Railway
The largest earthen dam in India, located in Wayanad, Kerala, is the:
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Answer: Option D — Banasura Sagar Dam
Detailed Solution
The Banasura Sagar Dam, built on the Karamanathodu, a tributary of the Kabini river, in the Wayanad district of Kerala, is described as the largest earthen dam in India and the second largest in Asia.
Key facts:
- It is located about 21 km from Kalpetta, at the foothills of the Banasura hills.
- The dam is made of large stacks of boulders and earth.
- It was built as part of the Banasura Sagar Project, which started in 1979, to support the Kakkayam hydroelectric power project and to provide irrigation and drinking water.
- When the reservoir filled, several hilltops were partly submerged, creating a series of picturesque islands in the lake.
Floating solar plant:
A floating solar power plant was installed on the reservoir in 2017, one of the first of its kind in India.
Tourism:
The dam and its reservoir are a major tourist attraction in Wayanad, offering boating and views of the Western Ghats.
The name:
It is named after Banasura, an asura (demon) king of Hindu mythology, the son of Mahabali, who is believed to have performed penance on the hills.
Earthen dams:
- An earthen dam (embankment dam) is built mainly of compacted earth, clay and rock, rather than concrete.
- Such dams are suitable where good foundations for concrete dams are not available and where suitable soil is available locally.
"Largest" and "longest":
The Hirakud Dam in Odisha is famous as one of the longest earthen dams in the world, with a total length of about 25.8 km including dykes. The Banasura Sagar Dam is described as the largest earthen dam in India.
Wayanad:
Wayanad is a hilly district in north-eastern Kerala, known for spices, coffee, tea and wildlife sanctuaries. It was badly affected by massive landslides in July 2024.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Hirakud is on the Mahanadi in Odisha, often called the longest dam.
- ✗Idukki and Malampuzha are other dams in Kerala; Malampuzha is in Palakkad district.
Quick tip
Remember: Banasura Sagar Dam (Wayanad, Kerala) = largest earthen dam in India; Hirakud (Odisha) = longest dam.
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Rivers, Lakes & Dams of India — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Rivers, Lakes & Dams of India, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers India's drainage system: the Himalayan rivers (the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra systems), the peninsular rivers (Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Narmada, Tapi and Mahanadi), their tributaries and origins, waterfalls, lakes, and the major dams and multipurpose river projects. Exams ask about the origin of a river, its tributaries, the cities on its banks, and the river on which a dam is built. For example, the Bhakra Nangal Dam is on the Sutlej, the Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi, and the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada. Remember that the Narmada and Tapi flow west into the Arabian Sea, while most peninsular rivers flow east. Practise the rivers, lakes and dams of India questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.