Pong Dam

About Pong Dam:

• The Pong Dam, also known as the Beas Dam, is an earth-fill embankment dam on the Beas River in the state of Himachal Pradesh.
• The purpose of the dam is water storage for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation. 
• The construction of the dam began in the year 1961 and was completed in 1974 and at that time was known as the tallest of its type in the country.
• The raised water level thus invariably created an artificial lake called the Maharana Pratap Sagar, after the great ruler of Mewar. The lake became a renowned bird sanctuary for birds of numerous species including Bar-headed Goose and the Red-necked Grebe.
• Features:
  • The Pong Dam is a 133 m tall and 1,951 m long earth-fill embankment dam with a gravel shell.
  • The dam is 13.72 m wide at its crest, which sits at an elevation of about 435.86 m above sea level.
  • The base of the Pong Dam is about 610 m wide and has a total volume of 35,500,000 metre cube. 

Key Facts about Beas River:

• The Beas River is a river in north India.
• Origin: The River rises 4,361 metres above sea-level on the southern face of Rohtang Pass in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh.
• Course: It flows for some 470 kilometres to the Sutlej River in the Indian state of Punjab. 
• The river was also known as Arjikuja of the Vedas, or Vipasa to the ancient Indians, and the Hyphasis to the Ancient Greeks.
• Tributaries:
  • The main tributaries are Bain, Banganga, Luni, Uhlal, Awa, Banner, Chakki, Gaj, Harla, Mamuni, Parvati, Patlikuhlal, Sainj, Suketi and Tirthan.
  • The tributaries that branch out in the Northern part are snow fed and hence, perennial.
  • The tributaries down the South are seasonal and get their water from the rains.