List of Dams and Reservoirs in India, Check in Detailed

Dams and Reservoirs

India is a country of rivers where the construction of dams and reservoirs is inevitable. Dams serve several important purposes, such as hydroelectric power generation, supply of water for irrigation, flood management and providing water for households and industries. Rivers and dams on them are extremely important in strengthening the economy and ensuring protection from natural disasters such as floods. They play a vital role in India’s economic progress and public welfare.

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Why are Dams Built?

India is called the country of rivers, and many dams have been constructed here. Dams are constructed to fulfill various purposes. These mainly include providing water for irrigation, protecting from the effects of floods, increasing power generation, and ensuring water supply in water-scarce areas. These are the main reasons for the construction of dams, which play an important role in the economic and social progress of the country.

• Irrigation: One of the main reasons for building a dam is irrigation, using the water of which the farmer increases the yield of his crops.
• Electricity generation: Electricity can be produced using a dam, which is generated by using hydroelectric energy, which is a clean and renewable energy source.
• Flood control: There are many places in India where excessive water increases the possibility of floods, so dams are constructed to stop the excess flood water.
• Water supply: The water of dams is also used at the place where there is a problem of drinking water. Therefore, the dam provides its water for drinking water supply, industrial use and domestic use.
• Fisheries: The water of dams is also used in fisheries, in which the construction of reservoirs encourages fishermen, which also benefits the local economy.
• Tourism: By developing tourist places around the dams, tourists can be attracted and by establishing a dam, the economic condition of a new place or region can be improved.

List of Dams and Reservoirs in India

India has many dams and reservoirs that supply water for irrigation and generate hydroelectric power. These water sources are crucial for supporting agriculture and producing electricity, which greatly contribute to India’s economic growth. This article highlights some important dams and reservoirs in India, emphasizing their role in improving the country’s infrastructure and development in various sectors.

Dams in Gujarat

Dams in Gujarat primarily serve the purpose of flood control, with their role evolving over time to encompass water supply and reservoir functions. Among the 541 dams in India, Gujarat boasts approximately 21 significant dams. The state’s five major dam projects, including Sardar Sarovar, Ukai, Dantiwada, Kadana, and Dharoi, play a important role in providing water for irrigation and drinking purposes statewide. Here is a compilation of some of the notable 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 has scenic landscapes featuring water reservoirs and dams that serve important purposes. These dams supply water for agriculture, drinking, and hydroelectric power generation. Here is a list of notable dams in Tamil Nadu that highlight their significance for the state’s water supply and energy production.

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.