Radhanagari Dam, is a

gravity In physics, gravity () is a fundamental interaction which causes mutual attraction between all things with mass or energy. Gravity is, by far, the weakest of the four fundamental interactions, approximately 1038 times weaker than the stro ...

dam on Bhogawati river near

Radhanagari Radhanagari is a town and the headquarters of Radhanagari tehsil in the Radhanagari subdivision of Kolhapur district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is located on the banks of the Bhogawati River, near the Radhanagari Dam and the Rad ...

in the state of

Maharashtra Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a states and union territories of India, state in the western India, western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the List of states and union te ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. Construction was initiated by visionary

Rajarshi Shahu Shahu (also known as Chhatrapati Rajarshi Shahu, Shahu IV, Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj, Kolhapur's Shahu) (26 June 1874 – 6 May 1922) of the Bhonsle dynasty of Marathas was a Raja (reign. 1894 – 1900) and the first Maharaja (1900–1922) of ...

on 18 February 1907. The dam is being used for irrigation as well as hydro-electricity. The dam is located amidst scenic surrounding in the backdrop of thick

forest cover Forest cover is the amount of forest that covers a particular area of land. It may be measured as relative (in percent) or absolute (in square kilometres/square miles). Around a third of the world's surface is covered with forest, with closed-canop ...

. *The scheme was suggested by Pandurangrrao Krishnajirao Shinde, Esqr, BA, I.S.E ref to Report of Examination, by Sir Henry Howard, O.I.E, M.C., M Inst.C.E., M. I. E.E.. Considering the suggested advantage towards increasing irrigated land up to 15000 hectares and satisfying Kolhapur municipal water requirement, the share capital raised was paid back to concerned share holders who had planned for thermo-electric (by letting all water into Konkan for electricity generation) and mining project. * Because of Mr Shinde's suggestion, the scheme was handed over to government in interest of people, after the capital invested was realised. (Ref report by Henry Howard) * Scheme was approved by Rajaram Maharaj or else would have been a thermal electric project, in favour of British industrial syndicate as suggested in the Second opinion of Sir Vishveswarayya. * In 1941 PK Shinde was Specially appointed as Chief Engineer due to his technical competency and experience. * Today Radhanagari Dam is the main reason for flourishing agriculture, and jaggery industry in Kolhapur District. The water need of Municipal Corporation of Kolhapur is satisfied through this dam. Radhanagari Dam supports large variety of Flora and Fauna. It is surrounded by dense forest and has wide variety of wildlife and naturally evolved ecosystem. It was because of Mr P K Shinde's efforts that thermo-electric project and mining for metals was sidelined. Radhanagari Dam not only has a technology worth studying but also a history, that changed the fate of agriculture in Kolhapur.

Specifications

This dam is famous for its automatically operated 7 gates, which doesn't require any electrical or mechanical power to operate it. Till now this technology is not in any of the dam in India, except this dam. The height of the dam above lowest foundation is while the length is . The gross storage capacity is .Specifications of large dams in India
/ref>

Purpose

* Irrigation * Kolhapur cities water need * Hydroelectricity

References

{{Kolhapur district topics Dams in Kolhapur district Dams completed in 1954 Year of establishment missing

Specifications

Purpose

See also

References