Project River State Purpose

Bhakra Nangal Satluj Punjab, Irrigation, Hydro electricity

Multipurpose (Tributary of Haryana,
Project Indus) Rajasthan

Thein Dam Ravi (Tributary Punjab Irrigation, Hydroelectricity

Project of Indus)

Dulhasti Project Chenab Jammu and Cascade development for irrigation

(Tributary of Kashmir
Indus)

Salal Project Chenab Jammu and Irrigation

(Tributary of Kashmir
Indus)

Beas Project Beas Punjab, Hydro electricity

(Tributary of Haryana,
Indus) Rajasthan

Sharda Sahayak Ghagra Uttar Pradesh Irrigation

Project (Tributary of
Ganga)

Ramganga Chuisot Uttar Pradesh Irrigation

Multipurpose stream (near
Project Kalabagh)

Banasagar Son Madhya Irrigation, Hydroelectricity

Project Pradesh, Bihar,
Uttar Pradesh

Rihand Scheme Rihand Uttar Pradesh Hydroelectricity (SE UP industrial

(Govind Ballabh region)
Sagar)

Damodar Valley Damodar, West Bengal, Flood control, Hydroelectricity,

Project Barakar, Konar Jharkhand Irrigation
Mayurakshi Mayurakshi West Bengal Irrigation, Hydroelectricity
Project

Hirakud Project Mahanadi Odisha Irrigation, Hydroelectricity

Pochampadu Godavari Telangana Irrigation

Project

Jayakwadi Godavari Maharashtra Irrigation

Project

Nagarjuna Sagar Krishna Andhra Pradesh, Irrigation, Hydroelectricity

Project Telangana

Upper Krishna Krishna Karnataka Irrigation

Project

Tungabhadra Tungabhadra Andhra Pradesh, Irrigation, Hydroelectricity

Multipurpose (Tributary of Karnataka
Project Krishna)

Ghatprabha Ghatprabha Karnataka Irrigation

Project (Tributary of
Krishna)

Malprabha Malprabha Karnataka Irrigation

Project (Tributary of
Krishna)

Bhima Project Bhima Maharashtra Irrigation

Mettur Project Cauvery Tamil Nadu Hydroelectricity

Shivasamudram Cauvery Falls Karnataka Hydroelectricity

Scheme

Kundah Project Kundah Tamil Nadu Hydroelectricity

Sharavati Sharavati Karnataka Hydroelectricity
Project (near Jog Falls)

Chambal Project Chambal Rajasthan, Irrigation, Hydroelectricity

(Tributary of Madhya Pradesh
Yamuna)

Kakrapara Tapi Gujarat Irrigation

Project
Ukai Project Tapi Gujarat Irrigation

Sardar Sarovar Narmada Gujarat, Madhya Irrigation, Hydroelectricity

Project Pradesh,
Rajasthan,
Maharashtra

Tawa Project Tawa Madhya Pradesh Irrigation

(Tributary of
Narmada)

Matatila Project Betwa Uttar Pradesh, Irrigation, Hydroelectricity

Madhya Pradesh

Mahi Project Mahi Gujarat Irrigation

(Jamnalal Bajaj
Sagar)
 Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC)
• Established in 1948, DVC is India's first multipurpose river valley project,
modelled after the Tennessee Valley Authority (USA). It operates in the
Damodar River basin across West Bengal and Jharkhand.
• Objectives include flood control, power generation (thermal and
hydro), irrigation, soil conservation, and regional industrial
development.
• DVC manages several dams (e.g., Tilaiya, Maithon, Panchet, konar and
barakar), thermal power plants, and extensive irrigation networks,
playing a crucial role in eastern India's power supply and agricultural
productivity.

History-
• The Damodar Valley region suffered from frequent and devastating
floods for over a century, with a particularly severe flood in 1943
causing major public outrage.
• In response, the Government of Bengal set up the Damodar Flood
Enquiry Committee, which included Dr. Meghnad Saha and the
Maharaja of Burdwan, to suggest solutions.
• The committee recommended creating an authority similar to the
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in the USA, focusing on multipurpose
development: flood control, irrigation, power generation, and
navigation.
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar played a key role in promoting the Damodar Valley
development plan at the national level.
• The Government of India asked TVA engineer W.L. Voorduin to prepare
a comprehensive development plan, which was later endorsed by
Indian experts.
• The plan prioritized early construction of the Tilaiya and Maithon dams,
as part of a broader multipurpose scheme.
• By April 1947, the Central Government and the governments of West
Bengal and Bihar (now Jharkhand) agreed to implement the scheme
jointly.
• The Damodar Valley Corporation Act was passed in March 1948,
mandating joint participation by the central and state governments.
• The Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) was officially established on July
7, 1948, as India's first multipurpose river valley project.
• DVC’s main objectives were flood control, irrigation, power generation,
and overall regional development in the Damodar Valley.

DVC's Electricity Production Capacity (as on, annal report (provisional)

of DVC 2023-24):
Total installed: ~6,701 MW (6,540 MW thermal, 147.2 MW hydel, 13.9
MW solar)

Bhakra Nangal Project

• Location:
o Bhakra Dam: On the Sutlej River, near Bhakra village (Bilaspur
district, Himachal Pradesh).
o Nangal Dam: 13 km downstream in Punjab (often linked but
separate from Bhakra).
• Height:
o Bhakra: 225.55 m (740 ft) from deepest foundation, 207.26 m
above riverbed.
o Asia’s second-tallest after Tehri Dam (261 m).
• Length: 518.25 m (main dam).
• Type: Concrete straight gravity dam.
Reservoir (Gobind Sagar)
• Capacity: 9.34–9.87 billion cubic meters (gross storage).
• Area: 168.35 km² (reservoir spans 88 km × 8 km).
• Significance:
o Third-largest reservoir in India by storage (after Indira Sagar and
Nagarjunasagar).
o Named after Sikh Guru Gobind Singh.

Purpose and Benefits

• Irrigation:
o Supports 4 states: Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Himachal
Pradesh.
o Key contributor to India’s Green Revolution.
• Hydropower:
o Total capacity: 1,415 MW (Left Bank: 630 MW; Right Bank: 785
MW).
o Annual generation: ~5,400 million units.
• Flood Control: Protects Sutlej River basin areas.
• Drinking Water: Supplies to Delhi, Chandigarh, and other cities.
Construction History
• Planning: Approved in 1944; construction began in 1948.
• Completion: 1963 (inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1955 during
construction).
• Design: Led by Rai Bahadur Kunwar Sen Gupta; engineering input from
Harvey Slocum (USA).
• Materials: Used pozzolanic concrete for durability.
Key Features
• Spillway: Handles peak discharge via crest gates.
• Powerhouses:
o Left Bank: 5 × 126 MW units (Soviet-supplied, later upgraded).
o Right Bank: 5 × 157 MW units (Japanese-supplied).
Summary

Parameter Details

River Sutlej

225.55 m (from foundation); 207.26 m (above

Height
riverbed)

Length 518.25 m

Reservoir Gobind Sagar (9.34–9.87 billion m³)

1,415 MW (630 MW Left Bank + 785 MW Right

Hydropower
Bank)

Irrigation
Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh
Area

Construction 1948–1963
 Hirakud Project
Here’s a structured overview of Hirakud Dam based on the latest available
data:
Hirakud Dam: Key Details
• Location: Built on the Mahanadi River, ~15 km upstream of Sambalpur
(Odisha).
• Construction Period: 1948–1957 (inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru in
1957).
• Length:
o Total: 25.8 km (longest earthen dam in the world).
o Main Dam Section: 4.8 km (concrete and masonry), with dykes
extending the total length.
• Height: 60.96–80.96 m
Purpose and Benefits
• Multipurpose Objectives:
o Flood Control: Protects 9,500 sq. km of delta areas (e.g., Cuttack,
Puri).
o Irrigation:
▪ Direct: 1,55,635 hectares (Kharif) and 1,08,385 hectares
(Rabi) in Sambalpur, Bargarh, Bolangir, and Subarnapur.
▪ Indirect: 4,36,000 hectares in the Mahanadi Delta via
water released from powerhouses.
o Hydropower: 359.8 MW installed capacity through two
powerhouses at Burla and Chiplima.
o Navigation: Historically supported inland water transport (less
emphasized post-independence).
Reservoir Features
• Hirakud Reservoir:
o Water Spread: 743 sq. km at Full Reservoir Level (FRL).
o Storage Capacity:
Gross: 5,896 million cubic meters (revised in 2001 due to sedimentation).
 Live Storage: ~4,823 million cubic meters (originally 5,818 million cubic
meters).
o Ramsar Site: Declared in 2021 for its ecological significance.
Unique Features
• Cattle Island:
o Inhabited by wild cattle left behind during dam construction.
o Located within the reservoir.
• Historical Significance:
o First major post-independence multipurpose project in India.
o Conceived by M. Visvesvaraya (1937) after recurrent Mahanadi
floods.
Summary-

Parameter Details

River Mahanadi

Length 25.8 km (total); 4.8 km (main dam)

Height 60.96–80.96 m

Reservoir Area 743 sq. km (at FRL)

Hydropower 359.8 MW (Burla + Chiplima powerhouses)

2,64,020 hectares (direct) + 4,36,000 hectares

Irrigation
(indirect)

Flood Protection 9,500 sq. km

Ramsar
2021
Designation
The Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP)
It is a major multipurpose water resources project centered around the
Sardar Sarovar Dam, a concrete gravity dam constructed on the Narmada
River near Kevadiya in the Narmada district of Gujarat, India. It is one of
the largest water resource projects in India, covering the states of Gujarat,
Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.
Key Facts
Location: Near Kevadiya, Narmada District, Gujarat, on the Narmada River.
Type: Concrete gravity dam.
Length: 1,210 meters.
Height: 138.68 meters (from foundation to crest), with a maximum depth
of about 163 meters.
Foundation Stone: Laid by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1961.
Visionary: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Construction Started: 1987.
Inaugurated: September 17, 2017, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Objectives and Components
Irrigation: Provides irrigation to about 1.8 million hectares in Gujarat and
Rajasthan, benefiting drought-prone regions.
Drinking Water: Supplies drinking water to 131 towns and cities and
around 9,633 villages, primarily in Gujarat.
Power Generation: Houses two powerhouses-the River Bed Power House
(1,200 MW) and the Canal Head Power House (250 MW). The generated
electricity is shared among Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
Flood Protection: Offers flood protection to approximately 30,000
hectares.
Multi-dam System: The project includes 30 major dams, 135 medium-
sized dams, and around 3,000 small dams on the Narmada and its
tributaries across the three states.
Benefits
Agricultural Productivity: Boosts agricultural production by providing
reliable irrigation.
Water Security: Helps Gujarat and Rajasthan tide over drought situations
and ensures water availability in arid regions.
Employment: Generated employment for about one million people
during its construction.
Wildlife: Benefits wildlife sanctuaries in the region.
Controversies and Environmental Impact
Displacement: The project led to the displacement of thousands of
people, sparking protests and the formation of the Narmada Bachao
Andolan (NBA), a major social movement against the dam.
Environmental Concerns: The dam's construction was criticized for its
environmental impact, including submergence of forests and villages.
Feature Detail

Location Kevadiya, Narmada District, Gujarat

River Narmada

Dam Type Concrete gravity dam

138.68 m (crest); 163 m (from deepest

Height foundation)

Length 1,210 m

Power Generation 1,450 MW (two powerhouses)

~1.8 million hectares (Gujarat,

Irrigation Area Rajasthan)

Drinking Water
Supply 131 towns/cities, 9,633 villages

Inaugurated September 17, 2017

Foundation Stone April 5, 1961 (Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru)

Visionary Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Main Beneficiary Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh,

States Maharashtra, Rajasthan
 Other Dams
Polavaram Project
• Location: Godavari River near Ramayyapeta village (Polavaram Mandal,
Andhra Pradesh), 34 km upstream of the Kovvur-Rajahmundry
bridge and 42 km upstream of the Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage.
• Type: Multi-purpose national project (irrigation, hydropower, drinking
water, flood control).
• Status: Under construction (expected completion: 2029).
• National Project Status: Accorded in 2014 under the Andhra Pradesh
Reorganisation Act.
Purpose and Benefits
• Irrigation:
• Gross potential: 4.36 lakh hectares (East Godavari, West
Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Krishna districts).
• Stabilizes existing irrigation in the Godavari Delta.
• Hydropower: 960 MW (12 × 80 MW units).
• Drinking Water: 28.5 lakh people in 611 villages, plus Visakhapatnam
city.
• Interlinking: 80 TMC diverted to Krishna River basin (shared by Andhra
Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra).
• Flood Control: Designed for 1,000-year flood events.

Nagarjuna Sagar Project

• Location: Built on the Krishna River, spanning Nalgonda district
(Telangana) and Guntur district (Andhra Pradesh).
• Type: Multi-purpose masonry dam (irrigation, hydropower, drinking
water).
• Status: The dam was inaugurated by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru
in 1955, with water release into canals by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi
in 1967, Operational since 1967; jointly managed by Telangana and
Andhra Pradesh post-2014 bifurcation.
 • Significance:
• World’s largest masonry dam (height: 124.66 m; length: 1.6
km for masonry section, 4.8 km including earth dams).
Almatti Dam
• Situated on the Krishna River in Karnataka, the Almatti Dam is a major
component of the Upper Krishna Project.
• It is primarily used for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation,
supporting agriculture and water supply in northern Karnataka.

Mettur Dam
• Built across the Cauvery River in Tamil Nadu, the Mettur Dam is one of
the oldest in India.
• It provides irrigation, drinking water, and hydroelectric power to the
region, supporting agriculture in the Cauvery delta.
Idukki Project
• The Idukki Dam is an arch dam constructed across the Periyar River in
Kerala.
• It is primarily a hydroelectric project, housing one of the largest
hydroelectric power stations in Kerala, and also aids in irrigation and
water supply.
Ukai Dam
• Constructed on the Tapti River in Gujarat, the Ukai Dam is a
multipurpose project for irrigation, hydroelectric power, and flood
control.
• It is the second-largest reservoir in Gujarat after Sardar Sarovar.

Tehri Dam
• Located on the Bhagirathi River in Tehri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand,
the Tehri Dam is India's tallest dam. It is a multi-purpose rock and earth-
fill embankment dam situated, standing at 260.5 meters (855 feet), it is
the tallest dam in India.
• It provides hydroelectric power, irrigation, and drinking water to
northern India, and plays a vital role in flood control.