Hirakud Dam has been built on which river?

Appeared in: BCCL kharkhanda Staff Nurse - 2015

Explanation

The Hirakud Dam is constructed across the Mahanadi River in the state of Odisha.
It is located near Sambalpur and is the longest earthen dam in the world.
This project was one of the first major multipurpose river valley projects initiated after India's independence, primarily for flood control, irrigation, and power generation.

Option A: The Ganga River has several important dams and barrages, such as the Tehri Dam (on its tributary, the Bhagirathi) and the Farakka Barrage, but the Hirakud Dam is not one of them.
Option C: The Brahmaputra is a major trans-boundary river flowing through Tibet, India, and Bangladesh. While it has immense hydroelectric potential, the Hirakud Dam is not located on this river.
Option D: The Krishna River is a key river in peninsular India, with major dams like the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam and the Srisailam Dam built on it.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Major Dams and Rivers in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
For community health nurses, knowledge of major public works like dams is relevant as they impact regional public health through water supply management, sanitation, and control of water-borne diseases.
Displacement and rehabilitation of communities due to dam construction create unique public health challenges, including mental and social health issues, that nurses may encounter.
What if? If a major dam experiences a breach or releases excess water for flood control, nurses in the downstream region must be prepared for mass casualty incidents, disease outbreaks from contaminated water, and emergency public health measures.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question from general knowledge, specifically Indian geography.
First, identify the key terms in the question: 'Hirakud Dam' and 'river'.
Access your memory or knowledge base regarding major dams in India.
Associate 'Hirakud Dam' with its location (Odisha) and the river it is built on (Mahanadi).
Evaluate the given options and select the river that matches your knowledge.
Eliminate other major rivers like Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Krishna, which are associated with different well-known dams.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Q6htHbMTQowT1I2T7qmR9s

Practise the full BCCL kharkhanda Staff Nurse - 2015

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.