TUNGABHADRA DAM (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: A flood alert has been issued downstream of the Tungabhadra dam in Karnataka's Koppal district after one of the 33 crest gates of the dam was washed away. 

Tungabhadra Dam

• Location: The dam is built across the Tungabhadra River in Hosapete, Ballari district, Karnataka.
• Alternate Name: Tungabhadra Dam is also known as Pampa Sagar.
• History: The Tungabhadra Dam was first conceived in 1860 to address recurrent famine in the Rayalaseema region.
• Height: The dam stands at a height of about 49.5 meters.
• Coverage: The Tungabhadra reservoir covers an area of 378 square kilometers, primarily in Karnataka's Vijayanagar district.
• Importance: The reservoir is one of the major sources of water for irrigation, industrial use, and drinking water in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
• Tungabhadra Board: It was established by a presidential order in 1953 to manage the reservoir.

oComposition: The Board includes a chairman appointed by the Union government and four members representing the Union government, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.

Tungabhadra River

• About: It is formed at the confluence of two streams, Tunga and Bhadra, near Shimoga in Karnataka.
• Source and Flow: Both streams rise in the Western Ghats and merge to form the Tungabhadra, which flows into the Krishna River at Sangamaleshwaram in Andhra Pradesh.
• Boundary River: The Tungabhadra forms part of the boundary between the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.