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Dams in India, List of Dams and Reservoirs of India

Dams in India

General Knowledge is the most important section of government competitive examinations such as SSC exams, RRB NTPC exams, UPSC exams, FSSAI exams, etc. The questions about the history of India and the Geography of India are always asked in the General Awareness section. The most important topic that is asked in the General Awareness section is the knowledge about Dams in India.

Largest Dams in India

In this article, we are providing you with the largest dams in India, longest dams in India, biggest dams in India, etc. The candidates must go through the details provided here which include the Dams in India.

What is Dam?

A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams.  A dam can also be used to collect or store water which can be evenly distributed between locations. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions.

Dams are built for the production of electricity through the water, which is referred to as Hydroelectricity. The earliest known dam is the Jawa Dam in Jordan, dating to 3,000 BC.

These are the types of dams that are built by human agency and natural cause. The types of dams in India are as follows:

  1. Arch dams
  2. Gravity dams
  3. Arch-gravity dams
  4. Barrages
  5. Embankment dams
  6. Rock-fill embankment dams
  7. Concrete-face rock-fill dams
  8. Earth-fill dams
  9. Fixed-crest dams

What is the need for Dams in India?

These are some important points that explain what is the need for dams.

  • It helps in Hydroelectric Power Production
  • It helps the water supply for irrigation purposes.
  • It provides adequate water for domestic as well city use.
  • Water is needed for many industries and factories.
  • Dams Reservoirs are used for fishing and boating purposes which provide a livelihood to many families.
  • It is also used for transportation.
  • Dams also helped in the reduction of floods.

Major Dams of India

Here we have tabulated the list of major dams in India. We are providing you the list of dams state-wise and with the name of the river on which the dam is built.

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

Here we have tabulated the important dams of India. Candidates can check the highest, largest and oldest dams in India.

Longest Dam in India Hirakud Dam (Odisha) Total Length: 25.79 km
Length of Main Dam:4.8 km
River: Mahanadi
Location: Odisha
Year of completion:1953
Oldest Dam in India Kallanai Dam(Tamil Nadu) River: Kaveri
Location: Tamil Nadu
Construction Began/Completion: 100 BC –100 AD
Highest Dam in India Tehri Dam (Uttarakhand) Height: 260 meters
Length: 575 meters
River: Bhagirathi River
Location: Uttarakhand
Year of completion:2006 (1st phase)

Reservoirs in India

Reservoirs are natural or artificial lakes created using a dam to store freshwater. The water stored in reservoirs can be used by a particular area, city, etc. The list of reservoirs is given below.

Reservoir State River
Dindi Reservoir Telangana Krishna River
Lower Manair Reservoir Telangana Manair River
Tatipudi Reservoir Project Andhra Pradesh Gosthani River
Gandipalem Reservoir Andhra Pradesh Manneru River
Himayat Sagar Reservoir Telangana Osman Sagar
Shriram Sagar Reservoir Telangana Godavari River
Gobind Sagar Reservoir Himachal Pradesh Sutlej River
Maharana Pratap Sagar Reservoir Himachal Pradesh Pong Dam Lake
Ghataprabha Reservoir Karnataka Ghataprabha River
Hemavathi Reservoir Karnataka Hemavati River
Tawa Reservoir Madhya Pradesh Tawa River
Balimela Reservoir Odisha Sileru River
Aliyar Reservoir Tamil Nadu Aliyar River
Chittar Reservoir Tamil Nadu Chittar River
Krishnagiri Reservoir Tamil Nadu Thenpennai River
Manimuthar Reservoir Tamil Nadu Tamirabarani River
Pechiparai Reservoir Tamil Nadu Kodayar River
Shoolagiri Chinnar Reservoir Tamil Nadu Chinnar River
Thunakadavu Reservoir Tamil Nadu Thunacadavu River
Varattu Pallam Reservoir Tamil Nadu Kaveri River
Vidur Reservoir Tamil Nadu Sankaraparani River
Amaravathi Reservoir Tamil Nadu Amaravathi River
Gundar Reservoir Tamil Nadu Berijam Lake
Kullursandai Reservoir Tamil Nadu Arjuna Nadi
Pambar Reservoir Tamil Nadu Pambar River
Periyar Reservoir Tamil Nadu Periyar River
Stanley Reservoir Tamil Nadu Kaveri River
Uppar Reservoir Tamil Nadu Uppar River
Vattamalaikarai Odai Reservoir Tamil Nadu Odai River
Willingdon Reservoir Tamil Nadu Periya Odai River
Bhavanisagar Reservoir Tamil Nadu Bhavani River
Kodaganar Reservoir Tamil Nadu Kodagananar River
Manimukthanadhi Reservoir Tamil Nadu Krishna River
Parambikulam Reservoir Tamil Nadu Parambikulam River
Sholayar Reservoir Tamil Nadu Chalakkud River
Thirumurthi Reservoir Tamil Nadu Parmabikulam and Aliyar River
Varadamanadhi Reservoir Tamil Nadu Aliyar River
Vembakottai Reservoir Tamil Nadu Vaippar River
Manjalar Reservoir Tamil Nadu Manjalar River
Salal Project Jammu and Kashmir Chenab River
Chutak Hydroelectric Project Jammu and Kashmir Suru River
Indirasagar Project Madhya Pradesh Narmada River
Narmada Dam Project Madhya Pradesh Narmada River
Rihand Project Uttar Pradesh Rihand River and Son River

We hope that the information provided above related to the dams in India is very useful for you to crack your General Awareness section in Government competitive exam.

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FAQs

Which are India's largest dams?

Tehri dam on the Bhagirathi river in Uttarakhand is India's largest dam.

Which is the longest dam in India?

Hirakud Dam is the longest dam in India.

Sardar Sarovar dam is situated on which river?

Sardar Sarovar dam is situated on the Narmada river of Gujarat.

Bhakra Nangal Dam is located on which states?

The Bhakra Nangal Dam is located in the state of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab on Sutluj river.

About the Author

Aishwarya Bhandarkar is a content writer having experience of 3.5+ years in blogging of creating content for competitive entrance and government exams. She believes in delivering simplifying complex concepts into understandable and user-friendly content on time to the readers and helping aspirants for various exams..

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