Hirakud Dam

Akash Joseph 17 months ago

Hirakud Dam is built across the Mahanadi River, about 15 kilometres (9 mi) from Sambalpur in the state of Odisha in India. It is the longest earthen dam in the world.
Some of the beautiful view captured from the watch tower. Entry fee ₹4 per person and ₹10 per vehicle, parking space available.

Padmanav Swain 18 months ago

Hirakud Dam is built across the Mahanadi River, about 15 kilometres (9 mi) from Sambalpur in the state of Odisha in India. It is the longest earthen dam in the world. Behind the dam extends a lake, Hirakud Reservoir, 55 km (34 mi) long. It is one of the first major multipurpose river valley projects started after India's independence. It has been declared as Ramsar site in August 2022.On 15 March 1946, Sir Hawthorne Lewis, the Governor of Odisha, 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.

In 1952, Mazumdar Committee was appointed by the government to oversee the soundness and technical feasibility of the project. The committee has envisaged costs of ₹ 92.80 crore for the project and that the construction of the main dam would be complete by June 1955. It also said that by 1954–55 a total of 1,347,000 acres (545,000 ha) would be irrigated and that 48,000 kW of electric power would be generated.[2] However, 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 ₹1,000.2 million (equivalent to ₹85 billion or US$1.1 billion in 2020) in 1957. Power generation along with agricultural irrigation started in 1956, achieving full potential in 1966.

Amit Hooda 20 months ago

Hirakund dam is longest earthen dam built on river Mahanadi. Lake formation on the catchment area is very vast. View from the minar is mesmerizing.

Barage and the road on the barage is not open for public. For the view you can use either Gandhi minar or Jawahar minar on either side of the dam