Key Facts about Tungabhadra Dam

About Tungabhadra Dam:

• Tungabhadra Dam, also known as Pampa Sagar, is a multipurpose dam constructed across the Tungabhadra River, a tributary of the Krishna River.
• The dam is near the town of Hospet in Karnataka.
• This was a joint project of erstwhile Hyderabad state and erstwhile Madras Presidency when the construction was started; later it became a joint project of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh after its completion in 1953.
• Tunga Bhadra reservoir has a storage capacity of 101 TMC with a catchment area spreading to 28000 sq. km. 
• The dam is about 49.5 meters in height and has about 33 crest gates.
• The Tungabhadra reservoir and the Mullaperiyar dam in Kerala hold the unique distinction of being the only two reservoirs in the country that were built using a combination of mud and limestone.

Key Facts about Tungabhadra River:

• It is a major river in the south Indian peninsula.
• It is the largest tributary of the Krishna River.
• Origin:
  • It is formed by the union of two rivers, Tunga and Bhadra, and hence the name. 
  • Both the Tunga and Bhadra Rivers originate on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats.
  • The two rivers merge at Koodli in the Shimoga district of Karnataka, giving birth to the Tungabhadra River. 
• Course:
  • It flows in a more or less northwest direction before joining the Krishna River at Sangamaleshwaram in Andhra Pradesh.
  • The Krishna River finally ends in the Bay of Bengal.
• The river has a total length of 531 km and a catchment area of 28,000 sq. km.
• It flows through the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
• It is influenced chiefly by the South-West monsoon.
• Major Tributaries: Varada River and Hagari (Vedathy) River.
• The river has several dams and reservoirs built on it, including the Tunga Anicut Dam, the Bhadra Dam, the Hemavathy Dam, and the Tungabhadra Dam.
• History:
  • The Hindus consider this river sacred, and there is a mention of the river in Ramayana, where it is referred to as Pampa. 
  • In historical times, the Tungabhadra River was known as the Varada River.
  • The river was an important source of water for the Vijayanagara Empire, which ruled over the region from the 14th to the 17th century.
  • The city of Hampi, which was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, was located on the banks of the river.

Q1: Which are the main tributaries of Krishna River?

The principal tributaries joining Krishna are the Ghataprabha, the Malaprabha, the Bhima, the Tungabhadra and the Musi.

Source: How did Tungabhadra dam’s 19th crest gate fail? Explained

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