Question

On which river has the Hirakud dam been built?
A) Periyar
B) Cauvery
C) Godavari
D) Mahanadi

Answer 1

Hint: A dam is a structure that prevents or restricts water or underground streams from flowing. Dams build reservoirs that not only prevent flooding, but also provide water for irrigation, human use, industrial use, aquaculture, and navigation.

Complete answer:
Hirakud Dam is a dam constructed across the Mahanadi River in the Indian state of Odisha, about $15$ kilometres ($9$ miles) from Sambalpur. Hirakud Reservoir, $55$ kilometres ($34$ miles) long, is located behind the dam. After India's independence, it was one of the first major multipurpose river valley projects to get underway.

Sir M. Visveswararya suggested a systematic inquiry for storage reservoirs in the Mahanadi basin to address the issue of floods in the Mahanadi delta after the devastating floods of $1936$. In $1945$, it was agreed to invest in the possible benefits of controlling the Mahanadi for multi-purpose use under the chairmanship of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the Member of Labour.

Periodic droughts in the Mahanadi River's upper drainage basin, which is based on the Chhattisgarh Plain, contrast with the situation in the lower delta area, where floods can cause crop damage. By forming a reservoir and regulating river flow through the drainage system, the dam was built to help alleviate these problems. The dam controls the Mahanadi River's flow and generates electricity through multiple hydroelectric plants.

Thus the correct answer is option ‘C’.

Note: Bargarh Main Canal, Sason Canal, and Sambalpur Canal are the three canals that pass through Hirakud Dam. The water discharge rate of the Bargarh Main canal is $4,000$ cubic feet per second. Water from the Hirakud Dam was later distributed to various industries in the Jharsuguda and Sambalpur districts, mainly for mineral processing and coal-fired thermal power plants.