Question

The first river valley project in India is_______.
a)Bhakra Nangal Project
b)Damodar Valley Project
c)Kosi Project
d)Hirakud Project

Answer 1

Hint:River valley projects are commissioned for purposes like generation of electricity, flood control, irrigation, navigation etc. These projects involve building of large dams or series of dams.

Complete answer:River valley projects or multipurpose river valley projects were one of the major focus areas under Nehruvian planning. Many of these projects were recommended and commissioned in the first five year plan itself.
Let us look at the options given to us.
Option A -Bhakra Nangal project is built over river Sutlej. Construction began in 1948 and the dam opened in 1963.

Option B- Damodar Valley project or the Damodar valley corporation came into existence on 7 July 1948 as the first river valley project of India. Developed over Damodar river, the project was commissioned for irrigation, power generation and flood control and is jointly operated by West Bengal and Jharkhand.

Option C- Kosi river flows both in India and Nepal. The overflowing of Kosi results in disastrous floods because of which the Kosi barrage was built between 1959 and 1963. The barrage was built for the purpose of irrigation, flood control and hydropower generation.

Option D- Hirakud project is built over Mahanadi river. It was completed in 1953 and inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1957.

Therefore the correct answer is option (B).

Note:The Bhakra Nangal project is the largest river valley project in India. Bhakra dam is the highest straight gravity dam in the world. Tehri dam in Bhagirathi river is the tallest dam in India. One must note that the Hirakud dam is the longest earthen dam in India as well as the world.