Polavaram Dam

Polavaram Dam

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-I – Geography

In news: Increased inflows and stagnated backwaters caused a breach in the Godavari bund located upstream of the Polavaram dam  in Andhra Pradesh.

What is Polavaram Irrigation Project?

• It is a multi-purpose irrigation project 
• Location: Andhra Pradesh on the river Godavari, near Polavaram village.
• Once completed, it will provide Irrigation benefits and will generate Hydro Electric Power and supply drinking water.
• It will facilitate an inter-basin transfer to the Krishna river basin through its Right canal.
• Indirect benefits include development of Pisciculture (breeding and rearing of fish), tourism and urbanisation.
• The Project has been accorded national project status by the union government in 2014 (under Section-90 of Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014).

Where is Godavari River?

• Source: Godavari river rises from Trimbakeshwar near Nasik in Maharashtra and drains into the Bay of Bengal.
• Drainage Basin: Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha and smaller parts in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Puducherry.
• Tributaries: Pravara, Purna, Manjra, Penganga, Wardha, Wainganga, Pranhita, Indravati, Maner and the Sabri.

Source: TH