Following the opening of six gates earlier, authorities have now opened 16 more sluice gates at the Hirakud Dam, located in Odisha, India. Hirakud Dam, the world’s longest earthen dam, spans about 26 km and was constructed in the early 1950s to manage floods and provide irrigation. The dam forms the expansive Hirakud Reservoir, the largest artificial lake in Asia. With a capacity of 359.8 MW, the dam also generates power and irrigates vast areas of farmland in the Mahanadi delta. The Mahanadi River, from which the dam derives its water, is a major east-flowing river in India.
Facts/Terms for UPSC Prelims
- Hirakud Reservoir: A vast artificial lake created by the Hirakud Dam, primarily designed to control the flow of the Mahanadi River, provide irrigation, and manage floods in Odisha.
- Multipurpose Project: The Hirakud Dam was one of India’s first multipurpose projects post-independence, serving various functions, including flood control, irrigation, and power generation.
- Mahanadi Delta: A region in Odisha, India, covering 9,500 sq km, benefiting from flood protection and irrigation due to the Hirakud Project’s water release.
- Catchment Area: The area that contributes water to a river or reservoir. Hirakud Dam’s catchment area spans about 83,400 sq km, collecting water from various sources.
- Cattle Island: An island within the Hirakud Reservoir inhabited by a herd of wild cattle believed to be descendants of those left behind when the dam was built in the 1950s.