Umiam Dam

About Umiam Dam:

• Location:
  • The Umiam Dam, also known as the Barapani Dam, is a large reservoir located in the state of Meghalaya in northeastern India.
  • It is situated on the Umiam River, about 15 kilometres north of Shillong, the capital city of Meghalaya.
• Purpose: The primary purpose of the Umiam Dam is to provide hydroelectric power generation and supply drinking water to the region. It serves as a major water source for Shillong and its surrounding areas.
• Construction:
  • The construction of the dam began in 1964 and was completed in 1965.
  • It was built by the Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) with technical assistance from the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO).
• Reservoir Capacity: The dam creates a reservoir known as the Umiam Lake, which has a storage capacity of approximately 9.6 billion cubic feet of water. The lake stretches over an area of about 220 square kilometres.
• Hydroelectric Power Generation: The Umiam Dam has a hydroelectric power station with a total installed capacity of 2x30 megawatts.