GS1: Geography
Introduction:
- The Mahanadi is a major river in East-Central India, known as the “Gift of Chhattisgarh and Odisha.”
- It is the sixth-largest river in India by discharge and plays a crucial role in the socio-economic development of the region.
Key Facts:
- Source:
- Originates from the Sihawa hills in the Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh.
- Source altitude: Approximately 442 meters above sea level.
- Course:
- Total length: 858 km.
- Flows through Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and parts of Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh.
- Drains into the Bay of Bengal.
- Drainage Basin:
- Covers an area of 1,41,589 sq km.
- Lies in Chhattisgarh (53%), Odisha (47%), and small parts in Jharkhand and Maharashtra.
- Tributaries:
- Left-bank tributaries: Seonath, Mand, Hasdeo.
- Right-bank tributaries: Ong, Jonk, Tel.
Major Dams and Reservoirs:
- Hirakud Dam:
- Located near Sambalpur, Odisha.
- The longest earthen dam in the world and one of the first major multipurpose river valley projects in India.
- Functions: Flood control, irrigation, hydroelectricity, and water supply.
- Other Projects:
- Ravishankar Sagar Dam in Chhattisgarh.
- Sondur Reservoir and Hasdeo Barrage.