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Table of contents
- Why is Hirakud Dam in the News?
- What is the Geographical Importance of Hirakud Dam?
- How Did Hirakud Dam Affect the Local Population and Land?
- What Are the Causes Behind Water Conflicts Involving Hirakud Dam?
- Why is Hirakud Dam Facing a Premature Death?
- What Impact Does the Declining Water Flow Have on Odisha?
- FAQs About Hirakud Dam
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Why is Hirakud Dam in the News?
Recently, concerns have resurfaced about the declining health and usefulness of the Hirakud Dam, built across the Mahanadi River in Odisha. Due to excessive siltation and decreasing water flow from the upstream catchment in Chhattisgarh, the dam’s capacity is shrinking rapidly, threatening irrigation, power generation, and flood control functions. This has sparked disputes between Odisha and Chhattisgarh over water sharing.
What is the Geographical Importance of Hirakud Dam?
- Constructed between 1948 and 1956, the Hirakud Dam is positioned at 21.31°N latitude and 83.52°E longitude, approximately 15 kilometers upstream of Sambalpur city in Odisha.
- It crosses the Mahanadi River and created Asia’s largest artificial lake with a reservoir spread of 743 square kilometers.
- The dam plays a crucial role in irrigation, power generation, and flood control for a large part of eastern India.
How Did Hirakud Dam Affect the Local Population and Land?
The reservoir submerged approximately 123,303 acres of cultivable land, displacing over 22,000 families. Many of these displaced families are reportedly still awaiting compensation. The dam’s construction profoundly altered the local ecosystem and agricultural landscape.
What Are the Causes Behind Water Conflicts Involving Hirakud Dam?
More than 53% of the Mahanadi’s catchment area feeding Hirakud lies in Chhattisgarh, while only around 9.4% is within Odisha. Despite this, there has been no concrete agreement between Odisha and Chhattisgarh regarding the joint management of Mahanadi’s water resources, leading to ongoing disputes about water release and usage. This conflict significantly impacts the dam’s effective functioning.
Why is Hirakud Dam Facing a Premature Death?
Studies have revealed alarming siltation levels which have diminished the dam’s total storage capacity by over 27% since 1995. The live storage and dead storage capacities have reduced by 17.16% and 53.72% respectively. Coupled with the increasing water demand of upstream states like Chhattisgarh and domestic and industrial needs in Odisha, the dam is projected to become ineffective well before its intended 100-year lifespan.
What Impact Does the Declining Water Flow Have on Odisha?
Odisha faces a severe shortfall as the inflow from Chhattisgarh is reducing, while the state’s water demand for irrigation, industry, and domestic use grows. If the upstream states fully utilize their potential water resources, the inflow to Hirakud could be reduced to just what Odisha contributes locally, leading to critical water shortages for agriculture and industry.
Source: TI
FAQs About Hirakud Dam
Q1: When was the Hirakud Dam constructed and inaugurated?
Construction started in 1948 and completed in 1956. It became operational in 1957, inaugurated by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
Q2: Why is Hirakud Dam called Asia’s largest artificial lake?
Because its reservoir covers about 743 square kilometers, making it the largest artificial lake spread in Asia at the time of its construction.
Q3: What are the primary reasons for water disputes over Hirakud Dam?
Disputes mainly arise due to the majority of the dam’s catchment area lying in Chhattisgarh, conflicting water demands, and lack of formal water-sharing agreements.
Q4: How much has the storage capacity of the dam decreased?
Studies show a decrease of over 27% in total storage capacity due to heavy siltation since 1995.
Q5: What is the future outlook for Hirakud Dam?
Without collaborative management and urgent measures to address siltation and inflow reduction, the dam is predicted to become non-functional prematurely.
