Mahi
Bajaj Sagar Dam is a dam across
the Mahi River. It is located 16 KM from Banswara town
in Banswara district Rajasthan, India. The dam was constructed
between 1972 and 1983 for the purposes of hydroelectric power generation. The
Mahi Bajaj Sagar Dam Second largest dam
in Rajasthan. It is named after Jamnalal Bajaj.
The Mahi is a river in western
India. It rises in Madhya Pradesh and, after flowing through the Vagad region
of Rajasthan, enters Gujarat and flows into the Arabian Sea.
There are large number of islands
within the catchment area of the dam, so Banswara also called popularly called
as “City of Hundred Islands”. The dam is easily accessible by road. The dam has
an installed capacity of 140 MW.
History
of Mahi Dam
The concept of Mahi Bajaj Sagar Dam
was mooted in the later half of sixties. The foundation stone of this
ambitious, multipurpose, inter-state project was laid by the then Finance
Minister, Government of India late Shri Morrarji Desai in the year 1960 The
project is named after renowned freedom fighter and national leader late Shri
Jamnalal Bajaj.
Also Read: List of National Parks in Rajasthan
Also Read: List of National Parks in Rajasthan
The Mahi River originates from
Sardarpura village of Dhar district in Madhya Pradesh and flows through M.P.
Rajasthan and Gujarat before conversing into bay of Khambat in Gujarat state.
From water potential point of view, the Mahi river basin is the third largest among
fifteen well defined and discriminated river basins of Rajasthan state. Rivers
Erav, Chap, Nori, Anas, Jakham, Som are major tributories of river Mahi.
However, barring Earu all other rivers converges into Mahi main stream down
stream of Mahi Dam.
The original project proposal
envisages 46,500 ha. CCA approved by the Planning Commission and Central Water
& Power Commission in the year 1971. The major construction activities
started in the year 1972 and the project was dedicated to nation by the Hon’ble
Prime Minister late Smt. Indira Gandhi on 1.11.1983.
