National Register of Large Dams (NRLD).

Sample Solved Questions & Concept Explanations

8 Verified Concept Questions
Q1.EASY

Tehri Dam, the highest dam in India (260.5 metres), is constructed on which river in Uttarakhand?

Q2.EASY

Hirakud Dam, the longest earthen dam in India (and the world), is built across which river in Odisha?

Q3.EASY

The Sardar Sarovar Dam, one of the largest concrete gravity dams in India, is constructed on which river in Gujarat?

Q4.EASY

Bhakra Dam, a concrete gravity dam located in Himachal Pradesh, creates which large reservoir named after a Sikh Guru?

Q5.EASY

Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, one of the earliest multipurpose irrigation projects in India, is built on which river across the Andhra Pradesh-Telangana border?

Q6.EASY

Which Indian state hosts the Idukki Dam, a famous double-curvature concrete arch dam built between the Kuravan and Kurathi hills on the Periyar River?

Q7.EASY

Mettur Dam, which forms the Stanley Reservoir, is located on which river in Salem district of Tamil Nadu?

Q8.EASY

The Tungabhadra Dam, forming the vast Pampa Sagar reservoir, is located near Hosapete in which state?