A multipurpose river valley project serves several purposes together, such as irrigation, hydroelectric power, flood control and water supply. Pandit Nehru called these dams the 'temples of modern India'. Their rivers and states are common exam questions.
Purposes of These Projects
- Irrigation for farming.
- Generation of hydroelectric power.
- Control of floods.
- Supply of drinking water and support for fisheries.
Bhakra Nangal Project
Built on the Sutlej River, the Bhakra Nangal Project is shared by Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. The Bhakra Dam is one of the highest gravity dams in India and forms the Gobind Sagar reservoir.
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Damodar Valley and Hirakud
- The Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) was India's first multipurpose project, modelled on the TVA of the USA. It is on the Damodar River in Jharkhand and West Bengal.
- The Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi River in Odisha is one of the longest dams in the world.
Other Major Projects
- Nagarjuna Sagar - on the Krishna River.
- Tehri Dam - on the Bhagirathi River, the highest dam in India.
- Sardar Sarovar - on the Narmada River.
- Tungabhadra - on the Tungabhadra River.
Quick Revision Points
- Multipurpose projects serve irrigation, power and flood control.
- Nehru called them 'temples of modern India'.
- Bhakra Nangal is on the Sutlej River.
- DVC was India's first multipurpose project.
- Hirakud on the Mahanadi is among the longest dams.
- Tehri Dam is the highest dam in India.
- Sardar Sarovar is on the Narmada River.