Dams in Jharkhand mainly cater to the irrigation system of the state through a well managed system of canal irrigation in the local areas. The Dams of Jharkhand are also utilized for power generation. Some of the dams in Jharkhand like Maithon Dam, Chandil Dam, Panchet Dam, Khandoli Dam, Getalsud Dam and Tenughat Dam are described below.
Maithon Dam
Maithon Dam was constructed on River Barakar near Dhanbad in the state of Jharkhand. The Maithon Dam is the largest reservoir in the Damodar Valley and is the first underground power station in the entire Southeast Asia. The Maithon Power Station generates around 60,000 kilo watt of electricity. The dam measures about 15, 712 feet in length and 165 meters in height. Initially the objective to build this dam was flood control, but eventually it served the purpose of hydel-electric power generation and also served as a tourist spot. A lake is adjoined to the dam, which is spread over an area of about 65 square kilometers.
Chandil Dam
Chandil Dam, located in the Saraikela Kharsawan district of Jharkhand stands on the Subarnarekha River. This dam has a height of about 56.80 meters and a length of about 720.10 meters. This dam is a wonderful tourist attraction and is thronged by several tourists throughout the year.
Panchet Dam
Panchet Dam has been built across the Damodar River and is located in the Dhanbad District of Jharkhand. It is a part of the Damodar Valley Corporation. It is known to be one of the most important hydel power stations, with a generating capacity of about 40 MV power. The dam is about 22,155 feet long and 134 feet high. In the recent times, the dam has become an important place of tourist attraction.
Khandoli Dam
Khandoli Dam is housed about 10 km north-east of Giridih in Jharkhand. The dam is owned by the Damodar Valley Corporation and was opened in the year 1957. The dam has a height of about 51 feet (16 m) and a length of about 2,718 feet (828 m). The reservoir of the dam serves the purpose of supplying water to more than one lakh residents of Giridih. It acts as a tourist attraction of Jharkhand, thereby affecting the economy of the state.
Getalsud Dam
Getalsud Dam is situated on the north-eastern edge of the Chota Nagpur Plateau, in Ormanjhi in Ranchi, Jharkhand. This artificial reservoir is present across the Subarnarekha River. This dam which has a height of about 116 ft (35 m) and surface area of about 717 square kilometers was opened in the year 1971.
Tenughat Dam
Tenughat Dam is situated in the Bokaro District in Jharkhand. This earth-fill dam has been constructed across the Damodar River. This dam which has a height of about 55 meters (180 ft) and a length of about 5,000 meters (16,000 ft) is owned by the Government of Jharkhand.
Other Dams in Jharkhand
Some of the other Dams in Jharkhand are Charowa Dam, Konar Dam and Tilaiya Dam.
