STUDY TOUR REPORT ON HIRAKHUD DAM PROJECT

INTRODUCTION
The Hirakud Dam project, a landmark post-independence initiative, is a multi-purpose river valley project on the Mahanadi River, serving as a crucial source for flood control, irrigation, and hydroelectric power generation in Odisha, India. The reservoir formed by the dam, Hirakud Lake, is one of the largest artificial lakes in Asia. It is the longest earthen dam in the world, spanning 25.8 kms (16.0 miles) including dykes, built on the Mahanadi River and is the first initiatives handled in a post-independence era, launched on 12 Jan 1957, primarily built to generate electricity and provide agricultural irrigation, safeguard coastal erosion and flood control, and generated significant spin off benefits of industrial and domestic water supply, fishery development, and overall ensuring the general prosperity of the western part of Odisha State, with evolving process of inland navigation, promotion of connectivity through transportation, promotion of tourism, and promotion of water sports.
STUDY TOUR PROJECTS
1 HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT
Hirakud Dam, a multi-purpose project, with an installed capacity of 359.8 MW for power generation through its two powerhouses at Burla and Chiplima, with the potential to generate up to 307.5 MW. The total installed capacity for power generation at Hirakud Dam is 359.8 MW, spread across two powerhouses: Burla (on the right bank of the dam) and Chiplima (22 km downstream). The dam has the potential to generate up to 307.5 MW of electrical power. The actual average generating output of the units, including the newly installed generator, has been 204 GWh, far exceeding the planned level of around 75 GWh.

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