Sapua Dam Explained

Name Official:Sapua Dam[1]
Dam Crosses:Sapua River
Location:35 km from Dhenkanal, Odisha
Dam Type:Composite dam and reservoir
Dam Length:12900NaN0 (entire dam)
Dam Height:26.750NaN0
Spillway Count:2 gates
Spillway Type:Labyrinth with chute spillway un-gated
Spillway Capacity:535m3/s
Opening:2006
Coordinates:20.59°N 85.29°W

The Sapua Dam is built on the Sapua, a small Indian river which is a tributary of the Mahanadi River. It is located near Rasol in the Hindol block of Odisha’s Dhenkanal district . The Dam built at the starting point of the river.

Construction

The Dam is built as part of a Minor Irrigation project known as Sapua-Badajore Irrigation Project. Although the project was planned much before, the construction started in 1993 and got fully completed in 2006. With a maximum water storage level of 170 meter, the length of the dam is 1290 meter and height of 26 meter. The total command are of the project is 3682 hectares.

Tourism

The Sapua Dam is nestled around 90 km away from Bhubaneswar in the mid of a saal foreste. The dam overlooks a bridge and the verdant mountains. This area is full of green forest and a picnic spot. Once it was a barred area, this zone is now used for camping, sightseeing and picnics by tourists.[2]

The place is well connected by Road and 5 KM away from Rasol (National Highway 655 (India)).

Naming

Most tourists assume, because of the snake like structure of the riverside fixed gates, the name 'Sapua Dam' is derived. Rather, it is because of the river, which name itself is 'Sapua'. However, as per local tales, the river flows with a large snake like bed, from which the naming of the river is derived.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: RTI.
  2. Web site: ପିକନିକ୍ ଯିବା ପାଇଁ ଭାବୁଛନ୍ତି କି ? ଥରେ ବୁଲିଯାଆନ୍ତୁ ସାପୁଆ ଡ୍ୟାମ .