(Bhagirath, January-March 2002, pp. 1–9).
Concept of Multipurpose river valley projects is intricately inter-linked with economic development of the people. Hirakud Dam project is no exception. This project happens to be the first major multipurpose river valley project in independent India. It also bears the legacy of being the longest earth dam in the World. Today it provides irrigation in 155,653 ha of Kharif and 108,385 ha of Rabi in Bargarh, Sambalpur, Sonepur and Bolangir districts of Orissa. Further, the controlled releases through power houses has helped in irrigating 436,000 ha in the Mahanadi Delta, through stabilisation and modernisation. Installed capacity for power generation is 331.5 MW. Besides, the project provides food protection to 9500 sq km of delta area in the undivided Cuttack and Puri districts.This paper highlights the role of Hirakud dam project in the economic development of Orissa.
Multipurpose river valley projects, Interlinked, Economic development, Earth dam, Power generation, Flood protection
