About A Sardar Sarovar Dam (SSD)

Context:

The recent release of massive amounts of water from the Sardar Sarovar Dam (SSD) has caused massive flooding in low-lying areas in the Narmada district.

Relevance:

GS III: Infrastructure

Dimensions of the Article:

1. Sardar Sarovar Dam (SSD)
2. Key Facts about the Narmada River

Sardar Sarovar Dam (SSD):

• The Sardar Sarovar Dam, often abbreviated as SSD, is a concrete gravity dam situated on the Narmada River in Gujarat’s Narmada district, near Kevadia.
• It is named in honor of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a prominent Indian statesman.
• The dam has impressive dimensions, with a length of 1.2 kilometers and a depth of 163 meters, making it the third-highest concrete dam in India. The only taller dams in India are the Bhakra Dam (226 meters) in Himachal Pradesh and the Lakhwar Dam (192 meters) in Uttar Pradesh.
• In terms of the volume of concrete used in gravity dams, the Sardar Sarovar Dam ranks as the second-largest in the world, following the Grand Coulee Dam in the United States.
• This dam is a vital component of the Narmada Valley Project, which is an extensive hydraulic engineering initiative focused on constructing a series of large irrigation and hydroelectric multipurpose dams along the Narmada River.
• The Sardar Sarovar Dam includes two powerhouses: a canal head powerhouse with an installed capacity of 250 MW and a riverbed powerhouse with an installed capacity of 1,200 MW.
• The benefits generated from power generation are distributed among the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat in a ratio of 57:27:16, respectively.
• The dam’s construction has resulted in the formation of a vast reservoir known as the “Sardar Sarovar Reservoir” or “Narmada Lake,” which extends across multiple districts in Gujarat.

Key Facts about the Narmada River:

• The Narmada River is the largest west-flowing river in peninsular India, meaning it flows westward towards the Arabian Sea.
• Originating from Narmada Kund, situated in the Maikala range of the Anuppur district in Madhya Pradesh, the river begins its journey at an elevation of approximately 1,057 meters.
• The Narmada River courses through the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat, passing between the Vindhya and Satpura hill ranges, before finally emptying into the Gulf of Cambay in the Arabian Sea, approximately 10 kilometers north of Bharuch, Gujarat.
• In terms of length, the Narmada River spans a total distance of 1,312 kilometers (815 miles) from its source to its outfall into the sea.
• The river is renowned for its numerous waterfalls, with the Dhuandhar Falls, located southwest of Jabalpur, being one of the most notable.
• The Narmada River boasts several tributaries, among which the Tawa, Barna, Hiran, and Orsang rivers are the most significant contributors to its flow and basin.

-Source: Indian Express