Understanding Dam Locations in India

This question asks us to match famous dams located in different states of India. To answer this correctly, we need to know the states where each of the listed dams is situated. Let's look at each dam and its corresponding state.

Matching Dams to States

Here is the breakdown of the location for each dam provided in List I:

• Hirakud Dam: The Hirakud Dam is built across the Mahanadi river in Odisha. It is one of the longest earth dams in the world.
• Panchet Dam: The Panchet Dam is constructed across the Damodar river in Jharkhand. It is part of the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) project.
• Kosi Barrage: The Kosi Barrage is built across the Kosi river, situated at the border of Nepal and India (Bihar). It primarily serves irrigation and flood control purposes in Bihar.
• Ukai Dam: The Ukai Dam, also known as Vallabh Sagar, is built across the Tapti river in Gujarat. It is a major hydroelectric project in the state.

Now let's create the correct match based on the locations:

• Hirakud (List I: 1) is in Odisha (List II: c). So, 1 - c.
• Panchet (List I: 2) is in Jharkhand (List II: d). So, 2 - d.
• Kosi (List I: 3) is associated with Bihar (List II: b). So, 3 - b.
• Ukai (List I: 4) is in Gujarat (List II: a). So, 4 - a.

Combining these matches, we get the pairing: 1 - c, 2 - d, 3 - b, 4 - a.

Let's present this in a table format for clarity:

Therefore, the correct combination is 1 - c, 2 - d, 3 - b, 4 - a.

Analyzing the Options

Let's compare our determined matching (1 - c, 2 - d, 3 - b, 4 - a) with the given options:

• Option 1: 1 - c, 2 - d, 3 - b, 4 - a. This matches our result.
• Option 2: 1 - c, 2 - b, 3 - d, 4 - a. This is incorrect as Panchet is in Jharkhand (d), not Bihar (b), and Kosi is associated with Bihar (b), not Jharkhand (d).
• Option 3: 1 - a, 2 - b, 3 - d, 4 - c. This is incorrect as Hirakud is in Odisha (c), not Gujarat (a), and Ukai is in Gujarat (a), not Odisha (c).
• Option 4: 1 - a, 2 - d, 3 - b, 4 - c. This is incorrect as Hirakud is in Odisha (c), not Gujarat (a), and Ukai is in Gujarat (a), not Odisha (c).

Based on our analysis, Option 1 provides the correct matching of dams to their respective states.

Revision Table: Important Dams and States

Additional Information on Indian Dams and Rivers

Understanding the location of major dams is crucial for geography and general knowledge exams. Dams serve multiple purposes including irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, flood control, and water supply. India has a vast network of rivers and numerous dams built across them.

• Major river valley projects often involve the construction of one or more dams and barrages.
• Learning about the rivers on which these dams are built can also help in remembering their locations.
• For example, the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) project involves several dams like Panchet, Maithon, Tilaiya, and Konar, all located in the Damodar river basin across Jharkhand and West Bengal.
• The Kosi river is often called the "Sorrow of Bihar" due to its tendency to change course and cause devastating floods, making the Kosi Barrage an important structure for flood management.
• The Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi plays a vital role in flood control in the Mahanadi delta and irrigation in Odisha.

Regularly reviewing the locations of important dams and the rivers they are on is a good practice for competitive exams.