🌊 Tehri Dam - India’s Tallest Dam and a Marvel of Engineering! 🏗️
Welcome to Beyond the Blueprint ! In today’s video, we take a deep dive into the fascinating story of Tehri Dam—from its origins in 1949 to its current status in April 2025.
Located at the confluence of the Bhagirathi and Bhilangna Rivers in Uttarakhand, the Tehri Dam is one of the tallest dams in the world and plays a critical role in hydroelectric power generation, water supply, irrigation, and flood control in Northern India.
But behind this engineering feat lies a tale of decades of construction, environmental protests, mass displacement, and bold innovation.
In this video, you’ll learn:
🔹 The geographical & strategic importance of the Tehri site
🔹 The dam’s incredible engineering specs and design
🔹 Power generation & the role of the Tehri Hydroelectric Complex
🔹 The environmental and social controversies
🔹 Current status as of April 2025
🔹 Future prospects for India’s energy needs
📌 Whether you're a student, engineer, policy enthusiast, or infrastructure lover—this video has something for you!
👉 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the bell icon for more deep dives into India’s mega infrastructure projects.
#TehriDam #HydroelectricPower #IndiaMegaProjects #TehriLake #THDC #DamsInIndia #TehriHydroProject #IndianEngineering #Uttarakhand #WaterPowerIndia #MegaProjectIndia #RenewableEnergy #InfrastructureIndia #news #automobile #makeinindia #india2025
Welcome to Beyond the Blueprint ! In today’s video, we take a deep dive into the fascinating story of Tehri Dam—from its origins in 1949 to its current status in April 2025.
Located at the confluence of the Bhagirathi and Bhilangna Rivers in Uttarakhand, the Tehri Dam is one of the tallest dams in the world and plays a critical role in hydroelectric power generation, water supply, irrigation, and flood control in Northern India.
But behind this engineering feat lies a tale of decades of construction, environmental protests, mass displacement, and bold innovation.
In this video, you’ll learn:
🔹 The geographical & strategic importance of the Tehri site
🔹 The dam’s incredible engineering specs and design
🔹 Power generation & the role of the Tehri Hydroelectric Complex
🔹 The environmental and social controversies
🔹 Current status as of April 2025
🔹 Future prospects for India’s energy needs
📌 Whether you're a student, engineer, policy enthusiast, or infrastructure lover—this video has something for you!
👉 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the bell icon for more deep dives into India’s mega infrastructure projects.
#TehriDam #HydroelectricPower #IndiaMegaProjects #TehriLake #THDC #DamsInIndia #TehriHydroProject #IndianEngineering #Uttarakhand #WaterPowerIndia #MegaProjectIndia #RenewableEnergy #InfrastructureIndia #news #automobile #makeinindia #india2025
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NewsTranscript
00:00India is home to some of the world's most iconic and impactful infrastructure projects,
00:05and among them stands a towering symbol of vision, resilience, and innovation, the Terry Dam.
00:11Built at the confluence of the Bhagirathi and Balangna rivers in Uttarakhand,
00:15the Terry Dam is not just India's tallest dam, but also one of the tallest in the world.
00:21But behind its impressive numbers lies a story of decades-long struggle,
00:24engineering triumph, environmental controversy, and socio-economic transformation.
00:30In today's video, we'll take you through the fascinating journey of the Terry Dam,
00:35from its origins and design to its social impact and future significance.
00:39This is the full story of one of India's most ambitious hydroelectric projects.
00:45Let's begin by understanding where Terry Dam is located and why this location was chosen.
00:50The dam is situated near the town of New Terry in the Terry Garwal district of Uttarakhand.
00:56The Bhagirathi River, one of the main headstreams of the sacred Ganga River, flows from the Himalayas.
01:03This region is known for its steep terrain and high water flow, making it an ideal site for a gravity dam.
01:10Being in the Himalayas also posed unique challenges, the region lies in seismic zone V,
01:15meaning it's highly prone to earthquakes.
01:17Yet despite this, engineers constructed a structure that can reportedly withstand earthquakes of magnitude 8.4 on the Richter scale.
01:26The idea of constructing a dam at Terry was first proposed way back in 1949, soon after India's independence.
01:33But planning began in earnest only in the early 1970s.
01:39The primary goals
01:40Generate hydroelectric power
01:43Provide irrigation water to northern India
01:46Supply drinking water to major cities like Delhi
01:50Control flooding downstream during monsoons
01:53Construction formally began in 1978 and continued for decades amidst hurdles.
01:59A major turning point came in 1990, when the project began receiving substantial financial and administrative backing.
02:08The dam's construction progressed in multiple phases.
02:11The main dam was completed by 2006, and power generation started shortly after.
02:18Terry Dam is an earth and rock fill embankment dam, unlike traditional concrete gravity dams.
02:23This type was selected to ensure better performance in earthquake-prone areas.
02:28Here are some jaw-dropping specs.
02:31Height, 260.5 meters, 855 feet.
02:37Length, 575 meters.
02:41Width at base, 1,128 meters.
02:45Reservoir capacity, 4.0 cubic kilometers.
02:49Surface area, around 52 square kilometers.
02:54The dam holds back the Bagyarthi River to create the Terry Lake, which serves as a massive freshwater reservoir.
03:01One of the most critical functions of the Terry Dam is power generation.
03:06It's part of what's known as the Terry Hydro Power Complex, which includes
03:10Terry Dam and Hydro Power Plant, 1,000 MW, operational.
03:16Coachward Dam Downstream, 400 MW, operational.
03:20Terry Pumped Storage Plant, 1,000 MW, partially operational as of April 2025.
03:28Together, they form a hydroelectric ecosystem that provides clean energy to multiple Indian states and help stabilize the power grid.
03:36The pumped storage system is a game-changer.
03:40During times of low demand, excess power is used to pump water back up into the Terry Reservoir.
03:46When demand peaks, this water is released to generate electricity, making it one of the most efficient energy storage systems in the world.
03:54Terry Dam is not just about electricity.
03:56It also provides drinking water to over 4 million people in Delhi and surrounding cities.
04:05Supplies irrigation water to 270,000 hectares of farmland in Uttar Pradesh.
04:10Plays a critical role in flood control, especially during the monsoon season.
04:15This multi-purpose functionality makes Terry a linchpin in North India's water and energy security.
04:22Large-scale infrastructure comes at a price, and for Terry Dam, the most significant cost was human displacement.
04:29The creation of the reservoir submerged more than 100 villages, including the historic town of Old Terry.
04:36Over 1 lakh people were displaced and had to be resettled in a new township known as New Terry.
04:42The resettlement was controversial.
04:44Many people resisted relocation due to emotional and cultural ties to the land.
04:50The transition wasn't easy, especially for older generations, but the government provided land, houses, and monetary compensation.
04:59Terry Dam has been one of the most hotly debated infrastructure projects in India's history.
05:05Environmentalists warned of
05:07Loss of forest cover
05:09Risk of landslides and soil erosion
05:12Impact on aquatic ecosystems
05:15High seismic vulnerability
05:18Leading the resistance was Sindirlao Bahugana, the environmental activist known for the Chipko movement.
05:25He led protests, fasted for weeks, and drew global attention to the project.
05:30Despite the opposition, the government pushed forward, citing national energy and water security.
05:37To address these risks, several measures were implemented.
05:41Seismic sensors and monitoring systems
05:44Slope stabilization and afforestation
05:47Continuous dam health surveillance
05:50Even now, the dam is regularly inspected and updated using modern dam safety techniques.
05:57As of 2025, no major structural or operational failures have been reported.
06:03New Terry has emerged as a popular tourist destination.
06:07The pristine Terry Lake now offers water sports like jet skiing, boating, and parasailing.
06:12The annual Terry Lake Festival attracts thousands of tourists, boosting local employment and economy.
06:20Moreover, the dam supports local industries by ensuring consistent water and power supply, making it a vital contributor to Uttarakon's economy.
06:28As of April 2025, the main dam and Kochwar HEP are fully operational.
06:36The first unit of the Terry pump storage plant is running successfully.
06:41Expansion and modernization works continue under THDC India Limited, which is now a joint venture between NTPC and the government of Uttar Pradesh.
06:50The reservoir continues to operate efficiently, with increasing use of AI and IOT for dam monitoring and water management.
06:58The Terry dam is more than concrete, rock, and turbines, it's a story of ambition, resistance, resilience, and balance.
07:07It provides water, power, and hope to millions, but also reminds us of the costs of progress.
07:14As India continues its journey toward infrastructure-led development, the Terry dam stands as a milestone, a massive, powerful, and controversial one.
07:24So what are your thoughts?
07:26Should we invest more in large-scale projects like Terry?
07:30How can we balance development with sustainability?
07:34Let us know in the comments below.
07:36And if you enjoyed this deep dive, don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to Beyond the Blueprint for more fascinating stories of India's greatest engineering marvels.