Common Features Found in the Dams of Jharkhand

Jharkhand, a state which is located in eastern India is popularly known as ‘the land of the forest’ because 29% of the state is occupied by the forests and woodlands. It is also a leading producer of mineral resources like gold, silver, graphite, mica, bauxite, fireclay, quartz, feldspar,  iron, copper and many more. It is the only state that is producing uranium, pyrite and coking coal.

It is also known for its Universities, 500 medical centres, rich culture, waterfalls, hills and so many other things. Jharkhand is also famous for one more special thing, its dams. In this article,we will tell you about the salient features of the dams of Jharkhand. We will specifically focus on set 2. 

Dams of Jharkhand: Salient Features (Set – 2):

Below, we have given you the list of Dams in tabular format which shows the salient features of dams of Jharkhand:

Salient Features of Jharkhand Dams

If you have studied the above table carefully you must have noticed that most of the dams built in Jharkhand are used for irrigation. This means that water is provided to the farmers throughout the year to make sure that they grow crops without any problems. Providing water to farmers is essential since 80% of the rural population in Jharkhand is dependent on agriculture. Since the dam water is used for agriculture it helps to meet food and fibre requirements. 

This is not only the story for Jharkhand, most of the dams built in India are primarily used for irrigation. In fact, according to the World Commission of Dam 30-40% of irrigated land is fully dependent on the water provided by the dams. You will be shocked to know that 60% of the food production which is available in the market is dependent on dam water. The dams in Jharkhand improve the standard of living of the rural people.

The Chandil dam is also used for hydroelectricity. This helps the state to produce renewable sources of energy. It also reduces air pollution and global warming. Another common factor among these dams is that they are earthen dams. Now, what is the meaning of earthen dam? Great question! As the name suggests these dams are built from gravel, sand, silt and clay. They are made by compacting the successive layers of earth across the river with a central impermeable layer.

These types of dams are usually constructed where there are a lot of valleys. The design of such is flexible meaning they can be constructed using a wide variety of materials. The best part about these dams is that they can be constructed even on compressible foundations.

Apart from earthen, the Chandil and Chinda dams come in the category of gravity dams as well. Now, gravity dams are made from concrete or stone masonry. They are designed in such a way that they can easily hold back water by using the weight of the material. They are made to stabilise each section of the dam. The main advantage of gravity dams over the earthen dams is that they can tolerate minor over-topping flows without damage.

Conclusion

We hope that you were able to understand the salient features of the dams of Jharkhand. Most of them are earthen dams and aim to solve the problem of irrigation because 80% of the rural population in Jharkhand is dependent on agriculture. Although Chandil and Chinda are both earthen and gravity dams. The chandil is also used for Hydroelectric, Multi-Purpose, Drinking / Water Supply. Most of the dams have their basin in Ganga. All these dams help in water measurement and make the state independent.