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    Case Study Ramganga Dam

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    Simon Drury
    The Ramganga Dam in India was completed in 1974 after beginning construction in 1961. It is 127.5 meters high and generates 451 million units of power annually. The dam provides irrigation, drinking water, flood control and recreation benefits. However, some local farmers have complained that fluctuating water levels from dam operations negatively impact their crops and fish catches by disrupting natural flooding patterns and sediment deposition.

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    Case Study Ramganga Dam

    Uploaded by

    Simon Drury
    551 views3 pages
    The Ramganga Dam in India was completed in 1974 after beginning construction in 1961. It is 127.5 meters high and generates 451 million units of power annually. The dam provides irrigation, drinking water, flood control and recreation benefits. However, some local farmers have complained that fluctuating water levels from dam operations negatively impact their crops and fish catches by disrupting natural flooding patterns and sediment deposition.

    Original Title

    CASE STUDY RAMGANGA DAM

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    The Ramganga Dam in India was completed in 1974 after beginning construction in 1961. It is 127.5 meters high and generates 451 million units of power annually. The dam provides irrigation, drinking water, flood control and recreation benefits. However, some local farmers have complained that fluctuating water levels from dam operations negatively impact their crops and fish catches by disrupting natural flooding patterns and sediment deposition.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    551 views3 pages

    Case Study Ramganga Dam

    Uploaded by

    Simon Drury
    The Ramganga Dam in India was completed in 1974 after beginning construction in 1961. It is 127.5 meters high and generates 451 million units of power annually. The dam provides irrigation, drinking water, flood control and recreation benefits. However, some local farmers have complained that fluctuating water levels from dam operations negatively impact their crops and fish catches by disrupting natural flooding patterns and sediment deposition.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 3

    CASE STUDY

    A multipurpose dam on the Ramganga River at Kalagarh, India

    Figure 1 A satellite image of the Ramganga Dam, Uttarakhand, India.

    In 1961, the construction of a large multipurpose dam was started at Kalagarh


    across the Ramganga River, which is a tributary of the Ganges in India. It was
    completed in 1974 (Figure 4.6). The dam: is 127.5 m high generates 451 million
    units of power annually from three 66 mW power houses has a reservoir area
    of 80 km2 stores 2447.6 m3 of water has a catchment area made up of 57%
    forests, 8% grassland and 30% agricultural lands.
    In its construction: no crop lands were submerged and there was no flooding
    of railways or roads there was no need to relocate any people 4220 hectares of
    forest and 2500 hectares of plantations were submerged the owners of the
    forests were paid compensation and there was afforestation of the plantations
    in an adjoining area a 7.5 ha area was landscaped and tourist facilities were
    installed.
    The dam is in a highly seismic area and a seismological observatory with the
    latest equipment was installed.
    Since construction:
    • flooding of a large area around the dam can now be controlled
    • wildlife has increased and many species of migratory birds have been
    attracted to the reservoir
    • the reservoir water quality is suitable for aquatic life and for use in
    irrigation
    • thousands of hectares of land in the Ramganga flood plains are now
    being used successfully for agriculture
    • little treatment is needed to make the water safe to drink
    • Delhi receives 5.67 m3 of water per second (cumec) through concrete
    pipes.
    Over 10 000 jobs were created
    by the building of the dam, and
    3000 officials and workers are
    employed in maintenance of
    the dam project. The transport
    infrastructure has been
    improved: Kalagarh is now very
    Figure 2 Bengal Tigers can be found at the Jim Corbett national park. well connected with important
    cities such as Delhi.

    Figure 3 The section shaded red on the map above is mostly made up of farmland.
    In a report in 2014 some local farmers
    claimed that the dam was affecting their
    crops and their fish catches. They said that
    the dam gates are opened and closed to suit
    the water level in the dam. Their land
    therefore receives a variable amount of
    water from extreme flooding to near
    drought. This pattern means they lose crops.
    Figure 4 This small image shows a portion of the
    In addition, the annual floods of the
    many farms that rely on the Ramganga river.
    Ramganga River used to bring in fine silt and
    replenish the fertility of the soil, but now the dam has altered the sediment
    characteristics bringing in coarse sand.
    Fish have become isolated above the dam and only get released to the lower
    river below the dam when the dam gates are opened. This disruption to their
    breeding cycles has led to a decrease in fish size, number and diversity.

    Questions
    1. Suggest reasons why the dam took 13 years to be completed.
    2. Explain why:
    a. a seismological observatory was built
    b. the authorities are monitoring sedimentation behind the dam.
    3. To what extent do you agree that the dam is beneficial to:
    a. local people
    b. India?

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