Ghatghar Dam, Gravity dam in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra, India
Ghatghar Dam is a gravity dam complex in Ahmednagar district that consists of two separate structures creating upper and lower reservoirs for water storage. The lower structure rises approximately 86 meters while the upper one reaches about 15 meters, and a power station with reversible turbines generates electricity from the stored water.
Construction of the complex began in 1995 and was completed by 2006, with the power station becoming operational in 2008. This project marked the first application of roller-compacted concrete technology in India for dam construction.
The dam complex helps manage water for farming communities across the region, supporting local agricultural work throughout the year.
The site sits in hilly terrain with accessible viewpoints where visitors can see both the upper and lower reservoirs and surrounding landscape. Plan to visit during the wetter months when the reservoirs contain more water and the scenery appears fuller.
The complex diverts water from the Godavari River basin to rivers flowing westward in the Western Ghats mountains, moving it across watersheds that would naturally drain in a different direction. This kind of water transfer across mountain ranges is an unusual engineering approach for this area.
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