Balimela Reservoir
| Balimela Dam | |
|---|---|
Interactive map of Balimela Dam | |
| Location | Balimela |
| Coordinates | 18°18′29″N 82°15′23″E / 18.30806°N 82.25639°E |
| Purpose | Irrigation, Power |
| Status | Completed |
| Opening date | 1977 |
| Owner | Odisha |
| Operator | Odisha |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Gravity and Masonry |
| Impounds | Sileru River |
| Height | 70 m (230 ft) maximum. |
| Length | 1,821 m (5,974 ft) |
| Spillway type | Ogee section |
| Spillway capacity | 10930 cumecs |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Balimela Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 3,610×106 m3 (0.87 mi3) |
| Active capacity | 2,676×106 m3 (0.642 mi3) |
| Inactive capacity | 934×106 m3 (0.224 mi3) |
| Catchment area | 4,910 km2 (1,900 mi2) |
| Surface area | 184.53 km2 (71.25 mi2) |
| Power Station | |
| Operator | Odisha |
| Turbines | 6 × 60, 2 × 75 MW |
| Installed capacity | 510 MW |
The Balimela Reservoir is located in Malkangiri district, Odisha, India on the river Sileru which is a tributary of the Godavari river. The gross storage capacity of Balimela reservoir is 3610 million cubic meters.
Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Odisha states entered into agreements to construct Balimela dam as a joint project and share the Sileru river waters available equally at Balimela dam site. Odisha developed the 360 MW (6 × 60 MW units) power house by diverting the Balimela waters to the Potteru sub-river basin. A barrage at Surlikonda across the Potteru stream was constructed to redirect the discharge from Balimela Power House into two main canals for irrigation; one on the right side named Tamasha Main Canal and the second on the left side named Gompakonda Main Canal. These two canals were constructed under the Potteru Irrigation Project for irrigation in Malkangiri district, the most backward district of the state and thereby lifting the living standard of the inhabitants. Two more power generation units 75 MW each were added under stage-2 to increase the installed capacity up to 510 MW.
The share of Andhra Pradesh from the available water in the Belimela is released downstream into the river for generating hydro electricity located at Upper Sileru, Donkarai and lower Sileru Hydro power stations ultimately utilizing the water for irrigation in the Godavari delta during dry season.