Top 10 Highest Dam In India
| S. No. | Name | Max Height above Foundation (m) | Purpose | River | Nearest City | District | State | Basin | Status | Completion Year | Type | Length (m) | Design Gross Storage Capacity (MCM) |
| 1 | Tehri Dam | Hydroelectric, Irrigationn | Bhagirathi | Pratapnagar | Tehri Garhwal | Uttarakhand | Ganga | Completed | 2005 | Earthen / Gravity & Masonry | 575 | 260.5 | 3540 |
| 2 | Lakhwar Dam | Hydroelectric, Irrigation | Yamuna | Dehradun | Dehradun | Uttarakhand | Ganga | Proposed | NA | Earthen / Gravity & Masonry | 451 | 204 | 587.84 |
| 3 | Idukki (Eb)/Idukki Arch Dam | Hydroelectric | Periyar | Todupulai | Idukki | Kerala | West flowing rivers from Tadri to Kanyakumari | Completed | 1974 | Gravity & Masonry | 366 | 169 | 1998.57 |
| 4 | Bhakra Dam | Hydroelectric, Irrigation, Recreation | Satluj | Bilaspur | Bilaspur | Himachal Pradesh | Indus up to International Border | Completed | 1963 | Earthen / Gravity & Masonry | 518.16 | 167.64 | 9867.84 |
| 5 | Pakal Dul Dam | Hydroelectric | Marusudar | Kishtwar | Kishtwar | Jammu & Kashmir | Indus up to International Border | Proposed | NA | Earthen / Gravity & Masonry | 305 | 167 | 0.1254 |
| 6 | Sardar Sarover Gujarat Dam | Hydroelectric, Irrigation | Narmada | Rajpipla | Narmada | Gujarat | Narmada | Completed | 2017 | Gravity & Masonry | 1210 | 163 | 9500 |
| 7 | Srisailam (N.S.R.S.P) Dam | Hydroelectric, Irrigation | Krishna | Nandikotkur | Kurnool | Telangana | Krishna | Completed | 1984 | Earthen | 512 | 145 | 8724.88 |
| 8 | Ranjit Sagar Dam | Flood Control, Hydroelectric, Irrigation | Ravi | Pathankot | Kathua | Punjab | Indus up to International Border | Completed | 1999 | Earthen | 617 | 145 | 3280 |
| 9 | Baglihar Dam | Hydroelectric | CHENAB | Ramban | Ramban | Jammu & Kashmir | Indus up to International Border | Completed | 2009 | Gravity & Masonry | 364.362 | 143 | 475 |
| 10 | Chamera I Dam | Hydroelectric | Ravi | Bhattiyat | Chamba | Himachal Pradesh | Indus up to International Border | Completed | 1994 | Earthen / Gravity & Masonry | 295 | 140 | 242.3 |
Highest Dam In India Tehri Dam
Tehri Dam is on the Bhagirathi River in Uttarakhand and one of the biggest hydroelectric projects undertaken for India. Here are key points
about it:
Location: It is located near Tehri town, Uttarakhand, near the Bhagirathi River.
Objective:
Hydro Power: Produces 1,000 MW of electricity through the Tehri Hydro Power Complex and
Koteshwar Plant.
Water Supply: It supplies water both for irrigation purposes and drinking.
It aids in controlling the flood downstream.
Construction:
Begun in 1978, completed by Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) in 2006.
The height is 260 meters (853 feet), hence the tallest dam in India.
Design:
Type: Rock and earth fill dam with concrete spillway.
Reservoir: Reserves 2.9 billion cubic meters of water.
Impact:
Over 100 000 people were displaced by the dam.
Ecological Issues: Drowned forest site and associated wildlife.
Challenges:
FACED DELAYS, LEGAL DISPUTES, AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTESTS. There is a seismographic dread over the place as it is posed near fault lines. Tourism: People come here by tourism because of damming and the water sport facility. Tehri Dam, an important core structure of energy and water infrastructure in India, raises heated debates regarding its environmental and social consequences.
Highest Dam In India Lakhwar Dam
Lakhwar dam is considered one of the major water storage and hydroelectric projects on the Yamuna river in Uttarakhand, India. The major points in respect of Lakhwar Dam are:
Location: Situated on the Yamuna River at the Jaunsar Bawar district, Uttarakhand near the village Lakhwar.
Objective:
Hydroelectric Power: The dam offers hydroelectric power, and its potential capacity is nearly 300 MW.
Water Supply: It looks forward to offering irrigation water to agriculture within the area.
Flood Control: Controls runoff while minimizing the potential of flooding downstream.
Construction
The project was planned so long back; in fact, the construction work was even carried out back in the 1980’s but did face setbacks thereafter.
It is under development by the Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (UJVNL).
Design:
Type: The dam would be of a concrete gravity type, and it would be approximately 204 meters high. Reservoir: The dam will create the reservoir which is expected to hold much water for irrigation and hydroelectric generation.
Impact:
Displacement: The dam would displace a certain number of villages in the project area.
Environmental Concern: This would be a concern for the local ecosystems, being a wildlife-and vegetation-related affair along the river.
Problems: Funding and delays: This project has attracted more setbacks due to financial problems, environmental issues, as well as those created by politics. Seismic Risk: Lakhwar Dam, like most projects in the region, is situated on a seismically active zone and has a resultant risk factor for earthquakes.
Highest Dam In India Idukki (Eb)/Idukki Arch Dam
One of the fabulous engineering marvels in India is the Idukki Arch Dam located in the Idukki district of Kerala. Here are the key points about the Idukki Dam:
Location:
Being in the south Indian state of Kerala’s district of Idukki along the Periyar River.
Built between two hills called Kuravanmala and Kurathimala, it is made as a rare type of arch dam.
Aim:
Hydroelectric Power: Basically constructed for hydroelectric power generation. It is one of the Idukki Hydroelectric Projects (IHP).
Irrigation and Water Supply: It provides water for irrigation and drinking purposes in the area.
Construction:
Construction began in 1969 and ended in 1976.
The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) built the dam.
Design:
Type: It is an arch dam, meaning that it uses its shape in the form of an arch to withstand water pressure; it is one of the few such dams in India.
The dam has a height of 168 meters (551 feet).
Length: It stretches 120 metres (394 feet) over the river.
Reservoir: the dam creates a reservoir with a capacity to hold 2,400 million cubic meters. Ability The dam generates 780 MW of power. Ergo, it is one notable producer of hydroelectricity in Kerala. It is part of the Idukki-Kerala power complex.
Highest Dam In India Bhakra Dam
The Bhakra Dam is one of the most important multipurpose dams in India, located on the river Sutlej at Himachal Pradesh. Here are some of its main points:
Location:
Situated in the Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh, on the Sutlej River, near the town of Bhakra.
Objective:
Hydroelectric Power Generation: The dam generates considerable power for northern India with an installed capacity of about 1,325 MW.
Irrigation: It has been an essential source of irrigation for the arid regions of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
It manages flood waters to regulate the waters of the Sutlej River.
Building:
The construction of the Bhakra Dam started in 1955 and was completed in 1963.
It is a joint organization between the central and state governments, constructed by the Bhakra Beas Management Board.
Agriculture: It has transformed agricultural practices in the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan into a more productive practice, especially for crops such as wheat and rice.
Displacement: The construction activity resulted in displacing a large population in the surrounding vicinities.
Environmental Considerations: The dam changed the flora and fauna of that region but contributes to water conservation.
Problems
Seismic Activity: The area is seismically very active; however, the dam has been designed to resist all such hazards.
Maintenance: The dam would require routine maintenance in order to be operated safely and effectively. Tourism: Bhakra Dam is one of those highly visited tourist destinations because of their sheer size and picturesque surroundings.
Highest Dam In India Pakal Dul Dam
Pakal Dul Dam is one of the most prominent hydroelectric projects in the country and located in the Jammu and Kashmir region of India. As such, it falls amongst the significant infrastructure projects being developed in the region. The important points regarding the Pakul-Dul Dam are as follows:
Location:
Located on the Chenab River in the Doda district, northern India, in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
The dam is located in the remote hilly region, some 35 kilometres from the town of Doda.
Purpose:
Hydroelectric Power Generation The chief objective of the dam is to generate 1,000 MW of hydroelectric power, which would be a good source of power generation for Jammu and Kashmir and neighboring states.
Irrigation and Water Supply: It is expected to help in water storage, supplying the irrigation and drinking purposes in the region.
Construction:
Construction work at the Pakal Dul Dam started in 2014 and is under development by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation.
The project will be completed by 2025. Construction has so far been mainly difficult because of the tough territory.
Design:
It is a rockfill dam with concrete face, capable of withstanding high seismic activity in the area. Height: The dam will be 167 metres (548 feet) above ground. Length: The dam will stretch 400 meters (1,312 feet) across the Chenab River. Reservoir: The reservoir created by the dam will have a capacity of 8.53 billion cubic meters.
Highest Dam In India Sardar Sarover Gujarat Dam
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Narmada River, near Kevadia, Gujarat, India. |
| Purpose | – Hydroelectric Power Generation – Irrigation – Drinking Water Supply – Flood Control |
| Height | 163 meters (535 feet) |
| Length | 1,210 meters (3,970 feet) |
| Type | Concrete Gravity Dam |
| Reservoir | Narmada Reservoir |
| Storage Capacity | 1.2 million acre-feet (about 4.3 billion cubic meters) |
| Power Generation | Installed capacity of 1,450 MW from 6 powerhouses |
| Irrigation | Provides irrigation to approximately 18.5 lakh hectares of land in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan |
| Displacement | Estimated 40,000 people were displaced for the project |
| Construction | Started in 1987, completed in 2017 |
| Project Cost | Estimated at ₹ 16,000 crore (approx. US $2.2 billion) |
| Impact | – Major agricultural benefits in Gujarat and nearby states – Provides drinking water to over 50 million people – Supports industries in Gujarat |
| Tourism | The dam and surrounding area have become a popular tourist destination, especially due to the Statue of Unity located nearby. |
| Environmental Concerns | Issues related to displacement and forest submergence |
Highest Dam In India Srisailam (N.S.R.S.P) Dam
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Krishna River, on the border between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, India. |
| Purpose | – Hydroelectric Power Generation – Irrigation – Flood Control |
| Height | 145 meters (476 feet) |
| Length | 1,200 meters (3,937 feet) |
| Type | Concrete Gravity Dam |
| Reservoir | Srisailam Reservoir (also known as Srisailam Reservoir or Srisailam Backwater) |
| Storage Capacity | 7.2 billion cubic meters (approximately 5.8 million acre-feet) |
| Power Generation | Installed capacity of 1,670 MW from 6 powerhouses (3 on the Andhra Pradesh side, 3 on the Telangana side) |
| Irrigation | Provides irrigation to approximately 4 lakh hectares of agricultural land |
| Displacement | Estimated 15,000-20,000 people displaced for the construction of the project |
| Construction | Started in 1978, completed in 1982 |
| Project Cost | Estimated cost of ₹ 7,000 crore (approx. US $1 billion) |
| Impact | – Major source of irrigation in the Rayalaseema and Telangana regions – Provides electricity to Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Karnataka |
| Tourism | – The dam and surrounding areas are popular for tourism and boating activities |
| Environmental Concerns | – Flooding and displacement of people due to the dam construction – Impact on aquatic life in the Krishna River |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the height of Tehri Dam?
The Tehri Dam is 260.5 meters (855 feet) tall, making it the highest dam in India. - Where is Tehri Dam located?
It is located on the Bhagirathi River in Uttarakhand, India. - What is the primary purpose of Tehri Dam?
The Tehri Dam serves for hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and drinking water supply. - What is the power generation capacity of Tehri Dam?
The dam has a power generation capacity of 1,000 MW. - When was Tehri Dam completed?
The Tehri Dam was completed in 2006.
