Hirakud Dam

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Hirakud Dam

Floodgates of Hirakud Dam

Official name

Hirakud Dam

Location

15 km from Sambalpur, Orissa

2134N 8352E21.57N

Coordinates

83.87ECoordinates:

2134N

8352E21.57N 83.87E

Construction
began
Opening date
Construction
cost

1948
1957
101 Crore Rs in 1957
Dam and spillways

Type of dam

Composite Dam and Reservoir

Height

60.96 m (200 ft)

Length

4.8 km (3 mi) (main section)

25.8 km (16 mi) (entire dam)

Impounds

Mahanadi

Spillways

64 sluice-gates

Spillway

42,450 cubic metres per second

capacity

(1,499,000 cu ft/s)
Reservoir

Capacity

5,896,000,000 m3 (4,779,965 acreft)

Catchment area

83,400 km2 (32,201 sq mi)

Power station
Power House I (Burla): 3 x 37.5 MW,

Turbines

2 x 24 MW Kaplan-type
Power House II (Chiplima): 3 x 24
MW[1]

Installed
capacity

307.5 MW[1]

Hirakud Dam (Oriya: ) is built across the Mahanadi River, about 15 km from
Sambalpur in the state of Odisha in India. Built in 1957, the dam is one of the world's longest
earthen dam.[2] Behind the dam extends a lake, Hirakud Reservoir, 55 km long. Hirakud Dam is
the longest man-made dam in the world, about 16 mi (26 km) in length. It is one of the first
major multipurpose river valley project started after India's independence. The name of the dam
is mostly mis-pronounced in North India as Hirakund which is actually Hirakud.

Contents
[hide]

1 Construction history
2 Technical details
3 Structure
o 3.1 Power houses
4 Purpose
5 People affected by the dam construction
6 Cattle Island
7 Wildlife
8 See also
9 References
10 External links

[edit] 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.[3]
On 15 Mar 1946, Sir Howthrone Lewis, the then 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.[3]

[edit] Technical details

Dyke

Sasan Canal

Length Total = 25.8 Kilometers [3]

Length = 4.8 Kilometers [3]
Artificial Lake = 743 Sq. Kilometers [3]
Irrigated Area (both crop) = 235477 Hectares [3]
Area lost in construction of Dam = 147,363 acres (596.36 km2) [3]
Power Generation = 307.5 MW [3]
Cost = Rs.100.02 crores (in 1957) [3]
Top dam level = R.L 195.680 Mtr [3]
F.R.L/ M.W.L = R.L 192.024 Mtr [3]

Dead storage level = R.L 179.830 Mtr [3]

Total quantity of earth work in Dam = 18,100,000 m [3]
Total quantity of concrete = 1,070,000 m [3]
Catchment = 83400 Sq. Kilometers [3]

[edit] Structure
The Hirakud Dam is a composite structure of earth, concrete and masonry. 10 km (6 mi) north of
Sambalpur, it is the longest major earthen dam in Asia, measuring 25.8 km (16 mi) including
dykes, and stands across the river Mahanadi. The main dam has an overall length of 4.8 km (3
mi)[3] spanning between two hills; the Lamdungri on the left and the Chandili Dunguri on the
right. The dam is flanked by 21 km (13 mi) of 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
(16 mi).[3] It also forms the biggest artificial lake in Asia,[dubious discuss] with a reservoir holding
743 km2 (287 sq mi) at full capacity, with a shoreline of over 639 km (397 mi). 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.

[edit] Power houses

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
212110N 835500E21.35278N 83.9166667E 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 I.[1]

[edit] Purpose

Fisherman at Hirakud Dam

Left Dyke of Hirakud Dam

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.[4] The dam regulates the flow of the Mahanadi River and
produces hydroelectricity through several hydroelectric plants.[5]
The dam helps control floods in the Mahanadi delta and irrigates 75,000 square kilometres of
land. Hydroelectricity is also generated. The Hirakud Dam regulates 83,400 km (32,200 mi) of
Mahanadi's drainage. The reservoir has a storage capacity of 5.818 km with gross of 8.136
km.[3]
It drains an area of 133,090 km, 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 km of kharif and 1,084 km of rabi irrigation in districts of
Sambalpur, Bargarh, Bolangir, and Subarnpur. The water released by the power plant irrigates
another 4360 km 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 km of
delta area in district of Cuttack and Puri.
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.

[edit] 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 150,000 people were affected by the Hirakud project. Nearly 22,000 families
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.[6]

[edit] Cattle Island

One of the many islands within Hirakud Reservoir

Cattle Island is located in one of the extreme points of Hirakud Reservoir, a natural wonder.
Completely inhabited by wild cattle, without any trace of humans. It is near Kumarbandh village
of Belpahar-Banharpali range which is about 90 km from Sambalpur. It can be reached by launch
from Hirakud Dam, it is closer by 10 km via the river. The island is a submerged hill, and before
the construction of Hirakud Dam it was a developed village. During the resettlement period,
villagers left some of their cattle behind; when the dam construction was over, the cattle settled
on the hilltop. With the passage of time the nearby area filled up with the reservoir water, turning
the hilltop into an island. Being away from mankind, the cattle are now wild, very swift and not
easily caught. Living on a hilltop with dense forest, they are larger than tame cattle, almost all of
which are white in colour. Nearby residents attempt to capture these animals from time to time,
but these hunts are rarely successful. Though descended from tame cattle, these animals provide
a contrasting picture of this breed of animal returning to life in the wild.[7]

[edit] Wildlife
The dam with the channel provides an ideal environment for the wildlife. The Debrigarh wildlife
sanctuary is located here.[8] Several species of migratory birds visit the reservoir during winter.
Nearly 20-25 species of birds are seen in the reservoir and common among them are Common
Pochard, Red-crested Pochard, Great Crested Grebe and several others.[9]

[edit] See also

Sambalpur
The Leaning Temple of Huma

[edit] References

1. ^ a b c "Hirakud Power System". Orissa Hydro Power Corporation.

http://www.ohpcltd.com/hirakud/index.asp?type=prj. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
2. ^ http://www.academicjournals.org/ijsa/PDF/Pdf2009/Dec/Baboo.pdf
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Hirakud Dam
4. ^ "Rivers in India". http://www.indianchild.com/rivers_in_india.htm. Retrieved 2006-09-22.
5. ^ "Mahanadi River". http://orissagov.nic.in/cmccuttack/mahanadi%20river.htm. Retrieved 200609-22.
6. ^ Hirakud dam: Displaced families seek rehabilitation
7. ^ Cattle Island
8. ^ Debrigarh wildlife sanctuary
9. ^ Migratory birds in Hirakud

[edit] External links

Hirakud Dam Construction Video 1958

Hirakud Dam On Wikimapia
[1]
Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary
[show]

v
t
e

Hydrography of Orissa

[show]

v
t
e

Mahanadi-Brahmani-Baitarani basin

[show]

v
t
e

Western Orissa

[show]

v
t
e

State of Orissa

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hirakud_Dam&oldid=496412246"

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Categories:
Sambalpur
Hydroelectric power stations in Orissa
Dams in Orissa
Mahanadi River
Geography of Orissa
Economy of Orissa
Sambalpur district

Tourism in Kosala
Visitor attractions in Sambalpur
Geography of Sambalpur
Hidden categories:
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This page was last modified on 7 June 2012 at 09:57.

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