Overview
Maharashtra, a state in western India, has one of the largest concentrations of dams and reservoirs in the country. These structures serve multiple purposes, including hydro‑electric power generation, irrigation, municipal water supply, flood control, and fisheries. According to government records, the state operates more than 200 major dams, ranging from large multipurpose projects to smaller regional facilities.
Selected notable dams and reservoirs
| Dam / Reservoir | River / Watercourse | Location (District) | Year completed | Primary purposes* | Gross storage capacity* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koyna (Shivsagar) Dam | Koyna River (tributary of the Krishna) | Satara | 1964 | Hydro‑electric power, irrigation, water supply | ~2,797 MCM |
| Bhira Dam | Kundalika River | Raigad | 1927 | Hydro‑electric power, drinking water (Mumbai region) | ~0.6 MCM |
| Pavana Dam | Pavana River | Pune | 1999 | Municipal water supply (Pune), irrigation, hydro‑electric power | ~0.28 MCM |
| Mulshi Dam | Mula River | Pune | 1927 | Municipal water supply (Pune), irrigation | ~0.12 MCM |
| Bhatsa Dam | Bhatsa River (tributary of the Kalyani) | Nashik | 1999 | Irrigation, drinking water (Nashik), flood control | ~0.69 MCM |
| Tansa Dam | Tansa River | Palghar | 1912 | Primary drinking‑water source for Mumbai | ~0.1 MCM |
| Ujjani (Ujani) Dam | Bhima River | Solapur / Sangli | 1960 | Irrigation, hydro‑electric power, flood control | ~0.96 MCM |
| Radhanagari (Dabhosa) Dam | Bhogawati River (tributary of the Krishna) | Kolhapur | 1955 | Irrigation, hydro‑electric power, water supply | ~0.35 MCM |
| Dimbhe Dam | Ghod River | Pune | 1992 | Irrigation, hydro‑electric power | ~0.99 MCM |
| Bhatghar Dam | Naneghat (small tributary of the Naneghat) | Pune | 2007 | Hydro‑electric power, water storage | ~0.39 MCM |
| Koyna (Upper) Dam | Koyna River | Satara | 1975 (expanded) | Hydro‑electric power (part of Koyna project) | – |
| Patalganga Dam | Patalganga River | Raigad | 2005 | Municipal water supply (Karjat) | ~0.08 MCM |
| Khadakwasla (Mula) Dam | Mula River | Pune | 1927 | Municipal water supply (Pune), recreation | ~0.092 MCM |
| Bhawanipatna (Nira) Dam | Nira River | Pune (near Pune district) | 1972 | Irrigation, water supply | ~0.55 MCM |
| Shorna Dam | Shorna River (tributary of the Godavari) | Aurangabad | 1984 | Irrigation, water supply | ~0.19 MCM |
* Primary purposes may include a combination of the listed functions; many dams are multipurpose.
* Gross storage capacity is given in million cubic metres (MCM) where reliable data are available from the Water Resources Department of Maharashtra or the Central Water Commission.
Key points
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Hydro‑electric power – The Koyna (Shivsagar) project is the largest hydro‑electric scheme in the state, with an installed capacity of 1,960 MW. Several smaller dams (e.g., Bhira, Bhira, Pavana, Bhatghar) also contribute to the regional power grid.
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Irrigation – Dams such as Ujjani, Radhanagari, Dimbhe, and the Nira system support extensive command areas for agriculture, particularly in the Marathwada, Vidarbha, and western Maharashtra regions.
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Municipal water supply – The rapidly growing urban centers of Mumbai, Pune, and Nashik rely on reservoirs such as Tansa, Bhatsa, Khadakwasla, and Pavana for bulk drinking‑water provision.
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Flood management – Many reservoirs incorporate spillways and regulated releases to mitigate monsoon‑season flooding downstream, especially along the Krishna and Godavari river basins.
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Recreation and tourism – Several reservoirs (e.g., Mulshi, Bhatghar, Pavana) have become popular weekend destinations, offering boating, fishing, and scenic views.
Limitations
The table above includes a selection of the most significant dams and reservoirs that are well‑documented in publicly available government and encyclopedic sources. Maharashtra’s total inventory exceeds 200 structures, many of which are smaller irrigation or earth‑fill dams with limited published data. Consequently, the list is not exhaustive, and storage‑capacity figures may vary slightly between sources due to periodic re‑measurements and sedimentation.
References
- Maharashtra Water Resources Department, Annual Report (various years).
- Central Water Commission, National Register of Large Dams (latest edition).
- Government of India, Ministry of Power – Hydro‑electric Projects.
- Official State Gazetteers and engineering project briefs (public domain).
