Visit report 1

Name of dam: Gangapur dam

Date of visit: 23rd December 2016

Location: Gangawadi, Taluka/ District Nasik

Site Location:

1 Gangapur Dam location

Guided by: Dr Sunil Kute Sir

Objectives:
1. To gain insight and knowledge of Gangapur dam.
2. To apply theoretical knowledge to practical situations.
3. To study the selection of dam site.
4. To study different components of dam.
 Introduction
History
At the end of 19th century there was a serious draught condition in Nasik and nearby
villages. To overcome the situation British government at that time appointed committee
under the guidance and leadership of Engr. Bill. Survey was carried out and a dam was
proposed on Darna River in Igatpuri. It serves the purpose of irrigation and drinking
water supply to nearby towns.

After completion and opening of Darna Dam (a.k.a. Bill Lake) it was found that Nasik
was not benefitted by that dam. So another committee was appointed under the guidance
of Executive Engr. Evershed. Upstream side of Godavari River was surveyed and in
1942 dam was recommended near Gangawadi village.

Proposal was sanctioned in 1948. This dam is constructed in two phases, the first phase
was completed in 1960 and the 2nd phase i.e. final completion of project was done in
1965. This is the first dam in state which is constructed on basis of Terzaghis soil
mechanics principle.

Due to deposition of silt, storage capacity of Gangapur Dam is reduced also due to
increase in residential zone (civilization) in command area of Nasik, Right Bank canal is
closed since 2006 and the land has been given to Nasik Municipal Corporation for laying
pipeline for drinking water from Gangapur Dam. In order to overcome the storage
loss, Kashyapi Dam has been constructed on the upstream.

Overview of visit
Students of B.E. 1st Shift of Department of Civil Engineering, KKWIEER, visited
the Gangapur Dam under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Sunil Kute along with Prof. Mrunal
Khule and Prof. Abhishek Chaudhary on 23rd December.

Firstly we got a brief introduction of dam and then we learned about emergency
spillway, main spillway, intake well, canal, siphon.
Gangapur Dam
Salient Features of the dam:
Attribute Value
1. Name of the dam Gangapur Dam
2. River Godavari (confluence of river Godavari and river
Kashyapi)
3. Location Latitude 20.38 Longitude 73.19 Top sheet no. 48-11/12
4. Name of Village Gangawadi, Tal and Dist. Nasik
5. Nearest City Nasik
6. District Nasik
7. State Maharashtra
8. Basin Name Godavari
9. Commencement year 1946
10. Completion year 1965
11. Purpose Irrigation, drinking water supply, hydroelectric
12. Seismic zone Zone III
13. Classification Major
14. Dam type Earthen
15. Catchment area 138 Sq. miles, 357.40 Sq. km
16. Type of spillway Overflow or Ogee
17. Spillway gate Radial / Tainter gate
18. No. of gates 9
19. Submergence Area 2231 hectares
20. Controlling levels Feet Meter
a. T.B.L 2015 614.52
b. F.S.L 2009 612.50
c. Spillway crest RL 1983.03 606.41
d. Still RL of RB outlet 1965 599.09
e. Still RL of LB outlet 1932.83 589.94
f. Lowest riverbed RL 1982 573.78
g. Deepest foundation RL 1875 571.65
h. Top width of dam 30 9.15
i. Maximum height
Above river bed 120 36.58
Above deepest fall 142 43.29
 21. Length of dam 3.811m
22. Storages
a. Gross storage 7600 Mcft - 215.44 M. cum
b. Live Storage 7200 Mcft -203 M. cum
c. Dead Storage 400 Mcft 203.85 M. cum
23. Rainfall
a. Average annual rainfall 90 2250mm
at Trimbak
b. Average annual rainfall 92 2300mm
at Waghera
c. Average annual rainfall 30 750mm
at Gangapur dam
24. Outlets NLBC NRBC
a. Type Open well type Head well type
b. Location 2630 L 2350 R
c. Still R.L. 1932.83 Ft. 1965.00 Ft.
d. MDDL 1941.50 Ft (691.920m)
e. Operation Head 76.17 44
f. Max. design discharge 415 cusecs 135 cusecs
g. No. of gates 2 63 x 8 2- 46 x 46
h. Conduit Horse shoe type Horse shoe type
(double barrel) (single barrel)
i. Length 380 188
25. Canal
a. Length 38 miles 19 miles
b. G.C.A 23200 Ha 7200 Ha
c. L.C.A 12190 Ha 3700 Ha
d. C.C.A 16500 Ha 5400 Ha
26. Cost of the project 500 Lakhs

Special feature of dam

Emergency spillway: On malfunction of main spillway water is diverted to emergency
spillway. It is constructed weak to wash away to save spillway and dam body. This is the only
dam in India having emergency spillway. Length of spillway is 325m. This spillway is not
used until date.
Selection of type of dam
Type of dam was selected considering the following points -

1. For construction of dam considering length to be 3.811 km, concrete was not
economical.
2. Scarcity of stones led to drop selection of stone masonry dam.
3. Narrow valley was unavailable and due to soft foundation gravity dam was rejected
because foundation may not have sustained its heavy loads.
4. Soft foundation and availability of abundant soil, earthen type of dam was selected.
5. Water tight basin was available and labour cost was less at the time of construction,
hence earthen dam.

Components of dam
1. Spillway: A spillway is a water way provided to dispose of the surplus flood waters from
a reservoir after it has been filled to its maximum capacity.
A. Classification of spillway based on time when the spillways come into operation:
a. Main spillway
A main spillway is the one which is the first to come into operation and is designed to
pass the entire spillway design flood. It is the component of dam which allows the surplus
floods to overflow.
It is essential to provide a spillway of sufficient capacity so that the surplus water is
discharged keeping the water level in the reservoir below some predetermined maximum
level and no damage is caused to the dam. A spillway of insufficient capacity may
however lead to overtopping of the dam resulting in serious damage or failure of dam. On
the other hand overestimation of the spillway capacity would result in an uneconomical
design.
Components of spillway: i. Control structure
ii. Discharge channel
iii. Terminal structures- Energy dissipaters
1. Stiling basin
2. Bucket type
iv. Entrance and outlet channels

Design parameters of spillway:

i. Design should be made for adequate flood discharging capacity.
ii. It should have sound foundation.
iii. Tail channel should also have sound foundation
iv. It should be free from scouring tendency.
v. Adequate site should be available for accommodating stilling basin to acquire energy
dissipation.

At initial stage volumetric capacity of the dam was 5.5 TMC, as it was built for single
purpose of agriculture. But due to increasing demands it was increased to 7.2 TMC.
Storage is built against the 9 gates.
 b. Emergency spillway
An emergency spillway is the one which is provided in addition to the main spillway but
it comes into operation only during emergency which may arise at any time and the same
might not have been considered in normal design of the main spillway. It is also known as
breaching section.
On malfunction of main spillway water is diverted to emergency spillway. It is
constructed weak to wash away to save spillway and dam body. This is the only dam in
India having emergency spillway. Length of spillway is 325m. This spillway is not used
until date.

Site selection for emergency spillway:

i. Initial velocity can cause erosion of soil therefore downstream site should contain
sound rock.
ii. Erosion should be controlled as far as possible.
iii. Availability of adequate topography.
iv. Proper construction of approach channel to emergency spillway.
c. Auxiliary spillway
An auxiliary spillway is the one which is provided as a supplement to the main spillway
and its crest is so located that it comes into operation only after the floods for which the
main spillway is designed are exceeded.

B. Classification of spillways based on flow through the spillway

a. Controlled or Gated spillway
A spillway having means to control the out flow from the reservoir is known as
controlled or gated reservoir.
b. Uncontrolled or Ungated spillway
A spillway, the crest which permits water to escape automatically, as the water level in
the reservoir rises above the crest is known as uncontrolled or ungated spillway.
C. Classification of spillway based on prominent features pertaining to the various
components of the spillway.
a. Free overfall or straight drop spillway
b. Overflow or Ogee spillway
c. Chute or open channel or Trough spillway
d. Shaft or Morning glory spillway
e. Conduit or tunnel spillway
f. Siphon Spillway
2. Intake Well
An intake structure forms an entrance into the outlet works and it accommodates the
control devices at the entrance. It also supports necessary auxiliary appurtenances such as
trash racks, fish screen etc. An intake structure may either be submerged or extended as a
tower to some height above the maximum water surface.
At Gangapur dam two intake wells are provided from where two canals are started:
a. Nasik Left Bank Canal (NLBC): 64 km in length this meets Nandur Madhmeshwar
dam.
b. Nasik Right Bank Canal (NRBC): 30km in length also meets Nandur Madhmeshwar
dam.

NRBC is closed down and the canal is used to lay the pipeline for drinking water
distribution. Two gates are provided in the intake well of which one is used at a time.Air
vents are provided.

3. Upstream and downstream slope

Finite slope is provided on both the sides of the dam wall.
Berm, horizontal portion which breaks the slopes, is provided for stability of the slope.
4. Stone pitching
On upstream slope stone pitching is done to avoid erosion and to maintain the stability of
the dam. Vertical stones, called wave breakers, are used to minimize the wave action and
damage to the dam.
5. Top Bund Level (TBL):
Maximum height provided to dam wall to maintain the slope and stability is known as top
bund level.
6. Filter:
The only measure adopted to reduce the seepage through the dam is provision of a core of
impervious soil or filter within the body of the dam.
7. COT- Cut off trench
A cut off is a vertical impermeable barrier provided within the pervious foundation of an
earth dam to reduce the seepage of water through the foundation. It usually extends down
from the base of the impervious core provided within the body of the dam.
8. Cross drainage works (CD works)
Cross drainage works are the construction done at the junction of river and canal.
a. Aqueduct Canal flow above the river.
b. Siphon Canal below river is called siphon. It is closed conduit flow under pressure.

Pressure on the flow of the canal in siphon:

a. Water level in canal is subjected to atmospheric pressure till siphon section.

b. After entering into siphon section canal water is subjected to pressure.
c. Canal water is subjected to pressure again.
d. The river water is subjected to the atmospheric pressure.
Comments
Due to silt deposition the storage capacity of the dam is reduced. Proper measures should be
taken to remove silt to increase life and proper functioning of the dam. Proper study of
disaster management is needed to avoid the fatal causalities upon failure of dam.

Conclusion
The different components of the dam are studied with their functioning. The proper
selection of type of dam is studied for the available site conditions.
Sketches