Dams & Reservoirs of UP
Major dams and reservoirs of Uttar Pradesh — Rihand Dam, Matatila Dam, Rajghat Dam, barrages, hydropower, and irrigation for UPSSSC AGTA exam.
Dams & Reservoirs of Uttar Pradesh
UP is primarily a plains state with limited dam-building potential compared to hilly states. However, the southern Vindhyan region and bordering areas host several important dams for irrigation and power generation.
Rihand Dam — UP’s Largest Dam
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Pipri, Sonbhadra district |
| River | Rihand River (tributary of Son) |
| Built | 1962 |
| Type | Concrete gravity dam |
| Height | ~91 m (934 m length) |
| Reservoir | Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar |
| Reservoir distinction | Largest artificial lake in India (at time of construction) |
| Reservoir area | ~468 sq km |
| Hydropower | 300 MW capacity (Rihand Hydro Power Station) |
| Irrigation | Supports agriculture in Sonbhadra and Mirzapur |
The Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar (named after India’s first Home Minister) is a major tourist attraction and supports fishing communities in Sonbhadra.
Matatila Dam
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Lalitpur-Jhansi border |
| River | Betwa River |
| Built | 1958 |
| Type | Masonry gravity dam |
| Height | ~32 m |
| Purpose | Irrigation for Jhansi, Jalaun, and Hamirpur districts |
| Canal system | Matatila Canal irrigates Bundelkhand region |
| Significance | One of the earliest post-independence dams in UP |
Rajghat Dam
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | UP-MP border (near Lalitpur) |
| River | Betwa River |
| Built | Completed 1999 |
| Type | Joint project of UP and MP governments |
| Height | ~44 m |
| Purpose | Irrigation and hydropower |
| Irrigation | Benefits both UP (Bundelkhand) and MP |
| Hydropower | 45 MW installed capacity |
| Reservoir | Rajghat Reservoir |
Parichha Dam
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Jhansi district |
| River | Betwa River |
| Purpose | Water supply and thermal power cooling |
| Key link | Supplies water to Parichha Thermal Power Station (1,360 MW) |
| Irrigation | Supplements canal irrigation in Jhansi area |
Other Notable Dams
| Dam | River | District | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obra Dam | Rihand | Sonbhadra | 99 MW hydropower + thermal complex nearby |
| Sirsi Dam | Belan | Sonbhadra | Small irrigation dam |
| Muzaffarpur Barrage | Ghaghra | Bahraich | Flood control and irrigation |
| Malanpur Dam | — | Agra area | Water supply |
Major Barrages in UP
Barrages are different from dams — they are low-height structures that divert water into canals rather than storing it in reservoirs.
| Barrage | River | District | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narora Barrage | Ganga | Bulandshahr | Headworks for Lower Ganga Canal |
| Bijnor Barrage | Ganga | Bijnor | Madhya Ganga Canal headworks |
| Sharda Barrage | Sharda | Lakhimpur Kheri | Headworks for Sharda Canal, Terai irrigation |
| Ghaghra Barrage (Elgin Bridge) | Ghaghra | Barabanki | Road-cum-rail bridge + water regulation |
| Farakka Barrage | Ganga | WB (border) | Controls Ganga water flow to Bangladesh |
| Banbasa Barrage | Sharda | Champawat (UK border) | Sharda Canal origin, irrigates UP |
| Girja Barrage | Rapti | Gorakhpur | Flood management + irrigation |
Hydroelectric Power from UP Dams
| Station | Dam/River | Capacity | District |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rihand Hydro | Rihand Dam | 300 MW | Sonbhadra |
| Obra Hydro | Obra Dam | 99 MW | Sonbhadra |
| Rajghat Hydro | Rajghat Dam | 45 MW | Lalitpur |
| Anpara Thermal (nearby) | Son basin | 2,630 MW | Sonbhadra |
Sonbhadra district is called the “Energy Capital of UP” — it hosts Rihand, Obra, Anpara, and multiple thermal plants.
Dams and Irrigation Potential
| Region | Key Dam/Barrage | Rivers Harnessed | Irrigation Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bundelkhand | Matatila, Rajghat, Parichha | Betwa, Ken | Canal irrigation |
| Sonbhadra-Vindhyan | Rihand, Obra | Son, Rihand | Reservoir + canal |
| Terai-Rohilkhand | Sharda Barrage, Banbasa | Sharda | Canal irrigation |
| Upper Ganga | Narora Barrage | Ganga | Canal irrigation |
| Eastern UP | Ghaghra Barrage | Ghaghra | Flood control + canal |
Despite these dams, UP’s primary irrigation source remains tube wells (~70%), not canals. Dam-based canal irrigation accounts for only ~20% of total irrigated area.
Key Takeaways
- Rihand Dam (Sonbhadra) creates Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar — largest artificial lake in India (at time of construction)
- Matatila and Rajghat dams on the Betwa are critical for Bundelkhand irrigation
- Sonbhadra is the energy capital of UP with hydro and thermal power plants
- Narora Barrage feeds the Lower Ganga Canal; Sharda Barrage feeds the Sharda Canal
- Barrages divert water into canals; dams store water in reservoirs
Summary Cheat Sheet
| Fact | Answer |
|---|---|
| Largest dam in UP | Rihand Dam (Sonbhadra) |
| Rihand reservoir name | Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar |
| Rihand Dam built | 1962 |
| Rihand hydropower | 300 MW |
| Matatila Dam river | Betwa |
| Rajghat Dam type | UP-MP joint project |
| Parichha Dam purpose | Thermal power cooling + irrigation |
| Narora Barrage canal | Lower Ganga Canal |
| Energy capital of UP | Sonbhadra |
| Sharda Barrage location | Lakhimpur Kheri |
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