Context:
Six decade-old canal system of Hirakud Dam is set for a major renovation.
Hirakud Dam:
- Location – Odisha, Mahanadi River.
- Conception – Proposed by M. Visveswaraya in 1937 after severe floods in the Mahanadi River.
- Built between 1952-53, inaugurated by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1957.
- Significance – Longest major earthen dam globally, spanning over 25 km across the Mahanadi River.
- Forms Hirakud Reservoir (Hirakud Lake), one of Asia’s largest artificial lakes, declared a Ramsar Site in 2021.
- Cattle Island – Located at an extreme point of the reservoir, home to wild cattle.
Mahanadi River:
- Origin – Sihawa range of hills, Chhattisgarh.
- Mouth – Bay of Bengal (at Odisha)
- Geography – Bounded by Central India hills (north), Eastern Ghats (south and east), Maikala range (west).
- Tributaries –
- Left Bank – Seonath, Mand, Ib, Hasdeo, Kelo.
- Right Bank – Ong, Jonk, Telen.
- Basin – Covers Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and parts of Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh.
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
Consider the following rivers:
1. Vamsadhara
2. Indravati
3. Pranahita
4. Pennar
Which of the above are tributaries of the River Godavari?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2015 Prelims]
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 2 and 4 only
(d) 2 and 3 only
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
Vamsadhara and Pennar are not the tributaries of Godavari.
