Importance :

• It is an ambitious multipurpose river valley project in Odisha, planned for harnessing the waters of Mahanadi river.
• There dams are constructed across the Mahanadi at different places. 
• The 4801 mt long dam has been built across the Mahanadi at Hirakud, 9.7 kms up stream of Sambalpur. 
• The height of the dam above the river bed is 61 metres. 
• It is the longest dam in India and forms 650 km² reservoir. 
• It has a gross storage capacity of 810 crore cubic meters of water. 
• They irrigate 2.54 lakh hectares. 
• The project has two hydro-electric power stations with an installed capacity of 270 m. 
• The second and third dams are constructed at Tikarapara and Naraj respectively. 
• The Mahanadhi Delta Irrigation scheme can provide irrigation for 6.84 lakh hectares. 
• The third one comprises of 1353 km and 386.2 km long canals with irrigation potential of 5.4 lakh hectares. 
• Chief Aims of this projects are :
• Flood control 
• Irrigation development 
• Generation of hydro-electric power 
• Provides navigation, recreational facilities and afforestation.