Dams are large, human-made constructions that control, hold, and supply water for irrigation, generation of hydromachinery, flood control, and municipal water supply. Engineers designed these deep-rooted marvels, which have greatly influenced the course of human development, partly supported agriculture, and enabled electricity production for millions of people worldwide. Dams play a fundamental role in managing water, but they also present environmental and social issues that must be critically considered. Here we will be learning some important Dams in India. Before learning some major dams in India, let’s understand Wha is a Dam and what are its types.

What is a Dam?

A dam is a barrier constructed across a river or stream with the purpose of holding back and storing water. The reservoir left by the dam provides several uses, including the provision of drinking water, irrigation of fields, generation of electricity, control of floods, and recreational activities like boating and fishing.

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Types of Dams:

Gravity Dams:

These types of dams are built by using concrete or stone. they rely on their own weight to resist the force of water pushing against them. They are generally thick and stable. Eg. The Tehri Dam in Uttrakhand.

Embankment Dams:

Embankment dams are built by using rock-fill materials. They have a wide base and a sloping surface, making them ideal for large reservoirs. Eg. The Hirakud Dam in Odisha

Arch Dams:

Arch dams are curved structures that direct the force of water towards the dam abutments. Builders construct them using concrete, making them thinner than gravity dams. Eg. The Idukki Arch dam in Kerala

Buttress Dams:

The Buttress Dams consist of a series of supports on the downstream side. Eg. Mettur Dam in Tamil Nadu

Highest Dam in India

Tehri Dam is the highest dam in India. Stood at the Bhagirathi River, the Uttarakhand state of India, Tehri Dam has a total height of 260.5 meters or 855 feet. In addition, it is also one of the largest dams in the world in terms of its height and reservoir capacity.

Some facts about Tehri Dam:

• Location: Uttrakhand, India
• Height: 260.5 m
• Length: 575 m
• River: Bhagirathi River
• Type: Earth and rock-fill Dam (Gravity Dam)
• Purpose: Hydropower generation, irrigation and municipal water supply
• Reservoir Capacity: 3,540 million cubic meters (approx)
• Installed capacity: 1,000 MW

Longest Dam in India

The Hirakud Dam is the longest dam in India. It is located on the Mahanadi River in the state of Odisha. The Hirakud Dam stretches for about 25.8 kilometers (16 miles), making it the longest dam in India and one of the longest in the world.

Some Facts about Hirakud Dam:

• Location: Sambalpur, Odisha
• River: Mahanadi
• Length: 25.8 km
• Type: Embankment Dam
• Height: 60.96 m
• Purpose: Irrigation, flood control and hydropower generation
• Reservoir Capacity: 5.818 billion cubic meters
• Year of Completion: 1957

First Dam in India

The Kallanai Dam (also known as the Grand Anicut) is the first and oldest dam in India. It was built over the Kaveri River in the state of Tamil Nadu. Constructed around the 2nd century CE by King Karikala Chola of the Chola Dynasty, the Kallanai Dam is one of the oldest water-regulation structures in the world that is still in use.

Some Facts about Kallanai Dam:

• Location: Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu
• River: Kaveri River
• Built by: Karikala Chola (of the Chola Dynasty)
• Construction Period: Around 2nd century
• Length: 329 m
• Height: 5.4 m

List of Important Dams in India

Dam Name	Location (State)	River	Purpose

Tehri Dam	Uttarakhand	Bhagirathi	Hydropower, Irrigation, Water Supply
Bhakra Dam	Himachal Pradesh	Sutlej	Hydropower, Irrigation
Hirakud dam	Odisha	Mahanadi	Irrigation, flood control. Hydropower
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam	Telangana/ Andra Pradesh	Krishna	Irrigation, water supply, hydropower
Sardar Sarovar Dam	Gujarat	Narmada	Irrigation, water supply, hydropower
Tungabhadra Dam	Karnataka/ Andra Pradesh	Tungabhadra	Irrigation, hydropower
Mettur Dam	Tamil Nadu	Kaveri	Irrigation, Water Supply
Rihand Dam	Uttar Pradesh	Rihand	Irrigation, Hydropower
Indira Sagar Dam	Madhya Pradesh	Narmada	Irrigation, Hydropower
Bhavanisagar Dam	Tamil Nadu	Bhavani	Irrigation, Water Supply
Bargi Dam	Madhya Pradesh	Narmada	Irrigation, Hydropower
Almatti Dam	Karnataka	Krishna	Irrigation, Hydropower
Krishna Raja Sagar Dam	Karnataka	Kaveri	Irrigation, Water Supply
Idukki Dam	Kerala	Periyar	Hydropower
Pong Dam	Himachal Pradesh	Beas	Irrigation, Hydropower, Water Supply
Konya Dam	Maharashtra	Konya	Hydropower
Banasura Sagar Dam	Kerala	Karamanathodu	Irrigation, Water Supply
Chamera Dam	Himachal Pradesh	Ravi	Hydropower
Ukai Dam	Gujarat	Tapti	Irrigation, Hydropower
Salal Dam	Jammu and Kashmir	Chenab	Hydropower
Dindi Dam	Telangana	Dindi	Irrigation, Water Supply
Srisailam Dam	Andhra Pradesh	Krishna	Irrigation, Hydropower
Maithon Dam	Jharkhand	Barakar	Irrigation, Flood Control, Hydropower

This table covers some of the major dams in India along with their primary purposes. Each of these dams plays a significant role in regional irrigation, water supply, electricity generation, and flood control.

Conclusion:

Dams have played a fundamental role in human development, bequeathing the resource of water to human use and habitation, energy generation for people, and flood protection. They allow critical work in agriculture, urban growth, and infrastructure development. However, extreme precaution should be taken in the environmental and social ramifications of building dams to make for effective development and to sustain the livelihoods of affected communities and ecosystems.

Balancing the advantages of dams against their difficulties, societies can continue to utilize power from water yet preserve the natural setting and human interests.