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Water is a renewable resource however much of it is not usable. Usable freshwater comes from rivers and groundwater which is replenished from surface run-off. Dams were invented to maximise the use of this usable water for human consumption and irrigation. They also helped in tackling both floods and droughts. India has a long history of dams one of the oldest dating 1st century BC in Sringaverapura near Allahabad to channelise the flood waters of Ganga. Later the Mauryan ruler Chandragupta made many dams and lakes. Famous manmade structures include the Bhopal Lake dated 11th Century and Hauz Khas by Iltutmish in 14th Century. During independence, Jawaharlal Nehru looked upon dams as the ‘temples of modern India’ due to their multipurpose role and they were the vehicles for development of the country. He hoped that they would boost development of agriculture with industrialization leading to integrated growth for rural and urban India.
A dam is a construction placed over a stream or river to keep water back. Over the ages, people have constructed dams with a variety of materials. Clay and other natural materials were employed by ancient dam builders. Concrete is a common material used by dam builders today.
Rihand dam is the largest dam in India by volume. is a concrete gravity dam located on the Rihand River, a tributary of the Son River, in the Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh, India.
The Kallanai Dam (also known as the Grand Anicut) in Tamil Nadu is the oldest dam in India. It was built by Chola dynasty king Karikalan around 2nd century AD across the Kaveri river.
The Tehri Dam located in Uttarakhand is the highest dam in India. It stands at a height of 260.5 meters (855 feet) and is a major dam built on the Bhagirathi River.
Simply put, a dam is the reservoir which is constructed after redirecting or obstructing the flow of water. Dams have a spillway which allows release of water either regularly or intermittently. Dams have today become multipurpose projects used for drinking water, for irrigation, industrial and domestic use, flood control, electricity generation, recreation, fishing and inland navigation. E.g. the Bhakra Nangal Dam is used for hydropower and irrigation in Himachal Pradesh and the Sardar Sarovar Dam will supply water to drought prone desert areas of Gujarat.
There are many disadvantages of multipurpose projects due to which there is rising resistance against them and alternatives like indigenous rain-water harvesting methods are being explored for their socio-economic and environmental viability.
Other Major Dams | Location | River |
---|---|---|
Sardar Sarovar Dam | Gujarat | Narmada |
Tungabhadra Dam | Karnataka | Tungabhadra |
Koyna Dam | Maharashtra | Koyna |
Mettur Dam | Tamil Nadu | Kaveri |
Krishnarajasagar Dam | Karnataka | Kaveri |
Mullaperiyar Dam | Kerala (Owned by Tamil Nadu) | Periyar |
Dam Failure: Despite their monumental benefits, dams also carry inherent risks, and dam failures can have catastrophic consequences.
In India, dams and multipurpose projects have played a crucial role in meeting various developmental needs, including irrigation, power generation, and water supply. However, their future is increasingly being scrutinized due to environmental, social, and economic concerns. Environmentalists argue that large-scale dam construction disrupts ecosystems, alters river courses, and can lead to adverse ecological consequences. Additionally, displacement of local communities and the associated socio-economic challenges have raised ethical questions about the viability of such projects.
Indian government have thorough Environmental Impact Assessment, 2020 procedures to check the viability of a dam to ensure sustainable development. Stakeholder consultation has become a part of this process also. Further, emergency action plans are mandated under the Dam Secutiy Act, 2021. Future lies in embracing innovative technologies to improve efficiency of these multipurpose projects and embrarcing indigenous water storage methods.
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