Dams and Reservoir: List of Dams and Reservoirs in India

List of Dams and Reservoirs in India: With various upcoming Defence examinations such as UPSC CAPF ACs, AFCAT, Indian Navy Sailor Entry AA & SSR, candidates are actively seeking comprehensive information online. To cater to this demand, we are furnishing a comprehensive compilation of dams and reservoirs in India. This compilation holds significant relevance from the perspective of Defence exams.

Dams and Reservoirs

India is a country with a vast network of rivers, making it an ideal location for the construction of dams and reservoirs. These water storage systems not only provide hydroelectric power but also play a significant role in irrigation, flood control, and water supply for domestic and industrial purposes.

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List of Dams and Reservoirs in India

India is home to several dams and reservoirs that are important sources of water for irrigation, hydroelectric power, and other purposes. These water resources have helped transform the country’s agriculture and power sectors, contributing significantly to its economic growth. Here are some more important dams and reservoirs in India:

Dams in Gujarat

Dams in Gujarat were mainly constructed to control floods, but they later started to function as water suppliers and reservoirs. Out of a total of 541 Indian Dams, Gujarat has around 21 large dams. The five chief dam-related projects of Gujarat are Sardar Sarovar, Ukai, Dantiwada, Kadana and Dharoi dam projects. These projects are considered to be the main sources of water for irrigation and drinking across the state. Given below is the list of some of the Dams in Gujarat.

Sardar Sarovar Dam

• Sardar Sarovar Dam was one of the main projects executed in Gujarat. 30 large dams were planned for Narmada River in Gujarat.
• The multi-purpose Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) irrigates a land of more than 1.8 million hectares.Ukai Dam
• Ukai Dam has been constructed across the Tapti River in the Surat district.
• It has the largest reservoir in Gujarat known as ‘Vallabh Sagar’.
• It is the second-largest dam in the state and has the second largest storage capacity among the existing dams in Gujarat.

Dantiwada Dam

• Dantiwada Dam is located on the outer reaches of Dantiwada in Banaskantha District of Gujarat.
• The dam is considered to be a prime tourist attraction of the district and attracts many visitors to its scenic surroundings and natural beauty.
• Situated nearby is Balaram Ambaji Wild Life Sanctuary which forms the division between the Dharoi Dam and Dantiwada Dam

.Dharoi Dam

• Dharoi Dam is located at Dharoi in Sabarkantha District.
• Dharoi Dam was constructed for supplying drinking water to urban areas including Ahmedabad, which is located around 85 kilometres away.
• Dharoi Dam was built across the Sabarmati River in the year 1973.
• The dam is one of the popular tourist spots in Gujarat.

Kadana Dam

• Kadana Dam is another popular dam in Gujarat.
• The prime objective behind its construction on the Mahi River was to control floods in the catchments.

Dholidhaja Dam

• Dholidhaja Dam, located in Surendranagar is the chief source of water for the cities of Wadhwan, Joravarnagar, Ratanpar and Surendranagar.
• The dam is on the Bhogavo River and supplies clean drinking water to almost 4 lakh people in and around the cities.

Kamleshwar Dam

• Kamleshwar Dam or Hiran I Dam is located inside the Gir Forest National Park on the Hiran River in Visavadar, Junagadh district.
• It is a rock-fill embankment dam with a height of about 25 m. The reservoir is famous for crocodiles and birds.

Other Dams in Gujarat
Some of the other Dams in Gujarat are Khodiyar Dam, Mitti Dam, Sukhi Dam and Nayka Dam.

Dams in Maharashtra

There are approximately 1821 dams in Maharashtra. The dam is the central structure in a multi-purpose plan designed to conserve water resources on a regional basis.

Mula Dam 

• Mula Dam located nearby Baragoan Nandur Village is a noteworthy dam of Maharashtra State.
• Mula Dam is the largest dam in the district of Ahmednagar and was constructed in the year of 1974.
• This dam is situated in the picturesque backdrop and is a well-known place of tourist attraction.

Koyna Dam 

• Koyna Dam is another main dam of Maharashtra state which is located in Koyna Nagar.
• The Nath Sagar or the Jaikwadi Dam is located nearby Paitan which is situated nearly 50 km distance away from the district of Aurangabad.
• This dam, constructed on the Godavari River, is at a distance of about 115 km from the district of Ahmednagar.

Ujani Dam 

• Ujani Dam is constructed on the Bhima River and very popular site of the Maharashtra state.
• Ujani Dam is located Pune district’s Taluka of Indapur. It occupies very large area for rainfall collections.

Mulshi Dam 

• Mula River has got a very well-known dam named as Mulshi Dam which is situated in the district of Pune.
• This dam and its water are solely used for farming and irrigation purposes.
• Mulshi Dam is operated by Tata Power Company Ltd., to produce electricity at the nearby sited Bhira Hydroelectric Power Plant.

Panshet Dam

• Panshet Dam was commissioned only for rural agriculture purposes nearly 40 years back and is the main water source for the Thane district.
• Used for Hydro-electric Power generation and irrigating the agricultural lands for better crops.

Bhandardara Dam

• Bhandardara Dam is one of the oldest, most important and major dams of the Maharashtra state.
• Bhandardara Dam was built and erected in 1926 over Arthur Lake of the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra.
• This dam is very famous for its sightseeing and scenic tourist attractions.
• Bhandardara Dam is constructed at an altitude of 750 meters above sea level and is one of the oldest dams in Asia.

Vaitarna Dam 

• Vaitarna Dam of Thane is separated into three parts namely upper Vaitarna Dam, middle Vaitarna Dam and lower Vaitarna Dam according to the stream of the Vaitarna River.

Pawna Dam 

• Pawna Dam is very near to Lonavala which was built across Pawna River and thus the name.
• The surrounding area of this Dam is acknowledged as one of the best tourist target where visitors can enjoy the ferryboat services across the river to promote the sightseeing in Lonavala.

Girna Dam 

• The Girna Dam is situated in the district of Nasik in Maharashtra state.
• This dam is drained by the Godavari River and Girna River, the two main Rivers of Maharashtra.
• Girna Dam was built for the specific purpose of field irrigation after collecting the overflow water of these two Rivers during the rainy season.

Nandur Madhmeshwar Dam 

• Nandur Madhmeshwar Dam is under construction and is being taken care of by the state Government of Maharashtra.
• The basic reason for the construction of the Nandur Madhmeshwar Dam is to facilitate and enhance the water irrigation of the area.

Kolkewadi Dam 

• The Kolkewadi Dam is an essential part of the hydroelectric project of the Koyna Dam which is located in the region of Konkan of Maharashtra state.
• The Kolkewadi Dam is situated at the site which is largely the sparingly inhabited area of Maharashtra state.

Dams and Reservoirs in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is a beautiful state and what enhances its beauty are the water reservoirs and dams. It also helps the state earn a profit. These dams provide water to the land as well as is used for drinking purposes. With the help of this stored water, Tamil Nadu generates electricity. Below, we have given a list of Dams in Tamil Nadu.

Dams and Reservoirs in Karnataka

Check all the important Dams and Reservoirs of Karnataka below –

Dams and Reservoirs in Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh is well known for its fertile lands, and plains and has the most Dams, Reservoirs, Lakes, Ponds, Wells, and Canals across the Eastern Ghats of India. It also has the second largest river delta consisting of river systems of Krishna and Godavari rivers in the country.

Dams in Kerala

Check all the important dams of Kerala below –

Oldest Dam in India

Kallanai Dam in Tamil Nadu is the oldest dam in India.

• It is also known as Grand Anicut. It is built across Kaveri river and it is in the Thanjavur district of Tamilnadu.
• Kallanai Dam was built by King Karikalan of the Chola dynasty in c. 100 BC – c. 100 AD.

Highest Dam in India

Tehri Dam in Uttarakhand is the Highest Dam in India.

• The dam’s height is 260.5 m (855 ft) and its length is 575 m (1,886 ft).
• It is built on the Bhagirathi River.

Longest Dam in India

Hirakud Dam in Odisha is the Longest Dam in India.

• Hirakud Dam is built across the Mahanadi River and it is around 25.79 km long.
• The year of completion of Hirakud dam is 1953

Reservoirs in India

Here we have listed important and major reservoirs with their state and river. Candidates can check the list below.

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Difference Between Dams and Reservoirs

A dam is a barrier to the flow of a river. It could be a stone wall, or a concrete wall across the river to stop the flow. This is called Dam. A reservoir may be a clay or rock deposit. These dams are well-designed and constructed to completely stop the flowing water. Appropriate drainage channels have been installed on top of the dam so that flood water can safely flow downstream.

A reservoir is a part where water is stored behind a dam. They are designed to accumulate to keep all the water flowing throughout the year, given the storage capacity of the valley behind the dam. The Reservoir is designed to accommodate the expected sludge from the inlet.

A dam and a reservoir are both often designed for a life of 100 years.