Ukai Dam
The Ukai Dam, constructed across the Tapi River, is the second largest reservoir in Gujarat after the Sardar Sarovar. It is also known as Vallabh Sagar. Constructed in 1972, the dam is meant for irrigation, power generation and flood control. Having a catchment area of about 62,255 km2 and a water spread of about 52,000 hectares, its capacity is almost same as that of the Bhakra Nangal Dam. The site is located 94 km from Surat.
| Ukai dam | |
|---|---|
  Ukai Dam | |
| Official name | Ukai Water Resources Project |
| Country | India |
| Location | Tapi district |
| Coordinates | 21°14′53.67″N 73°35′21.87″E |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1964 |
| Opening date | 1972 |
| Construction cost | Rs 1389.6 Million |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Tapi River |
| Height | 345ft |
| Height (foundation) | 105.156 metres (340 ft) |
| Length | 4,927 metres (16,000 ft) |
| Spillways | 22, radial |
| Spillway type | Ogee |
| Spillway capacity | 46,269 m3/s |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Vallabhsagar |
| Total capacity | 7,414 MCM |
| Active capacity | 6,730 MCM |
| Catchment area | 62,225 square kilometres (6.7×1011 sq ft) |
| Surface area | 612 square kilometres (6.6×109 sq ft) |
| Power Station | |
| Type | Conventional |
| Hydraulic head | 57 metres (190 ft) to 34 metres (110 ft) |
| Installed capacity | 300 MW |
| Website Ukai dam | |
The storage capacity of Ukai dam is almost 46% of the total capacity of all the other existing dams in Gujarat if put together. Thus it can be concluded that the rest of the dams have as little as 0.1% average storage capacity. During the last 40 years, the actual irrigation potential is attained through all the major and medium water resources projects in the State, which comprises only 14 million hectares.[1]
The dam is an earth-cum-masonry dam. Its embankment wall is 4,927 m long. Its earth dam is 105.156 meters high, whereas the masonry dam is 68.68 meters high. The dam's left bank canal feeds water to an area of 1,522 km2. and its right canal provides water to 2,275 km2 of land.[2]
A fort built by the Gaekwad dynasty of Baroda was submerged in the reservoir. It can be spotted when water levels in the reservoir goes down.[3]
Ukai Hydro Power Station
There are four hydro turbine units, each of 75 MW with a total installed capacity of 300 MW. All the above units were made by BHEL. Commissioning dates of units 1 to 4 are: 8 July 1974, 13 December 1974, 22 April 1975 and 4 March 1976.
References
- "Grave danger to Ukai dam: Gujarat govt". The Times of India. 8 August 2006. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
- "Water Resources Projects in the Tapi Basin". Archived from the original on 2016-04-13. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
- Bhatt, Himansshu (8 June 2016). "Submerged fort emerges from low water of Ukai reservoir | Surat News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 June 2019.