SAMBALPUR’S HIRAKUD DAM IS THE LONGEST MAN MADE DAM IN THE WORLD

HIRAKUD DAM

Image is subject to Copyright  

Technical Detail of the Dam

Total Length

25.79 km (16.03 mi)

Length of Main Dam

4.8 km (3.0 mi)

Artificial Lake

743 km2 (287 sq mi)

Irrigated Area (both crop)

2,355 km2 (235,477 ha)

Area lost in construction of Dam

596 km2 (147,363 acres)

Installed Capacity (Power Generation)

347.5 MW

Cost (in 1957)

Rs.1,000.2 million (equivalent to Rs.85 billion or US$1.1 billion in 2020)

Top dam level

R.L. 195.680 m (642 ft)

F.R.L/ M.W.L

R.L. 192.024 m (630 ft)

Dead storage level

18,100,000 m3 (640×106 cu ft)

Total quantity of earth work in Dam

1,070,000 m3 (38×106 cu ft)

Catchment

83,400 km2 (32,200 sq mi)

Structure

        The Hirakud Dam may be a masonry, concrete, and stuff structure. it's the longest vital stuff dam in Bharat, extending twenty five.8 km (16.0 mi) together with dykes and standing over the stream spandan, 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Sambalpur. the most dam stretches for four.8 kilometres (3.0 miles) between 2 hills, the Laxmidungri on the left and therefore the Chandili Dunguri on the proper. The dam is flanked on each side by twenty one kilometre (13 mi) of stuff dykes, that shut the low saddles on the far side the bordering hills. The dam and dykes cowl a complete distance of twenty five.8 kilometres (16.0 mi).

Hirakud Dam

        Hirakud Dam may be a dam designed across the Mahanadi watercourse within the Indian state of Odisha, roughly fifteen kilometres (9 miles) from Sambalpur. it's the world's longest dam. Hirakud Reservoir, fifty five kilometres (34 miles) long, is found behind the dam. when India's independence, it absolutely was one amongst the primary vital multifunctional watercourse depression comes to urge current.

Location of Dam in Sambalpur, Odisha, India

Official name

HIRAKUD DAM

Location

16.5 km from Sambalpur, Odisha

Coordinates

21.57°N 83.87°ECoordinates 21.57°N 83.87°E

Construction began

1947

Opening date

1957

Construction cost

1.01 billion Rs in 1953

Dam and spillways

Type of dam

Composite dam and reservoir

Impounds

Mahanadi River

Height

60.96 m (200 ft)

Length

4.8 km (3 mi) (main section)
25.8 km (16 mi) (entire dam)

Spillways

64 sluice-gates, 34 crest-gates

Spillway capacity

42,450 cubic metres per second (1,499,000 cu ft/s)

Reservoir

Total capacity

5,896,000,000 m3 (4,779,965 acreft)

Catchment area

83,400 km2 (32,201 sq mi)

Power Station

Turbines

Power House I (Burla): 2 x 49.5 MW, 3 x 37.5 MW, 2 x 32 MW Kaplan-type
Power House II (Chiplima): 3 x 24 MW

Installed capacity

347.5 MW

History of construction

Governor of Odisha Sir Hawthorne Lewis lay the foundation stone for the Hirakud Dam on March 15, 1946. In June 1947, the government received a project report. On April 12, 1948, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru placed the first batch of concrete.

The government created the Mazumdar Committee in 1952 to monitor the project's soundness and technical viability. The project is expected to cost 92.80 crore, with the main dam being completed by June 1955, according to the committee. It further said that by 1954–55, 1,347,000 acres (545,000 hectares) of land would be irrigated and 48,000 kW of electric power would be generated.

            The dam, however, was built in 1953 and publicly inaugurated on January 13, 1957, by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. In 1957, the project's overall cost was $1,000.2 million (equal to US$85 billion or US$1.1 billion in 2020). In 1956, power generating and agricultural irrigation were combined, and by 1966, they had reached their full capacity.

        With a reservoir holding 743 km2 (287 sq mi) at full capacity and a shoreline of almost 639 km, it is also India's largest artificial lake (397 mi). On the dam, there are two viewing towers, one on each side. "Gandhi Minar" is one, and "Jawahar Minar" is the other. The views from both observation towers of the lake are spectacular.

Power houses

Chipilima Power Station II

Image is subject to Copyright

Two separate hydroelectric power plants are supported by the dam. Power House I, which is positioned at the bottom (toe) of the main dam section, comprises three 37.5 MW Kaplan turbine generators and two 24 MW Francis turbine generators, totaling 259.5 MW of installed capacity. At Chipilima, Power Station II is located 19 kilometres (12 miles) southeast of the dam at 21°21′10′′N 83°55′00′′E. It has three generators, each with a capacity of 24 megawatts. The dam's power buildings have a total installed capacity of 347.5 MW. The construction of Power House I and II took place in three stages. The dam supports two distinct hydroelectric power facilities. Three 37.5 MW Kaplan turbine generators and two 24 MW Francis turbine generators make up Power House I, which is located at the bottom (toe) of the main dam section and has a total installed capacity of 259.5 MW. Power Station II is 19 kilometres (12 miles) southeast of the dam at Chipilima, at 21°21′10′′N 83°55′00′′E. It contains three generators, each with a 24 megawatt capacity. The power buildings at the dam have a total capacity of 347.5 MW. The Power House I and II buildings were built in three stages.

Purpose OF CONSTRUCTION OF DAM

Periodic droughts in the Mahanadi River's upper drainage basin, focused on the Chhattisgarh Plain, contrast with the situation in the lower delta region, where floods may devastate crops. By establishing a reservoir and managing river flow through the drainage system, the dam was built to assist ease these issues. The Mahanadi River is regulated by the dam, which also generates hydroelectricity through various hydroelectric facilities.

The dam irrigates 75,000 km2 (19106 acres) of land in the Mahanadi delta, helping to manage floods. Hydroelectricity is produced as well. The Mahanadi's drainage is regulated by the Hirakud Dam, which covers 83,400 km2 (20.6106 acres). The reservoir has a gross capacity of 8.136 km3 and a storage capacity of 5.818 km3 (1.396 cu mi) (1.952 cu mi). It drains 133,090 km2 (32.89106 acres), which is more than twice the size of Sri Lanka.

In the districts of Sambalpur, Bargarh, Bolangir, and Subarnpur, the project offers 1,556 km2 (384,000 acres) of kharif irrigation and 1,084 km2 (268,000 acres) of rabi irrigation. In the Mahanadi delta, the water released by the power plant irrigates another 4,360 km2 (1.08106 acres) of CCA. The dam's two power plants, located at Burla on the dam's right bank and Chiplima, 22 kilometres (14 miles) downstream, can generate up to 307.5 megawatts of electricity. In addition, the project protects a delta area of 9,500 km2 (2.3106 acres) in the Cuttack and Puri districts from flooding.

Chiplima has become known as the Hirakud Dam's second hydroelectric project. The river Mahanadi's natural fall of 80 to 120 feet (24 to 37 metres) is used to generate electricity. The area is primarily populated by fisherman, whose deity Ghanteswari is worshipped in the nearby neighbourhood. Here you'll find the state cattle breeding farm as well as an agricultural farm.

Issues OF HIRAKUD DAM

Siltation

The dam's water holding capacity has been reduced by 28 percent as a result of siltation, according to statistics supplied by the dam authorities.

 Conflicts Over Water OF HIRAKUD DAM

Over 30,000 farmers formed a human chain around the dam to protest the allocation of water to industries and the lack of water for the canal system owing to low water levels.

Water Transfer Across Basins

According to the plans of Odisha's water resource department as part of India's ambitious Indian Rivers Inter-link, inter-basin water transfer is planned.

Lost temples SUBMERGE IN HIRAKUD DAM

These are the remains of temples that were flooded after the dam was finished in 1957. The dam's receding water makes the structures visible throughout the summer season. Historians have now noticed the buried treasures, and steps are being done to learn more about the historical significance of these temples, which go under water and then resurface. After 58 years of submerged existence, several temples have been demolished. Some, though, are still in good condition.

The discovery of two stones carved with lettering ('Shila Lekha') from what is thought to be the Padmaseni temple of submerged Padmapur village reignited interest in these ancient temples. Prior to the dam's construction, the temples inside the reservoir area were part of Padmapur, one of the region's oldest and most populated cities. The dam flooded almost 200 temples, nearly 150 of which have perished or are underwater, and roughly 50 of which are viewable during the summer. The lost temples provide fantastic opportunity for scuba divers to examine the Hirakud Dam's underbelly. Only during the summer months of May and June are visitors by boat able to see the temple.

Cattle Island OF HIRAKUD DAM

Cattle Island is a natural wonder located at one of the reservoir's extreme points. It is completely devoid of humans and is inhabited entirely by wild animals. It is located near Kumarbandh hamlet in the Belpahar-Banharpali range, approximately 90 kilometres (56 miles) from Sambalpur. It may be reached by boat from Hirakud Dam, which is 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) away. The island is a submerged hill that was once a developed hamlet before the Hirakud Dam was built. Villagers left some of their cattle behind during the resettlement period, and the cattle eventually settled on the hilltop after the dam construction was completed. With the passage of time, the reservoir water covered the neighbouring area, transforming the hilltop into an island. Because they are no longer in contact with humans, the cattle have become wild, extremely fast, and difficult to catch. They are larger than tame cattle and almost all are white, as they live on a mountaintop surrounded by lush forest. Residents in the area attempt to capture these animals on occasion, but they are rarely successful. These animals, despite being descended from tame cattle, present a different picture of this breed of animal returning to life in the wild.

The wildlife thrives in this area because of the dam and the waterway. This is where the Debrigarh wildlife sanctuary is located. During the winter, the reservoir attracts a variety of migratory birds. The reservoir is home to around 20-25 different bird species, including the common pochard, red-crested pochard, great crested grebe, and several others.

People affected by the HIRAKUD dam construction

People who have been impacted by the dam building

    The Hirakud Dam was built to control catastrophic floods that were devastating a large portion of coastal Odisha. However, the dam's construction had a significant impact on the people of Odisha's western region. The Hirakud project impacted about 150,000 people and displaced nearly 22,000 families.

Compensation for the affected people was estimated to cost 120 million (equal to 12 billion or US$150 million in 2020) in the original estimate. The amount was decreased to 95 million (equivalent to 9.2 billion or US$120 million in 2020) after adjustment, and the total compensation paid to the people was only 33.2 million (equivalent to 3.2 billion or US$43 million in 2020). From 1956 onwards, a huge number of families were forcibly removed from their homes and hearths with no compensation.

 Stamps and notes ON HIRAKUD DAM

The Department of Posts issued a commemorative stamp for Hirakud Dam on October 29, 1979, with a denomination of 30 paise (0.40 US) and a print run of 3,000,000 stamps. H.V.R. Iyengar, the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, released a one-hundred rupee note on December 26, 1960. This note measures 109 mm x 172 mm (4.3 in x 6.8 in). There are thirteen regional languages on the back of this note, as well as an illustration of the Hirakud Dam and Hydro-Electric Station.

Hirakud Dam 100 Rupees Note

Image is subject to Copyright

Post a Comment

0 Comments