Energy Resources

1. Multipurpose Projects in India

Multipurpose project is the scientific management of water resources in

the country. A multipurpose project is a massive project which serves a
variety of purposes like- flood control, fish breeding, irrigation, generation
of electricity, soil conservation, etc. whereas, the hydropower projects are
those related to providing only electricity mainly.

Main objectives or Advantages of Multipurpose Project:

Generation of Power: They produce neat, pollution free and cheapest

energy which is the back bone of industry and agriculture. According to
the economic survey 2005-06 these produce more than 30,000 M.W.
power.
Flood Control: These projects control the flood because water can be
stored in them. These projects have converted many ‘rivers of sorrow’ into
river of boon. Example River Kosi.
Soil Conservation: These conserve the soil because they slow down the
speed of water.
Irrigation: They irrigate the fields during the dry seasons. Many canals
have been dug and they irrigate dry areas.
Afforestation: Trees are systematically planted in and around reservoirs.
This helps in preserving “Wild life” and natural ecosystem.
Water Navigation: They provide for Inland water navigation through
main river or canal. It is the cheapest means of transport for heavy goods.
Fisheries: These provide ideal condition for the breeding of fish. Chosen
varieties of fish are allowed to grow.
Tourist Centers: These projects are well cared and are scientifically
developed. So these become the center of tourist attraction.

Disadvantages of Multi-purpose Projects:

 Fertile agricultural land submerged under the river water.

 Forest land are either cleared or submerged under water. It is great loss
for environment.
 Large no. of people are displaced. They have to leave their own houses
and properties.
 Siltation in the dam reduces the lifespan of the project.
 Big Multipurpose projects can result into minor earthquakes.

https://lotusarise.com/multi-purpose-projects-in-india-upsc/
2. Name of the project

What are dams?

This dam is elevated at 160 meters. Dams are huge constructed barriers
that are made on water bodies. The purpose of making dams is to reserve
water for various purposes. The flowing water of the river is of no use until
it is being reserved. Hence dams restrict the water of the river from
flowing and store it for multiple usages. The dams are constructed on
rivers also to avoid flood like situations

https://www.hirakuddam.com/hirakud-dam-insights/

Now let’s discuss few of the Dams in India

Bhakra Nangal Dam: Built over Sutlej river, the Bhakra Nangal Dam is
the second highest dam in Asia, rising to a height of about 207 m.
Travellers in the region should spare a day to visit this architectural
marvel. With a length of 518 m and a width of 9.1 m, it is a gigantic
structure that leaves one in awe of its size. This is the source of water for
all the farms in Punjab and Haryana, which are two of the most important
agricultural states in the country. It is also used to produce hydroelectric
power. The reservoir of the dam, called Gobind Sagar, has a water
capacity of 9.34 billion cubic metre. It is about 88 km long and 8 km wide.
Though permission is required to visit the actual dam, the reservoir is
open to all.

https://www.incredibleindia.org/content/incredible-india-v2/en/
destinations/chandigarh/bhakra-nangal-dam.html

Hirakud: It is India's longest dam is dam. Constructed on Mahanadi River

this is situated in Indian state Odisha. Amongst the Dams of India this
definitely holds a unique position. Hirakud dam is situated near Sambalpur
District of Odisha 15 kilometers from Sambalpur this is a milestone after
Independence of the country. The beautiful Dam is built 15 km north to
the Sambalpur district. The Hirakud Dam is a complex structure mat has
been built across the River Mahanadi. The purpose of making this massive
Dam was to store water for irrigation purposes and also to avoid floods.
The Hirakud dam is more than a dam. It's a matter of pride all together.
After the Independence of India this was the first River valley project
which was a huge project. It is a landmark project that made the country
proud. As a country that just got freedom, this project was a crowning
project, it made India self-reliant.

https://www.hirakuddam.com/hirakud-dam-insights/

Sardar Sarovar Project: The Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) involves the
construction of a dam across the Narmada River in Gujarat State. The dam
is designed to provide irrigation for 1.8 million hectares of land, and
drinking water for 4,720 villages and 131 towns in Gujarat. The SSP is to
generate 1,450 MW of electricity. The dam will result in a reservoir that
will submerge about 37,000 hectares of forest and agricultural land in
 three states: Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The dam will
divert 9.5-million-acre foot water from the Narmada River into canal and
irrigation systems running a total of 75,000 kilometres, with a main canal
460 kilometres long. Further, compensatory afforestation is being carried
out in the upper reaches of the catchment area. This programme is
expected to affect many thousands of families, again in three states.

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-349-27248-8_10

Chambal: The Chambal Project consists of:

(a) irrigation improvement comprising construction of drainage works on 167,000
ha of the project area; lining of 14 km of canals, where seepage is excessive;
works for increasing capacity of 850 km of canals, and construction of 160
control structures and of about 4,000 tertiary outlets
(b) afforestation and erosion control
(c) construction of project organization buildings and minor flood protection and
silt removal works;
(d) carrying out of further studies of hydrology, reservoir system operations,
construction methods for on-farm development, crab ecology, and aquatic weed
control, and a feasibility study.
https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/
documentdetail/210811468258255844/india-chambal-command-area-
development-project

Kosi: Kosi Barrage is situated across river Kosi at Bhimnagar, Sunsari District in
Nepal. A 1149 metre long Kosi Barrage has been designed to pass a peak
discharge of 27,000 cumecs (9.5 lakh cusecs). There are 56 Gates including 6
Nos. Under Sluice Gates on the left side and 4 Nos. of Under Sluice Gates on right
side of the Barrage. Irrigation Canal taking off from both sides of Kosi Barrage
viz. Eastern Kosi Canal and Western Kosi Canal, spreads in the Tarai and Plain
areas of Kosi Basin, both in India and Nepal. The running and maintenance of the
Kosi barrage rests with Water Resources Deptt., Govt. of Bihar. The Eastern Kosi
Canal annually irrigates an area of 6.12 lakh ha (including 1.17 lakh ha under
Rajpur Canal System).
https://indiawris.gov.in/wiki/doku.php?
id=kosi_barrage_and_eastern_canal_major_irrigation_project_ji02121
3. The Reservoirs
A reservoir is an artificial lake created in a river valley by the construction of a
dam. The most critical purpose of reservoirs is flood risk management.
Reservoirs collect water during times of high rainfall, reducing flood risk, and
then release the water slowly over the following weeks and months. In addition
to flood risk management, reservoirs assist with water conservation by providing
water to the downstream spreading grounds, which are open areas where
surface water can soak down into the subsurface and recharge the aquifers in a
groundwater basin.
https://pw.lacounty.gov/general/faq/index.cfm?
48687=48687&Action=getAnswers&FaqID=JSJdXzJRTSAgCg%3D
%3D&Keywords=1
Reservoirs ordinarily are formed by the construction of dams across rivers, but
off-channel reservoirs may be provided by diversion structures and canals or
pipelines that convey water from a river to natural or artificial depressions.
Changes in weather cause the natural flow of streams and rivers to vary greatly
with time. Periods of excess flows and valley flooding may alternate with low
flows or droughts. The role of water-storage reservoirs, therefore, is to impound
water during periods of higher flows, thus preventing flood disasters, and then
permit gradual release of water during periods of lower flows. Simple storage
reservoirs were probably created early in human history to provide water for
drinking and for irrigation.
Water reservoirs range in size and complexity from small single-purpose
impoundments to huge and complex multiple-purpose impoundments. A single-
purpose reservoir is designed to fulfill only one function, such as
irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, navigation, flood control, water
supply, recreation, or low-flow regulation.
Relatively small enclosed reservoirs are familiar sights in most towns and cities.
Often constructed on hills or supported in steel tanks on towers, these reservoirs
are integral parts of most local water distribution systems. They usually provide
a storage volume equal to the community’s average water demand for a single
day.
Reservoirs can cause adverse environmental impacts—e.g., destruction of fish
habitats and ecosystems—and large-scale reservoir projects may require the
submergence of cities and towns. For example, construction of the Three Gorges
Dam on the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) in China, designed primarily for flood
control and as a source of electric power, displaced almost two million people
from their homes. Social and environmental impacts must be taken into account
during the planning stages of new reservoirs.
https://www.britannica.com/technology/reservoir

Few of the Reservoirs in India are listed as below:

i. Indira Sagar – It is India’s biggest reservoir which was founded by the
late Indira Gandhi, and is located in Khandwa and is one of the must
visit destinations of Madhya Pradesh. It contributes to water control
and supply of hydroelectric power.
 ii. Nagarjuna Sagar - This dam is very famous in Andhra Pradesh, more
accurately in controversial erstwhile AP-constituent Telangana, is
the country’s second largest reservoir. It played an unforgettable role
in the Green Revolution, and now serves to solve irrigation and water
shortage problems in India
iii. Shanti Sagar - Located in Karnataka, this is Asia’s second largest
irrigation tank, and boasts of tourism showcasing Aqueducts and the
famous Siddheswara Temple. It historically belonged to a submerged
city with an heirless king.
iv. Gobind Sagar – It was named after Guru Gobind Singh. It offers a range
of water sports for adventurous souls, located in the Bilaspur district of
Himachal Pradesh.
v. Sriram Sagar - This next contender is located in sensational
new Telengana and has quite an achievement under its belt- being a
lifeline for aforementioned state. It was founded by erstwhile Prime
Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
https://www.ramnathsaway.com/12-largest-reservoirs-india-one-can-walk/

4. Associated rivers:
- Which river is associated with which dam
- Three benefits of each river
- Three disadvantages of each river

i. Kadra dam – Karnataka

Kadra Dam is situated in Uttar Kannada district of Karnataka. The dam
was primarily built as hydroelectric project for supply of water to
turbines of electric power generating station. It was constructed in
1997 in the Tapi and Tadri river basin across the Kali River. It is an
earthen dam with a length of 2313 m and height is 40.5 m. The dam is
the integral part of the Kaiga Project.
The Kadra Dam site normally experiences heavy rainfall measuring up
to approximately 4600 mm in the monsoon season from June to
September. The architects of the dam have given special emphasis on
the safety standards of the dam during floods and failures.

One of the major attractions of this area is a beautiful park with

fountains, cascades, caves, colorful trees and plants. A gorgeous rose
garden is a special feature of the dam. Inside the forest and the blissful
atmosphere is really exceptional.
https://www.trawell.in/karnataka/karwar/kadra-dam

ii. Malampuzha dam – Kerala

Malampuzha is a ‘Tranquil Oasis In Kerala’. Situated near Palakkad in
South India, it is one of the largest reservoirs in Kerala, surrounded by
the stunning Western Ghats. This impressive structure is a combination
of a masonry dam stretching 1,849 meters and an earthen dam
 reaching 220 meters in height. Crossing the Malampuzha River, a
tributary of Kerala's second largest river, Bharathappuzha, the dam
offers a host of attractions including a rock garden, ropeway,
amusement park, and boating facilities. Constructed over six years
from 1949, the dam serves as a source of drinking water for nearby
areas and supports irrigation through its canal systems.
https://www.avathi.com/places-to-visit/malampuzha/394

iii. Chandil dam – Jharkhand

Chandil Dam standing on the Subarnarekha River is a place of scenic
beauty. This dam is one of the most visited places of Jharkhand. The
multi-purpose chandil dam was built across the meeting place of both
the rivers. The dam is 220 meter in height and the height of its water
level is 190 meter from different places tourists coming from different
parts of the country enjoy boating and the natural beauty in and
around the dam. The Karkori River originating from the Hundru falls
mingles with the Swarnarekha River here at Chandil.
https://seraikela.nic.in/tourist-place/chandil-dam/#:~:text=Chandil
%20Dam%20standing%20on%20the,most%20visited%20places%20of
%20jharkhand.

iv. Baglihar dam – J&K

Baglihar Dam is built on Chenab River in the Doda district of Jammu &
Kashmir. The hydro power project ‘Baglihar Hydroelectric Power
Project’, is a run-of-the-river power project on the Chenab River. This
project was conceived in 1992, approved in 1996 and construction
began in 1999.
https://ejatlas.org/conflict/baglihar-hydroelectric-power-project-india

v. Jayakwadi dam – Maharashtra

Jayakwadi Dam, one of the largest earthen dams in Asia, is located
around 52 km away from Aurangabad in Maharashtra. The dam with 27
water gates was built across the Godavari River to cater to the
irrigation needs of the drought-prone region of Marathwada. This
multipurpose irrigation project provides water to industrial units as well
as to residents
https://www.fabhotels.com/blog/jayakwadi-dam-aurangabad/

5. India political maps to mark the river, show the area of the dam and mark
the beneficiary states