Major Dams in India: Major Dams and Hydropower Projects in India

 

Relevance

• Prelims: Indian Geography

 

Dams in India

• India has around 200 hydropower projects. Being a peninsular country, and having a rich network of water basin, India features as the seventh-largest generator of hydroelectricity in the world. In this article, we will discuss some of the important dams in India and their distinctive features.

 

What is hydroelectric power?

• Hydroelectric power means the procedure of harnessing electricity through water. It is a process of conserving efficient energy from rapidly flowing water. It is s one of the most established and broadly utilized renewable sources of energy.

 

List of major dams and hydropower projects in India

 

Sl. No.	Name	State and river	Year of establishment	Distinctive points
1.	Tehri	Uttarakhand; on Bhagirathi river	1978	Highest dam in India. Collaboration with USSR.
2.	Srisailam	Andhra Pradesh; on Krishna river	1960	Second-largest hydropower project in India
3.	Bhakra Nangal Dam	Himachal Pradesh; on Satluj river	1948	Both Punjab and Haryana use the outflowing water from this dam.
4.	Nagarjuna Sagar Dam	Andhra Pradesh and Telangana; on Krishna river	1967	World’s largest masonry dam protected with 26 gates
5.	Idukki	Kerala; on Periyar river	1976	Largest and the most trusted source of electricity in Kerala
6.	Sardar Sarovar Dam	Gujarat; on Narmada river	1987	largest dam of Narmada Valley Project
7.	Shivanasamudra	Karnataka; on Kaveri river	1902	first hydropower plant of India
8.	Teesta Dam	Sikkim; on Teesta river	2003	comprises of 3 turbines for hydropower generation
9.	Koyna	Maharashtra; on Koyna river	1956	largest hydel power project in India
10.	Salal	Jammu and Kashmir; on Chenab river	1970	constructed in two stages, stage I and stage II
11.	Ranjit Sagar Dam	Punjab; on Ravi river	1981	also referred to as the Thein Dam
12.	Machkund dam	Odisha; on makchund river	1955	—
13.	Hirakud	Odisha; on Mahanadi river	1957	one of the first major multipurpose river valley projects started after India’s independence.
14.	Rangit dam	Sikkim; on Ranjit river	2000	Highest dam of Sikkim
15.	Bansagar	MP; in Sone river	2006	—
16.	Indra Sagar dam	MP; on Narmada river	2005	It is the largest reservoir in India
17.	Mukkombu Dam	TN; on Kaveri river	1838	It is the smallest dam in India.
18.	Nathpa Jhakri	Himachal Pradesh; on Satluj river	1993	Comprises 6 turbines for hydropower generation
19.	Omkareshwar	Odisha; on Indravati river	1996	—
20.	Karcham Wangtoo	Himachal Pradesh; on Satluj river	2005	—

FAQs

Q. Which is the first hydropower plant of India?

Ans. Shivanasamudra

Q. Which is the first major multipurpose river valley projects started after India’s independence?

Ans. Hirakud dam.

Q. Which is the largest reservoir in India?

Ans. Indra Sagar dam

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