River Mahanadi

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:

1. 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.
2. Other Projects:
   • Ravishankar Sagar Dam in Chhattisgarh.
   • Sondur Reservoir and Hasdeo Barrage.