Question

In which state is the Hirakud Dam located?
1. Odisha
2. Madhya Pradesh
3. Jharkhand
4. Chhattisgarh

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 1 : Odisha

The Correct Answer is Odisha.

• The Hirakud Dam was constructed across the Mahanadi River in the state of Odisha, 15 kilometers (9 mi) from Sambalpur.
• The Hirakud Reservoir, 55 km long, extends behind the dam.
• It is one of the first major multipurpose projects in the river valley that began following the independence of India.
• Sir M. Visveswararya suggested a thorough inquiry into storage reservoirs in the Mahanadi basin after the destructive floods of 1936, to address the issue of floods in the Mahanadi delta.
• In 1945, it was agreed to invest in the possible benefits of controlling the Mahanadi for multi-purpose use under the chairmanship of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the Member of Labour.
•  The foundation stone of the Hirakud Dam was laid on 15 March 1946 by Sir Hawthorne Lewis, the Governor of Odisha.
• In June 1947, a project report was sent to the government. The first batch of concrete was laid by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on 12 April 1948.
• The dam was completed in 1953 and was officially inaugurated on 13 January 1957 by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
• In 1957, the overall cost of the project was ₹1,000.2 million.