Ukai Dam

About Ukai Dam:

• The Ukai Dam, constructed across the Tapti River, is the second largest reservoir in Gujarat after the Sardar Sarovar.
• It is also known as Vallabh Sagar.
• Constructed in 1972, the dam is meant for irrigation, power generation, and flood control.
• The storage capacity of Ukai dam is almost 46% of the total capacity of all the other existing dams in Gujarat if put together.
• Having a catchment area of about 62,255 km2 and a water spread of about 52,000 hectares, its capacity is almost the same as that of the Bhakra Nangal Dam.
• Ukai dam is an earth-cum-masonry dam, the embankment wall of which is almost 4,927 meters long.
• Its earth dam is 80.77 meters high, whereas the masonry dam is 68.68 meters high.

Key Facts about Tapti River:

• It is one of the major rivers in peninsular India.
• It is one of the three major rivers (the other two being the Narmada River and Mahi River), which flows in east-to-west direction.
• Course:
  • Origin: It rises in the Gawilgarh Hills of the central Deccan plateau in south-central Madhya Pradesh state. 
  • It flows westward between two spurs of the Satpura Range, across the Jalgaon plateau region in Maharashtra state, and through the plain of Surat in Gujarat state to the Gulf of Khambhat(an inlet of the Arabian Sea). 
  • Total Length: 435 miles (700 km).
• Its total catchment area is around 65145 sq. km., out of which 80% lies in the Maharastra region.
• The basin of Tapi is surrounded by the Saputara mountain range in the north, the Ajanta and Satmala mountain ranges in the south, and the Mahadeva mountain range in the east. 
• The Tapti flows roughly parallel to the longer Narmada River to the north, from which it is separated by the main part of the Satpura Range.
• The two river valleys and the intervening range form the natural barrier between northern and peninsular India. 
• Major Tributaries: The important tributaries of the river are Purna River, Girna River, Panzara River, Waghur River, Bori River, and Aner River.

Q1: What is an earthen dam?

Earthen dams are constructed using natural materials such as soil, clay, and rock. These materials are compacted to form a barrier that holds back water, creating a reservoir or lake. Earthen dams can range in size from small structures used for irrigation or water storage to large dams used for hydroelectric power generation and flood control.

Source: Rainfall in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh raises water level in Ukai Dam