The Vice President recently paid a visit to the Tungabhadra dam located in Karnataka. This event has brought this critical infrastructure back into focus and makes it important to revisit the key attributes and significance of this dam.
About the Tungabhadra Dam
Tungabhadra dam, also recognized as Pampa Sagar, is a multipurpose construction that spans across the Tungabhadra River. The dam is situated in Hosapete, a town in the Ballari district of Karnataka. The design and construction of the dam were overseen by Dr. Thirumalai Iyengar and completed in 1953.
The dam stands at an impressive height of 49.5 meters. Its reservoir boasts a storage capacity of 101 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic feet). The dam’s catchment area extends over a sprawling 28000 square kilometers.
Importance of the Tungabhadra Dam
The Tungabhadra dam’s strategic location and design allow it to serve as a lifeline for six districts frequently hit by drought. These consist of Bellary, Koppal, and Raichur in Karnataka – which is often referred to as the rice bowl of Karnataka – along with Anantapur, Cuddapah, and Kurnool in the neighboring state of Andhra Pradesh.
Apart from its crucial role in irrigation of large tracts of land in both states, the dam also facilitates hydropower generation. Moreover, it plays a significant role in flood control.
About the Tungabhadra River
The Tungabhadra River, deemed sacred in Southern India, originates in Karnataka and flows through until it reaches Andhra Pradesh. Historically, this river was known as Pampa.
This river stretches over approximately 710 km and drains an area about 72,200 square kilometers in size. Its creation is attributed to the convergence of two rivers: the Tunga and the Bhadra rivers, which both emerge from the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats.
Most of the Tungabhadra River’s course traverses through the southern section of the Deccan plateau. The river primarily relies on rainfall for its water volume and evidences a monsoonal regimen characterized by high water levels during the summer.
This waterway features several major tributaries, namely the Bhadra, the Haridra, the Vedavati, the Tunga, the Varda, and the Kumdavathi. Its course predominantly runs in a northwest direction before it merges with the eastern river Krishna, which ultimately empties into the Bay of Bengal.
