Majalgaon Dam
Majalgaon Dam is a major earthfill dam, constructed across the Sindphana River, near Majalgaon in Beed district, Maharashtra, India. It forms part of the Jaikwadi Project Stage II and plays a vital role in irrigation, water supply, and power generation. Completed in 1987, the dam has a height of 31 metres and a length of 6.5 kilometres, creating a reservoir with a gross storage capacity of 453.64 million cubic metres. The Majalgaon Right Bank Canal, 165 kilometres long, irrigates 93,885 hectares across Beed, Parbhani, and Nanded. In addition, the dam supports hydroelectric generation, contributing to regional development.
History
Majalgaon Dam and the Majalgaon Right Bank Canal form key components of the Jaikwadi Project. The dam has been constructed across the Sindhaphana River, a major tributary of the Godavari, also known as Dakshin Ganga. The project was approved by the Government of Maharashtra in 1976 at an estimated cost of Rs. 5,433 lakhs.The Majalgaon Dam is designed with earth berms on either side of a gated concrete spillway, located about 2 kilometres upstream of Majalgaon town. The dam will house three hydroelectric generators, each with a capacity of 750 kilowatts. Complementing this, a 165-kilometre-long canal has been constructed to irrigate 93,885 hectares of agricultural land across Beed, Parbhani, and Nanded districts.
Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation
The construction of the dam affected 34 villages, of which 18 were fully submerged and 2 were partially inundated. In total, 7,813 hectares of land came under water, though no forest land was affected. The displaced villages were rehabilitated and resettled into 26 newly developed residential settlements.The dam stands 31.19 metres high from its foundation and stretches 6,488 metres in length. Its structural volume is 5.759 million cubic metres, while the gross water storage capacity created by the reservoir is 0.453640 cubic kilometres.
Purpose
- Irrigation
- Hydroelectricity
- Water supply to Beed city
- Drinking water and Industrial use
Specifications
River System
Rivers: Sindhfana River and Kundlika River, supplemented by inflows from Nathsagar through the P.R.B. Canal.Location: 2 km upstream of Majalgaon town, Majalgaon Taluka, Beed District.----
Hydrology – Yield and Utilization
Catchment area: 3,840 km²Average annual yield: 3,888.42 M.cum75% dependable yield: 2,833.83 M.cumGross average annual utilization: 1,185.75 M.cumPercentage of annual utilization: 72.8%----
Reservoir & Storage Capacity
Gross storage: 453.64 M.cumDead storage: 142.30 M.cumLive storage: 311.34 M.cumLevels:- * Minimum Drawdown Level : 426.11 m, 428.35 m
- * Full Reservoir Level : 431.8 m
- * Maximum Water Level : 434.8 m
- * Top Bund Level : 435.6 m
- * River Bed Level: 405.4 m
- * Crest Level: 423.8 m
- * Canal Sill Level: 424.7 m
Outlets
Irrigation outlet: Located at 4950 m on the right flankPower outlet: Located at 4975.25 m on the right flankDesign discharge:- * Irrigation: 20 cumecs
- * Power: 83.8 cumecs
Majalgaon Right Bank Canal (M.R.B.C.)
Full supply discharge: 83.6 cumecsDischarge at head: 83.8 cumecsLength: 165 kmType: Lined canal----
Command Area
Gross Command Area : 131,520 haCulturable Command Area : 119,400 haNet Irrigation Area : 93,885 haAnnual Cropped Area: 96,225 haCropping Pattern in Irrigation Area:
- Sugarcane: 3%
- Other perennials: 1.5%
- Rice: 10%
- Long-staple Cotton: 25%
- Two-seasonal crops: 3%
- Rabi Jowar: 15%
- Wheat: 25%
- Hot-weather crops: 3%
- Kharif Jowar: 12%
- Gram: 5%
- Beed: 28,300 ha
- Parbhani: 58,385 ha
- Nanded: 7,200 haTotal: 93,885 ha
Power Generation
FRL: 431.80 mMWL: 434.80 mTBL: 435.60 mInstalled units: 3 hydroelectric generators Submergence area: 7,813 haVillages affected: 20But All Hydroelectric Genrator Removed----
Dimensions
Height:- * Above river bed: 31.0 m
- * Above foundation: 35.6 mTotal length: 6,488 m
- * Earth dam: 6,143.5 m
- * Masonry dam: 344.5 mQuantities:
- * Earthwork: 5,600 T.cum
- * Masonry: 116 T.cum
- * Concrete: 43 T.cum