Hirakud Dam

Hirakud Dam

Hirakud Dam is built across the Mahanadi River, about 15 km from Sambalpur in the state of Orissa in India. Built in 1956, the dam is the world's largest earthen dam. Behind the dam extends a lake, Hirakud Reservoir, 55 km long. Hirakud Dam is one of the longest dams in the world, about 16 mi (26 km) in length. It was the first major multipurpose river valley project started after India's independence.

People affected by the dam Construction

The main purpose of the Hirakud Dam was to check the massive flood that was effecting a large part of coastal Orissa. But construction of the dam greatly affected the native of western part of Orissa. Nearly 1.5 Lakh people got affected by the Hirakud project. Nearly 22,000 family were displaced by the dam project who are yet to be rehabilitated and receive their due compensation by the Orissa government.