1. Introduction

The Bhakra Dam is magnificent structure that is across river Sutlej. The construction of the dam took place immediately after independence with the objective of lifting the social status of the occupants in the Northern Region. The construction began in 1948 and was finished in 1963. The structure has a high of 740 ft from the deepest foundation; it has tripled the height of Qutaab Minar. The dam is the biggest in highest in the Asian continent and Second globally.

The water that is acquired from the dam has the significance of helping to generate electricity. With this are two power houses; Left Bank Power Plant and Right Bank Power Plant (BBMB, n.d.). These houses are interfaced on both sides by cables that run below the ground as well as a switch where it is operated.

Source: scribd (2013)

Features of Bhakra Dam are as shown:

BHAKRA DAM
Total cost	Rs. 245.28
Type of Dam	Concrete straight gravity
Height above the deepest foundation	225.55 m
Height above river bed	167.64 m
Length at top	518.2 m
Width at top	9.14 m
Length at bottom	99 m
Width at base	190.5 m
Elevation at top of Dam above mean sea level	518.16 m
Steel used	101600 t

2. History of Bhakra Dam

Sir Louis Dane in 1908 came up the proposal for the dam which showed that Suni and Badu Gorges as the best sites to have the dam built for water storage and power advancement. Two years later on a report that was made, the cost that was reached was restricted and the project had to be stopped.

2.1. 1919 Project Report

The proposal for the dam for construction on satluj was restarted by Mr. F. E. Gwyther in 1915. With this in mind, an extensive project was created for a dam to be constructed at Bhakra in 1919. The project report offered the storage of the water in satluj at the time when there was overflowing of water and basically comprised of major operations: the Bhakra Dam, Upper and Lower Sirhind Canal and the Western Yamuna Canal Extension.

The planned dam was set to be 120.40 m in height and 69 km in distance from Ropar close to the present one. It offered a maximum of about 3200 million m3. It was projected to have a rigid masonry gravity part that was arched in the strategy and was to be the biggest dam constructed (BBMB, n.d.). The project did not offer installation hydroelectric elements and was vital at that point of the period. The project was lucky to have gotten the support of the Geological survey that was located in India so as to undertake geological assessments.

The project was however not a success and was terminated in support of satluj Valley Project that was set to start in 1919.

2.2. The project plan 1920-1938

The 1919 project came to a halt leading to a number of research and assessment to be undertaken of the Bhakra Gorge by experts. Three years later, the chief Geologist of the Attoch Oil Company assessed the site and based on his recommendations, drifts were excavated on the banks on top of the summer flood level to leave open unweathered rock at the location. In 1925, geologists from India assessed the strata reporte the geological elements of the planned dam. Two years later, a committee comprising of engineers, geologists and other parties was created so as to make a report of the planned Bhakra Dam location as well as other storage bases that existed in Yamuna and Chenab (BBMB, n.d.). The team assessed the Bhakra site in 1927, and their report availed details of the benefits of a 152 m high dam when compared to the initial 120.40 m high dam as was detailed in the 1919 plan. In the year 1932, surveys were undertaken for the reservoir site for a planned dam of 152.4 m high.

2.3. 1939-42 Project Report

In 1939, an extensive project report for a dam that was to be 152.4m high was undertaken by Dr. Khosla, an engineer. The project anticipated to have a 152.4m high of straight gravity concrete dam with storage of 5859 million m3 with an optimum reservoir of El. 487.68m. The height of the dam was with regard to geological data that was present at the time. The composition of the project involved a number of significant elements of the model for instance; seismicity of the location, silting of the reservoir, diversion at the time of construction, suitability of spillway volume, groundwork for the foundation and supports, placing of concrete among others and offered for the production of electricity as major milestone. The approximation comprised of five units of 40 MW for each unit.

In 1944, Dr. J.L. Savage, who was at the time the Chief Engineer of the US Bureau of Reclamation was called upon by the Punjab Government to assess the site and give back information acquired concerning the capability for construction of the dam with an optimum reservoir level of El.487.68m. He opted that the dam site was viable for the objective and opted extensive focus of foundation and the supports (BBMB, n.d.). This task was undertaken in 1945-47 with Dr. F.A. Nickell, a Geologist, overseeing the process as he was considered experienced and offered extensive geological details for succeeding model work. In total, 59 holes were drilled as the initial explorations were in progress adding up to a length of about 2,134m. Extensive explorations that followed the authorization of the project went on till 1955 so as set up the geological attributes of the region in the best manner and to come up with the groundwork treatment method. The total number of 12, 802m of intense drilling was undertaken so as to finish the sub-surface investigation. Moreover, 1.21 km of drifts were dug so as to supplement the skills of sub-surface geology and to assess the rock that is present.

2.4. 1945-46 Project Report

In the period from 1945 to 1946 the project involved the modelling of certain elements, with optimum reservoir of El.481.58m as undertaken by the International Engineer Company located in the US. The problem with the reservoir elevation was applied by Draft Bilapur Agreement that was between the Punjab Government and Raja of Bilaspur.

With regard to the 1942 project, intense research that took place in 1945 and a number of intelligence details from experts, the model offered a straight gravity dam comprising a top of El.487.68m with a gate spillway, tunnel spillway, river and outlet as well as a power installation of about 150 MW.

2.5. Final Proposal of the Project 1948-1951

In 1948 that comprised of irrigation and power needs of the region of Punjab located in India was advancing, the issue of the height of the dam, the top elevation that was fixed at EL.487.68m just to safeguard the submergence of Bilaspur town, was assessed and it was opted to build the dam to the optimum safe height as noted by foundation rock elements, this would make it possible for extensive utilization of irrigation and power ability (BBMB, n.d.). After significant water power research and additional foundation assessment, it was opted for in in the same year to increase the dam to its maximum height and complete reservoir to be at El.512.06 which was later increased to El.513.58 m.

The revised models and attributes for the dam were issued to the International Company Inc. of the USA with a consensus on 1948 that took place between it and the Public Works Department (PWD) of Punjab.

Two years later, a revised project report was undertaken for the straight gravity dam of 207.26m in height.

The last project was composed of these elements:

Bhakra Dam and Power Plants
Nangal Dam
Nangal Hydel
Ganguwal & Kotla Power Houses
Bhakra Canals
Bist Canal
Transmission and distribution electrical energy
Development of communications regions

Hence, with the proposal stated, Bhakra Nangal Project acquired the model of a diverse project; it offers irrigation and power generation as it gives advantage and tools for flood deterrence, recreation and fish farming.

The set of laws that govern the Board for construction of the dam went on with the act of pushing the government of India of the desire to increase the speed of the Bhakra Dam. A debate started on the person to construct the dam; the Indian engineers, and the Public Works Department. Dr. A. N. Khosa who had the ability and well understood the project opted for the latter with the help of foreign professionals, the government similarly had the duty in the construction of the dam, and lastly the height of dam was set to be increased by 100 feet. It was hence that Bhakra Control Board was allocated the dutyt o oversee the development of the Project.

2.6. Construction Stage of Bhakra-Nangal Project 1951-1963

The conditions that the work was undergoing was poor; the rail was up to Ropar (60 Km from Nangal), there was no road Ropar to Nangal before 1947. The vital infrastructure began rising in 1948; a hospital among others.

Two major choices were made by the Indian Planners and Engineers; the construction of the Bhakra Canal System and the construction of the dam in parts with the assistance of foreign professionals. Taking to fact that the USBR was in charge of design for the Dam, the implementation was left to Indians experts (BBMB, n.d.). The general construction process began in 1952 when technicians and engineers arrived.

The choice of creating the Bhakra Canal model prior to the dam was beneficial and thoughtful. This was due to Er. Kanwar Sain so that non-perennial supply of water is present to the farmers in most appropriate time. The agreement and fast application of the policy brought about the end of the Bhakra Canal Model.

The engineers and technicians accorded the project their full commitment and energy as they worked day and night for about ten years so as to construct the Bhakra Dam. Pt Nehru was quite fond of the project and dedicated it to the country in 1963.

3. Construction

This is the largest diverse project of India. It was built with the help of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. The total cost of the project was 2,380. The person who came up with the Dam was Sir Louis Dane, a Governor that was based in Punjab. The land that the Dam took up was 168 sq km with 90% being Bilaspur and the rest being part of Una district. The building of the Dam began in 1948 and was finished one and half decade later. This concrete arch Dam was made with the dedication of 150 martyrs, 13000 laborers and 300 engineers. The Dam is three times bigger in height when compared to Qutab and takes up the vital position in India. It has several visitors annually from every part of the world.

The dam is 518 m in length and 226 m in height and built at Bhakra on river Sutlej. The Nangal dam that is located in Punjab is smaller reaching just 29 metres. It is in this dam that there is a Canal which has been built of about 63 km (BBMB, n.d.). Additionally there are two power houses; Ganguwal and kotla that have been built on Nangal hydel channel. A lake known as Gobin Sagar has come to be formed. The lake collects water from Sutlej and Beas. The project size is 1204 MW.

Source: scribd (2013)

4. Reservoir

Gobin Sagar is artificial and is located in Bilaspur. It is built on river Sutlej and it followed the construction of hydel dam in Bhakra. As one with the biggest gravity dams, it is about 225.5m in height. Being over seen by American dam-constructor, Harvey Slocum, the process started in 1955 and was finished seven years later (BBMB, n.d.). So as to sustain the level of water, the trend of the river Beas was directed to Gobind Sagar by a link that ended in 1976.

The reservoir is based in Bilaspur and Una. The times of the year when it has high water levels are October and November. A good number of sports take place at this time of the year.

Conclusion

Bhakra Dam is one of the biggest dams in the world whose construction took more than a decade before it was completed. A set of stages and policies had to be considered before it took off. The dedication and labor that was available made the project to be a success. The paper has been able to look at the issues that took place as the project started in regards to the policies and professional expertise needed. The attributes of the project has made it one of the biggest and successful designs available.

Reference

BBMB (n.d.). Developmental History of Bhakra – Nangal Dam Project. Acquired from: http://bbmb.gov.in/english/history_nangal_dam.asp

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