Tourism Wheel: Koyna Dam River Near Mahabaleshwar Maharashtra

Koyna Dam: It is known as one of the largest hydroelectric power plants in India. The highest rainfall in the region, the location of the dam is equipped with thick forests. The best time to visit the dam is during rainy days.

Koyna Dam River Near Mahabaleshwar Maharashtra

The Koyna dam is the largest dams in Maharashtra, India. It is a concrete rubble dam built in the Koyna River which rises in Mahabaleshwar, one hillstation in Sahyadri ranges. It is located in Koyna Nagar, Satara district, located in the Western Ghats on the national highway between Chiplun and Karad.

Koyna Dam Top View Image

Koyna Dam Front View

The main purpose of the dam is to provide hydroelectricity with some irrigation in neighboring areas.Today Koyna Hydroelectric Project is the largest hydroelectric plant conducted in India [2] with a total installed capacity of 1,920 MW. Because of its potential power generation Koyna River is regarded as the "lifeline of Maharashtra".
The spillway of the dam is located in the center. It has 6 radial gates. The dam has a vital role in flood control monsoon season.
The Koyna dam basin and forms Lake Shivajisagar which is about 50 km (31 miles) in length. It is one of the largest civil engineering projects commissioned after Indian independence. The Koyna hydroelectric project is run by the Society of Maharashtra State Electricity.

Koyna Dam near Mahabaleshwar

The dam has withstood many earthquakes in the recent past, including the devastating 1967 earthquake Koynanagar, resulting in the dam developing some cracks. After the disaster became grouting the cracks. Also internal holes were drilled to relieve the hydrostatic pressures in the body of the dam. Indian scientific establishment has formulated an ambitious project to drill a deep well in the region and intensive study of seismic activity. This would help to better understand and forecast possible earthquakes. The proposal is to drill up to 7 km and the study of the physical, chemical and geological and reservoir properties caused earthquake zone in real time. It would be an international project to be directed by Indian scientists.

In 1973, the non-overflow dam has been strengthened, followed by strengthening section of the landfill in 2006. Now that the dam is expected to be safe against any future earthquake, even more intense than that of 1967.