Hirakud is the longest earthen Dam in the world and stands across the mighty river, Mahanadi, in the Sambalpur region of Odisha. It was the first major multipurpose river valley project after India’s Independence in 1947. This human-made structure is located 15 km north of Sambalpur – its majesty only rivaled by the sparkling waters of the river it stands on. With an area of 1,33,090 sq km, the Dam is more than twice the area of Sri Lanka. The main Hirakud Dam has an overall length of 4.8 km (3.0 mi), stretching across the Laxmidungri hills on the left and the Chandili Dunguri hills on the right.
The construction of the Dam was proposed by M. Visveswararya to tackle the challenges of devastating floods in the Mahanadi delta. A detailed investigation report was submitted in 1945. Under the leadership of the then President of India, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, efforts to procure investments began keeping in mind the prospective benefits of constructing the multipurpose Mahanadi Dam. The project was taken up by the Central Waterways, Irrigation and Navigation Commission.
On 15 March 1946, Sir Hawthorne Lewis, the Governor of Odisha, laid the foundation stone of the Hirakud Dam. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru laid the first batch of concrete on 12 April 1948.
More than 200 temples were lost in the construction of the Dam. The waters of the Hirakud Dam provide excellent opportunities for archaeology buffs and scuba diving enthusiasts to explore the remnants of forgotten history. The hidden temples are visible to boating visitors during the summer months of May and June.
Picture Credit : Google