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Important Dams of India, Longest, Highest, Oldest Dams of India

India has many rivers and water bodies so it has built many dams. These dams are important for irrigation, water supply, generating hydroelectricity, and controlling floods. India has some of the longest, highest, and oldest dams, which are very important for its development. This article provides you with some details on these dams, explaining their importance and history

Important Dams of India

Dams have played an important role in India’s development by providing water for farming, generating clean hydroelectric power, and controlling floods. India has 5334 dams with 447 being very important. Dams are built across rivers or streams to hold back water. They help store water, control floods, and generate energy. Dams create reservoirs that supply water for irrigation, flood control, fish farming, drinking, and navigation. A dam is an artificial barrier made to hold water, and the reservoir it creates is used for irrigation, power generation, and more. Dams are classified based on their structure and purpose.

Top 5 Major Dams in India

1. Tehri Dam

Tehri Dam is located in Uttarakhand on the Bhagirathi River. Its 260.5-meter height makes it India’s tallest dam, and it ranks among the 10 highest dams in the world.

Tehri Dam
Height of the Dam 260.5 m
Length of the Dam 575 m
Type of Dam Rock fill
The reservoir capacity 2100000 acre feet
Capacity that is installed 1000 Megawatt

2. Bhakra Nangal Dam

The Bhakra Nangal Dam is situated on the Sutlej River in the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. It is the largest dam in India, with a height of 225 metres, and is also the second-largest dam in Asia.

3. Hirakud Dam

The Hirakud Dam is located in the Odisha state on the River Mahanadi. With a total length of 25.79 km, it is the longest dam in India and among the top ten longest dams in the world.

Hirakud Dam
Height of the Dam 61 m
Length of the Dam 4.8 km (Main Dam)
Type of Dam Composite Dam
The reservoir capacity 47,79,965 acre feet
Capacity that is installed 347.5 Megawatt

4. Nagarjuna Sagar Dam

The Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is in the Telangana state, along the Krishna River. It is the largest masonry dam ever constructed in India and the world’s largest artificial lake. It is 1.55 kilometres long and has 26 gates.

Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
Height of the Dam 124m
Length of the Dam 4863 m (Total Lenght)
Type of Dam Masonry Dam
The reservoir capacity 93,71,845 acre feet
Capacity that is installed 816 Megawatt

5. Sardar Sarovar Dam

The Sardar Sarovar Dam is in Gujarat, on the Narmada River. It is the biggest dam in the Narmada Valley Project. The nearby states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra benefit from this dam.

Sardar Sarovar Dam
Height of the Dam 163m
Length of the Dam 1210m
Type of Dam Gravity Dam
The reservoir capacity 77,00,000 acre-feet
Capacity that is installed 1450 Megawatt

Check out the linked article on the UPSC Syllabus 2024 Here!

State-wise Dams in India

List of Dams in India with River and State:

Name of Dams State River Name
Somasila Dam Andhra Pradesh Pennar River
Srisailam Dam Krishna River
Ukai Dam Gujarat Tapti River
Dharoi Dam Sabarmati River
Kadana dam Mahi River
Dantiwada Dam Banas River
Bhakra Nangal Dam Himachal Pradesh and Punjab Border Sutlej River
Pandoh Dam Himachal Pradesh Beas River
Nathpa Jhakri Dam Satluj River
Chamera Dam Ravi River
Baglihar Dam Jammu and Kashmir Chenab River
Dumkhar Hydroelectric Dam Indus River
Uri Hydroelectric Dam Jhelum River
Maithon Dam Jharkhand Barakar River
Chandil Dam Swarnarekha River
Panchet Dam Damodar River
Tunga Bhadra Dam Karnataka Tungabhadra River
Linganamakki dam Sharavathi River
Kadra Dam Kalinadi River
Alamatti Dam Krishna River
Supa Dam Kalinadi or Kali river
Krishna Raja Sagara Dam Kaveri River
Harangi Dam Harangi River
Narayanpur Dam Krishna River
Kodasalli Dam Kali River
Malampuzha Dam Kerala Malampuzha River
Peechi Dam Manali River
Idukki Dam Periyar River
Kundala Dam Kundala Lake
Parambikulam Dam Parambikulam River
Walayar Dam Walayar River
Mullaperiyar Dam Periyar River
Neyyar Dam Neyyar River
Rajghat Dam Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh Border Betwa River
Barna Dam Madhya Pradesh Barna River
Bargi Dam Narmada River
Bansagar Dam Sone River
Gandhi Sagar Dam Chambal River
Yeldari Dam Maharashtra Purna river
Ujani Dam Bhima River
Pawna Dam Maval River
Mulshi Dam Mula River
Koyna Dam Koyna River
Jayakwadi Dam Godavari River
Bhatsa Dam Bhatsa river
Wilson Dam Pravara River
Tansa Dam Tansa river
Panshet Dam Ambi River
Mula Dam Mula river
Kolkewadi Dam Vashishti River
Girna Dam Girana river
Vaitarna Dam Vaitarna river
Khadakwasla Dam Mutha River
Gangapur Dam Godavari river
Singur dam Telangana Manjira River
Radhanagari Dam Bhogawati River
Lower Manair Dam Manair River
Mid Manair Dam Manair River and SRSP Flood Flow Canal
Upper Manair Dam Manair River and Kudlair River
Nizam Sagar Dam Manjira River
Jalaput Dam Andhra Pradesh and Odisha Border Machkund River
Indravati Dam Odisha Indravati River
Hirakud Dam Mahanadi River
Vaigai Dam Tamil Nadu Vaigai River
Perunchani Dam Paralayar River
Mettur Dam Kaveri River
Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar Dam / Rihand dam Uttar Pradesh Rihand River
Tehri Dam Uttarakhand Bhagirathi River
Dhauli Ganga Dam Dhauli Ganga River

Check out the linked article on the UPSC Prelims Syllabus 2024 Here!

List of Important Dams in India

Here is a complete List of Important Dams in India

Name of Dam State River
Bhavani Sagar dam Tamil Nadu Bhavani
Tungabhadra Dam Karnataka Tungabhadra
Rihand Dam Uttar Pradesh Rihand
Maithon Dam Jharkhand Barakar
Koyna Dam Maharashtra Koyna
Bisalpur Dam Rajasthan Banas
Mettur Dam Tamil Nadu Kaveri
Krishnarajasagar Dam Karnataka Kaveri
Indira Sagar Dam Madhya Pradesh Narmada
Cheruthoni Dam Kerala Cheruthoni
Sardar Sarovar Dam Gujarat Narmada
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam Telangana Krishna
Hirakud dam Odisha Mahanadi
Bhakra Nangal Dam Punjab-Himachal Pradesh Border Sutlej
Tehri Dam Uttarakhand Bhagirathi

Major Dams in India

Major Dams in India

Highest Dam in India Tehri Dam(Uttarakhand) Height: 260.5 meters Length: 575 meters River: Bhagirathi River Location: Uttarakhand Year of completion:2006 (1st phase)
Longest Dam in India Hirakud Dam (Odisha) Total Length: 25.79 km (16.03 mi) Length of Main Dam:4.8 km (3.0 mi) River: Mahanadi Location: Odisha Year of completion:1953
Oldest Dam in India Kallanai Dam(Tamil Nadu) River: Kaveri Location: Tamil Nadu Year of completion: 100 BC –100 AD

Longest Dam in India

The longest Dam in India is the Hirakud Dam. The Hirakud Dam is built on the Mahanadi River in the Sambalpur district of Odisha. The Hirakud Dam is 25.79 km long. It was completed in 1953.

Tallest Dam in India

The Tehri Dam is the tallest dam in India and the 12th tallest dam in the world, standing at 260.5 meters high. It is located on the Bhagirathi River in the town of New Tehri, Uttarakhand. The dam is 575 meters long and 260 meters high. The dam’s reservoir has a total installed capacity of 1000 megawatts making it a significant source of renewable energy for the region. The first part of the dam was completed in 2006. It is an important part of the Tehri hydropower project managed by THDC India Ltd.

Oldest Dam in India

The oldest dam in India is the Kallanai Dam which is on the Kaveri River in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. It was built between 100 BC and 100 AD, and today, it is managed by the Tamil Nadu government.

Benefits of Dams

  • Irrigation: Dams provide a reliable source of water for irrigation, ensuring agricultural prosperity and food security.
  • Hydroelectricity: Dams generate clean hydroelectric power reducing dependence on fossil fuels and combating climate change.
  • Flood control: Dams regulate river flows preventing devastating floods and protecting communities.
  • Drinking water: Some dams supply drinking water to cities and towns.

Challenges and Concerns

  • Displacement and Rehabilitation: The construction of dams leads to the displacement of communities, their livelihood and resettlement.
  • Environmental Impact: Dams can harm ecosystems, biodiversity, and river communities.
  • Siltation: Silt buildup in reservoirs reduces storage capacity and dam efficiency.
  • Social and Economic Inequality: The benefits of dams may not be shared equally.

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Important Dams in India FAQs

How many dams are important in India?

As of July, 2019, total number of large dams in India is 5,334. About 447 large dams are under construction in India. In terms of number of dams, India ranks third after China and USA.

Which is the 1st dam in India?

Kallanai Dam built across the Kaveri river of Tamil Nadu is the oldest dam (first dam) in India. It is also known as the Grand Anicut.

Which is the largest dam in India?

Tehri dam on Bhagirathi River in Uttarakhand is the largest in India.

Which is the longest dam in India?

Hirakund dam on Mahanadi River in Odisha is the longest in India.

Which is the oldest dam in India?

Kallanai Dam on Kaveri River is the oldest in India. It was built by Karikala cholan of Chola Dynasty in 100 BC –100 AD.

Bhakra Nangal Dam is on which river?

Bhakra Nangal Dam is on Setluj River.

Where is the Rihand Dam?

Rihand Dam is in Uttar Pradesh

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