Dams in India
India got her independence in 1947. Since then, dams in India have been built across many perennial rivers. These dams are a part of the several multi-purpose projects launched by India to serve a variety of needs. In a multi-purpose project, a river forms a unit and a river valley is developed, by exploiting all the resources of the river.
Dams are built to harness the river water so that it can be utilised according to needs. A multipurpose project is launched often for storing water for irrigation purposes, generating hydro-electricity by utilising the water stored by the dams, preventing floods and facilitating afforestation in the catchment areas of the reservoirs. However, the dams also provide drinking water, using the canals for navigation in some areas and also facilitating pisciculture and recreational activities. The main multipurpose projects constituting the major Indian dams are the Hirakud Project in Orissa, the Bhakra Nangal in Punjab, the Damodar Valley Project in Bihar and Bengal, the Tungabhadra Project in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, the Rihand Project in Uttar Pradesh.
At independence, in 1947, there were fewer than 300 large dams in India and by the year 2000 the number had grown to over 4000, more than half of them built between 1971 and 1989. India is declared to be the third in the world in dam building, after US and China. While some of the Indian dams were built primarily for flood control, water supply, and hydroelectric power generation, the primary purpose of most Indian dams (96 percent) remains irrigation. In fact, large dam construction in India has been the main form of investment in irrigation undertaken by the Indian government. But, starting in the 1980s, public investment in large dams in India has been the subject of a sustained controversy that was epitomized by the Sardar Sarovar Project, based on the balance between the social, environmental, and economic costs of dams and their benefits.
Post independence we have made lots of progress in Dam and Water Reservoirs in India. Dams is basically used for Power generation, Water supply, Stabilize water flow / irrigation, Flood prevention, Land reclamation, Water diversion, Recreation and aquatic beauty. India is very rich is Dam and India is having some of the largest Dams and Reservoirs. Tourist Spot near Dams is very much popular and good sources for attracting tourists
There are all the states in India where dams have been established but Karnataka is very rich in having most of dams and Reservoirs. Dams in Karnataka is very popular serving the purpose of people of Karnataka and Bangalore. Karnataka is much enriched in terms Dams in South India.
There is List of dams in Karnataka
- Almatti Dam
- Gajanur Dam
- Gundal Reservoir
- Harangi Dam
- Hidkal Dam
- Kadra Dam
- Kanakanala Dam
- Kanva reservoir
- Kodasalli Dam
- Krishna Raja Sagara Dam
- Lakkavalli Dam
- Linganamakki Dam
- Marconahally Dam
- Mari Kanive Dam
- Narihalla Dam
- Nugu Reservoir
- Sathanur Dam
- Supa Dam
- Suvarnavathi Reservoir
- Thippagondanahalli Reservoir
- Tunga Anicut Dam
- Tungabhadra Dam
- Vani Vilas Sagar Reservoir
Foundation of Dams in Karnataka
It was Shastri who laid the foundation stone for the Upper Krishna Project, of which the Alamatti dam is a part, in 1964.
The noted columnist Kuldip Nayyar, who delivered a lecture on Shastri’s life and contribution to the nation, said the former Prime Minister had tried to resolve the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan by peaceful means.
In August 1965 heavy fighting broke out between the two countries, and a ceasefire was agreed upon in September 1965. Shastri and the then Pakistani President Ayub Khan signed the Tashkent agreement in the presence of the then Prime Minister of the erstwhile USSR, Alexei Kosygin, in January 1966, a few hours before Shastri’s death. Shastri also accepted a unilateral ceasefire with China in 1962 and protected the country’s borders, Mr. Nayyar said.
The life of the second Prime Minister of the country was the absorbing saga of a little man, who, while suffering the rigours of poverty in early life, reached political eminence through the strength of his character.
When Shastri died, he left behind no wealth or property; instead he left an example, which is morally inspiring in an age riddled with political corruption, the columnist said.
It was Shastri who for the first time conceived the idea of an ombudsman to eradicate corruption in public life, he said.
Shastri gave priority to boosting foodgrain production and generation of employment to tackle hunger and poverty. Although Shastri’s tenure as Prime Minister lasted only 13 months (June 9, 1964 to January 11, 1966), it was a period of high drama during which several social and political issues of national importance and international interest, including a major war against Pakistan, came up, Mr. Nayyar said.
Shastri resigned as Minister for Railways in 1956 holding himself responsible for a railway accident in Tamil Nadu (Ariyalur) in which many lives were lost. The unprecedented gesture was greatly appreciated by Parliament and the country, he said.
The then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, speaking in Parliament on the incident, extolled Shastri’s integrity and high ideals. He said he was accepting the resignation because it would set an example in constitutional propriety and not because Shastri was in any way responsible for what had happened.
In between his ministerial assignments, he demonstrated organising abilities and figured in the Congress victories in the first three general elections, Mr. Nayyar said.
Man of integrity
After more than 30 years of dedicated service, he came to be known as a man of great integrity and competence. Humble, tolerant, with great inner strength and resoluteness, he was a man of the people who understood their language.
Shastri was deeply influenced by the political teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. His slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” is popular even today, he said.
The Ministers M. Mallikarjun Kharge and R.V. Deshpande; the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Krishna; the former Chief Minister M. Veerappa Moily; Anil Shastri, son of Lal Bahadur Shastri; and Haranahalli Ramaswamy, former Law Minister, were present.
