WHY IN NEWS?
Recently, the Vice President visited the Tungabhadra dam in Karnataka.
About:
- Tungabhadra dam also known as Pampa Sagar is a multipurpose dam built across Tungabhadra River in Hosapete, Ballari district of Karnataka. It was built by Dr. Thirumalai Iyengar in 1953.
- Tungabhadra reservoir has a storage capacity of 101 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic feet) with catchment area spreading to 28000 square kms. It is about 49.5 meters in height.
Importance:
- It is the life-line of 6 chronically drought prone districts of Bellary, Koppal and Raichur in Karnataka (popularly known as the rice bowl of Karnataka) and Anantapur, Cuddapah and Kurnool in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
- Besides irrigating vast patches of land in the two states, it also generates hydel power and helps prevent floods.