Koyna Dam

• 28 Mar 2022

Why in News?

Recently, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India informed about the delay in the grant of Revised Administrative Approval to an incomplete hydroelectric project in Maharashtra. The delay resulted in the funds being blocked for more than six years.

• The Water Resources Department (WRD) of the Maharashtra government accorded Administrative Approval for the construction of 2×40 MegaWatt (MW) hydroelectric project at Koyna Dam Foot on the left bank of the Koyna Dam in 2004.

What is Koyna Dam?

• The Koyna Dam is the largest dam in Maharashtra. The Dam is located in Koyana Nagar, Satara District.
• It is nestled in the Western Ghats on the state highway between Chiplun and Karad. Koyna Dam is a rubble-concrete dam built on the Koyna River which rises in Mahabaleshwar, a hill-station in Sahyadri mountain ranges.
• The work on Koyna dam was initiated in 1951 and the first turbine started working in 1962.
  
  • At present the stage V of Koyna Hydroelectric Power Project is under construction.
• The main purpose of the dam is to provide hydroelectricity with some irrigation facilities in neighboring areas.
• The Koyna dam supplies water to Paschim Maharashtra as well as to the hydroelectric power to neighboring areas.
• The dam plays a vital role in flood control in monsoon season. The catchment area dams the Koyna river and forms the Shivsagar Lake which is approximately 50 km in length.
  
  • Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary covering an area of around 423.55 km2 was notified in 1985.
  • In 2007 Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary along with Chandoli National Park was declared as a part of Sahyadri Tiger Reserve declared by The National Tiger Conservation Authority.
• It is one of the largest civil engineering projects commissioned after Indian independence. The Koyna hydro-electric project is run by the Maharashtra State Electricity Board.

What are the Key Facts about the Koyna River?

• The Koyna River is a tributary of the Krishna River which originates in Mahabaleshwar, Satara district, Western Maharashtra.
• Unlike most of the other rivers in Maharashtra which flow East-West direction, the Koyna River flows in North-South direction.
• It covers an area of 2,036 km² in the Deccan terrain of the district of Satara in the state of Maharashtra.
  
  • With an elevation range of 550 – 1,460 m above mean sea level it typically represents a physiographic setup characterized by the Deccan plateau in the Western Ghats region.
• It is dammed by the Koyna Dam at Koynanagar forming the Shivsagar reservoir.
• Koyna River is supported by four tributaries. They are Kera, Wang, Morna and Mahind. Among these rivers Kera, Wang and Morna are dammed.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Q. Recently, linking of which of the following rivers was undertaken? (2016)

(a) Cauvery and Tungabhadra
(b) Godavari and Krishna
(c) Mahanadi and Sone
(d) Narmada and Tapti

Ans: (b)

EXP: The Godavari - Cauvery link comprises three components namely,

• The Godavari (Inchampalli/Janampet) - Krishna (Nagarjunasagar),
• The Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) – Pennar (Somasila) and
• The Pennar (Somasila)–Cauvery.

Source: TH