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Hirakud Dam

India / Orissa / Hirakud /

Hirakud Dam is built across the Mahanadi River, about 15 km from Sambalpur in the state of Orissa in India. Built in 1956, the dam is the world's largest earthen dam.[1] Behind the dam extends a lake, Hirakud Reservoir, 55 km long. Hirakud Dam is one of the longest dams in the world, about 16 mi (26 km) in length. It was the first major multipurpose river valley project started after India's independence.Construction history

Before the devastating floods of 1937, Sir M. Visveswararya proposed a detailed investigation for storage reservoirs in the Mahanadi basin to tackle the problem of floods in the Mahanadi delta. In 1945, under the chairmanship of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the then Member of Labour, it was decided to invest in the potential benefits of controlling the Mahanadi for multi-purpose use. The Central Waterways, Irrigation and Navigation Commission took up the work.

On 15 March 1946, Sir Howthrone Lewis, then the Governor of Orissa, laid the foundation stone of the Hirakud Dam. A project report was submitted to the government in June 1947. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru laid the first batch of concrete on 12 April 1948. The dam was completed in 1953 and was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on 13 January 1957. The total cost of the project was Rs. 100.02 crores (in 1957). Power generation along with agricultural irrigation started in 1956, achieving full potential in 1966.Structure

The Hirakud Dam is a composite structure of earth, concrete and masonry. Ten km north of Sambalpur, it is the longest major earthen dam in the world, measuring 24 km including dykes, and stands across the river Mahanadi. The main dam has an overall length of 4.8 km spanning between two hills; the Lamdungri on the left and the Chandili Dunguri on the right. The dam is flanked by 21 km earthen dykes on both the left and right sides, closing the low saddles beyond the adjoining hills. The dam and dykes together measure 25.8 km. It also forms the biggest artificial lake in Asia, with a reservoir holding 743 km² at full capacity, with a shoreline of over 639 km. There are two observation towers on the dam one at each side. One is "Gandhi Minar" and the other one is "Nehru Minar". Both the observation towers present breathtaking views of the lake.Purpose and Benefits

In the upper drainage basin of the Mahanadi River, centered on the Chattisgarh Plain, periodic droughts contrast with the situation in the lower delta region where floods may damage crops. The dam was constructed to help alleviate these problems by creating a reservoir and controlling river flow through the drainage system.The dam regulates the flow of the Mahanadi River and produces hydroelectricity through several hydroelectric plants.[3]

The dam helps control floods in the Mahanadi delta and irrigates 7,500,000 hectares of land. Hydroelectricity is also generated. The Hirakud Dam regulates 83,400 km² (32,200 mi²) of Mahanadi's drainage. The reservoir has a storage capacity of 5.818 km³ with gross of 8.136 km³.

It drains an area of 133,090 km², more than twice the area of Sri Lanka. The amount of earth, concrete and masonry materials used to build the dam is sufficient to make a road 8 metres wide and pave it from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and from Amritsar to Dibrugarh in Assam. With successful irrigation provided by the dam, Sambalpur is called the rice bowl of Orissa. Here photography is strictly prohibited.

The project provides 1,556 km² of kharif and 1,084 km² of rabi irrigation in districts of Sambalpur, Bargarh, Bolangir, and Subarnpur. The water released by the power plant irrigates another 4360 km² of CCA in Mahanadi delta. The dam can generate up to 307.5 MW of electrical power through its two power plants at Burla, on the dam's right bank and Chiplima, 22 km downstream from the dam. In addition, the project provides flood protection to 9500 km² of delta area in district of Cuttack and Puri. Source: Dilip Kumar Padhi VU2DPI

Chiplima has gained prominence as the second hydroelectric project of the Hirakud Dam. A natural fall of 80 to 120 feet (25 to 40 m) in the river Mahanadi is used to generate electricity. The place is mostly inhabited by fisherman, whose deity ghanteswari is very popular in the neighbouring area. The State Livestock Breeding Farm and Agricultural Farm are located here.People affected by the dam construction

The main purpose of the Hirakud Dam was to check the massive flood that was effecting a large part of coastal Orissa. But construction of the dam greatly affected the native of western part of Orissa. Nearly 1.5 Lakh people got affected by the Hirakud project. Nearly 22,000 family were displaced by the dam project.

In the original estimate, an amount of Rs 12 crores was provided for payment of compensation to the affected people. After revision, the amount was reduced to Rs 9.5 crores and the total compensation paid to the people was, in reality, only Rs 3.32 crores. A large number of families were evacuated from their hearth and homes without compensation from 1956 onwards.
the team inspected two sides on the left dyke, one near Gandhi Minar and another 100 metre away from it. On the right dyke, they visited a site at 13500 ft height from the reservoir base and another at 15100 ft, which were identified as potential locations for spillways.

Now there is plan to create one or more spillways so that the dam can discharge at least 18 lakh cubic metre per second (cusec) of water compared to the current 12 lakh cusec.

The dam currently has 98 gates, 64 sluice gates and 34 crest gates, to release flood-water. However, the CWC has recommended raising water discharge capacity of the dam by 1.5 times. Sambalpur faces flood-like situation when 30 gates of the dam are opened, releasing 8 lakh cusec of water. The new spillway(s) would release water into Jhari Jor beyond Chipilima to avoid flooding of the city.

After the team selects one or more sites, geological survey of the same would be conducted to find out whether the base of the site has hard surface. It would then be sent to the state government for approval. The work, if approved by the government, would be carried out under the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) supported by the World Bank.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   21°31'46"N   83°52'8"E

Comments

  • Raju (guest)
    India's pride. Its the largest earth dam on earth,almost 5 kms in length,3.8 kms made up of earth and the rest 1.1 km others. The strange thing is : earthern part is more stronger than the rest.Its height is almost 200m.
  • P behera (guest)
    Longest earthen dam of the world. !6 miles to be nearst. three miles of main dam and 13 miles of dykes. The main dam has two concreat parts and two earthen parts. It is on the river MAHANADI. Reservoir has a area of 288 sq.miles and capacity 6.6 Million Acre Feet at the highest storage level. It is an multipurpose dam catering the need of power generation ,Irrigation and Flod Control.
  • pankaj (guest)
    it is longest dam in warld..
  • Gyaneswar (guest)
    Hi all the best of world longest dam is hirakud but stay in proud of country india
  • aalibasant
    Total length of Dam :15,748 Feet or 4800 Meter Concrete Dam :3,937 Feet or 1200 Meter Earth Dam :11,811 Feet or 3600 Meter Left Dyke :32,274 Feet or 9837 Meter Right Dyke :35,299 Feet or 10759 Meter Maximumm Height of Massonary Dam :200 Feet or 61 Meter Maximum Height of Earth Dam :195 Feet or 59.5 Meter Sluice Gates Total :64 Nos. Sluice Gates (Left) :40 Nos. Sluice Gates (Right) :24 Nos. Crest Gates :34 Nos. Crest Gates (Left) :21 Nos. Crest Gates (Right) :13 Nos. Crest Gate Size :15.54 Meter * 16.1 Meter Top Dam Level :RL 195.680 Meter (RL 642Feet) Full Reservoir Level :Rl 192.024 Meter (RL 630 Feet) Dead Storage Level :Rl 179.830 Meter (Rl 590 Feet) Seal of Sluice Gate : 510 feet (160 m) RL Gross Storage : 5,830,000 acre feet (7.19×109 m3) Live Storage : 4,360,000 acre feet (5.38×109 m3) Catchment Area : 83,400 km² Total Power Capacity :275.5 MW The Hirakud Dam is a composite structure of earth, concrete and masonry. Ten km north of Sambalpur, it is the longest major earthen dam in the world, measuring 24 km including dykes, and stands across the river Mahanadi. The main dam has an overall length of 4.8 km spanning between two hills; the Lamdungri on the left and the Chandili Dunguri on the right. The dam is flanked by 21 km earthen dykes on both the left and right sides, closing the low saddles beyond the adjoining hills. The dam and dykes together measure 25.8 km. It also forms the biggest artificial lake in Asia, with a reservoir holding 743 km² at full capacity, with a shoreline of over 640 km..
  • aalibasant
    n the upper drainage basin of the Mahanadi River, centered on the Chattisgarh Plain, periodic droughts contrast with the situation in the lower delta region where floods may damage crops. The dam was constructed to help alleviate these problems by creating a reservoir and controlling river flow through the drainage system.[2] The dam regulates the flow of the Mahanadi River and produces hydroelectricity through several hydroelectric plants.[3] The dam helps control floods in the Mahanadi delta and irrigates 7,500,000 hectares of land. Hydroelectricity is also generated. The Hirakud Dam regulates 83,400 km² (32,200 mi²) of Mahanadi's drainage. The reservoir has a storage capacity of 5.818 km³ with gross of 8.136 km³. [4] It drains an area of 133,090 km², more than twice the area of Sri Lanka. The amount of earth, concrete and masonry materials used to build the dam is sufficient to make a road 8 metres wide and pave it from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and from Amritsar to Dibrugarh in Assam. With successful irrigation provided by the dam, Sambalpur is called the rice bowl of Orissa. Here photography is strictly prohibited. The project provides 1,556 km² of kharif and 1,084 km² of rabi irrigation in industries of Sambalpur, Bargarh, Bolangir, and Subarnpur. The water released by the power plant irrigates another 4360 km² of CCA in Mahanadi delta. The dam can generate up to 307.5 MW of electrical power through its two power plants at Burla, on the dam's right bank and Chiplima, 22 km downstream from the dam. In addition, the project provides flood protection to 9500 km² of delta area in district of Cuttack and Puri. Source: Dilip Kumar Padhi VU2DPI Chiplima has gained prominence as the second hydroelectric project of the Hirakud Dam. A natural fall of 80 to 120 feet (25 to 40 m) in the river Mahanadi is used to generate electricity. The place is mostly inhabited by fisherman, whose deity Ghantlei is very popular in the neighbouring area. The State Livestock Breeding Farm and Agricultural Farm are located here. Main Purpose of Hirakud dam was to check the massive flood that was effecting a large part of coastal Orissa.But construction of the dam greatly affected the native of western part of orissa.Nearly 1.5 lakh people got affected by the Hirakud project.Nearly 22,000 family were displaced under the Hirakud dam project, but are yet to be rehabilitated and receive their due compensation by the Orissa government.In the original estimate, an amount of Rs 12 crores was provided for payment of compensation to the affected people. After revision, the amount was reduced to Rs 9.5 crores and the total compensation paid to the people was, in reality, only Rs 3.32 crores. A large number of families were evacuated from their hearth and homes without compensation from 1956 onwards.
  • k (guest)
    safe
  • virendrA (guest)
    PLEASE SEND ME A IMAGE OF HIRAKUND DAM
  • don (guest)
    The dam supports two different hydroelectric power houses. Power House I is located at the base (toe) of the main dam section and contains 3 x 37.5 MW Kaplan turbine and 2 x 24 MW Francis turbine generators for an installed capacity of 259.5 MW. Power Station II is located 19 km (12 mi) southeast of the dam 21°21′10″N 83°55′00″E at Chipilima. It contains 3 x 24 MW generators. The entire installed capacity of the dam's power houses is 307.5 MW. Power House I and II were built in three stages. During stage I, four generators were installed at PH I and in stage II, the power channel two and Power House II was constructed. All three generators were installed at PH II along with two more at PH I by 1963. Between 1982 and 1990, the seventh and final generator was installed at PH
  • Binod ThapaNepal (guest)
    its india's pride.
  • YASOBANTA KARALI (guest)
    There is contributions of Dr. B.R.AMBEDKAR and M.VISVESWARAYA in the construction of Hirakud Dam.But it is not understood why the two towers were named by Gandhi and Nehru.
  • YASOBANTA KARALI (guest)
    Reason is simply politics and power.
  • Osho Sharma (guest)
    Which are the states benefited by the hirakud dam
  • shilpa (guest)
    Copy cats ...copied frm wikipedia
  • Bhavani Sankar mohapatra (guest)
    Nice plan by visveswaray . thanks to j.l.neheru ji.
  • Show all comments
This article was last modified 2 years ago