Betwa
Betwa is a mapped river in the YearMaps hydrographic index. 2 dams stand on this watercourse and are written up below. River courses organise settlement, agriculture and frontier-making more durably than any political boundary, and this reach is indexed against the dams, lakes and cities within its catchment.
- Feature Class
- River
- Dams Recorded
- 2
- Coordinates
- 24.47°, 78.27°
About Betwa
The Betwa (Sanskrit: वेत्रवती) is a river in central and northern India, and a tributary of the Yamuna. It rises in the Vindhya Range (Raisen) just north of Hoshangabad (Narmadapuram) in Madhya Pradesh and flows northeast through Madhya Pradesh before entering Uttar Pradesh after flowing through Orchha. Nearly half of its course, which is not navigable, runs over the Malwa Plateau. The confluence of the Yamuna and the Betwa rivers is in Hamirpur district in Uttar Pradesh, where Yamuna flows northward and Betwa approaches from south of Hamirpur.
The Indian Navy named one of its frigates INS Betwa in honour of the river.
Encyclopedic summary adapted from Wikipedia: Betwa River (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Betwa in Depth
History
In Sanskrit, "Betwa" is Vetravati. This river is mentioned in the epic Mahabharata along with the Charmanwati river. Both are tributaries of the Yamuna River. Vetravati was also known as Shuktimati. The capital of the Chedi Kingdom was on the banks of this river. The length of the river from its origin to its confluence with Yamuna is 590 kilometres (370 mi), out of which 232 kilometres (144 mi) lies in Madhya Pradesh and the balance of 358 kilometres (222 mi) in Uttar Pradesh. By an interstate agreement between the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in 1973, the Betwa River Board (BRB) was constituted under the Betwa River Board Act, 1976.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Betwa River (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Betwa: Key Facts
| Length | 590 km |
|---|---|
| Drainage basin | 50,000 km² |
| Mouth | Yamuna |
| Drainage system | Ganges Basin |
| Tributaries | Jamni River |
Facts from Wikidata Q1334522 (CC0).
Dams on the Betwa
2 dams on the Betwa, ordered by structural height, with their reservoirs and generating capacity.
| Dam | Height | Capacity | Completed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rajghat Dam | 44 m | 45 MW | 2006 |
| Matatila Dam | 35 m | 30 MW | 1958 |
Rajghat Dam
Masonry dam · MP / UP, India
Rajghat Dam is a masonry dam on the Betwa in MP / UP, India, standing 44 m (144 ft) high and completed in 2006. It carries an installed hydroelectric capacity of 45 MW. The structure impounds Rajghat Reservoir.
The Rajghat Dam (also known as Rani Laxmi Bai Dam) is a water reservoir and inter-state dam project of the governments of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh on the Betwa River. It is located 14 km from Chanderi in Madhya Pradesh, 22 km from Lalitpur in Uttar Pradesh and 55 km from Deogarh also in Uttar Pradesh.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Rajghat Dam (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Dam type
- Masonry
- Structural height
- 44 m (144 ft)
- Installed capacity
- 45 MW
- Impounded river
- Betwa
- Reservoir
- Rajghat Reservoir
- Location
- MP / UP, India
- Year completed
- 2006
- Height rank
- #97 of 115 indexed
- Output rank
- #90 of 102 indexed
- Coordinates
- 24.7644°, 78.2389°
Notable: Key inter-state Bundelkhand irrigation scheme on the Betwa.
Among the 115 dams indexed in YearMaps, Rajghat Dam ranks #97 by structural height, behind Jinping-I Dam (305 m). By installed generating capacity it ranks #90, behind Three Gorges Dam (22,500 MW).
Nearest cities: Jhansi (83 km), Sagar (114 km), Gwalior (163 km).
Matatila Dam
Masonry dam · Uttar Pradesh, India
Matatila Dam is a masonry dam on the Betwa in Uttar Pradesh, India, standing 35 m (115 ft) high and completed in 1958. It carries an installed hydroelectric capacity of 30 MW. The structure impounds Matatila Reservoir.
The Matatila Dam is a dam in district Lalitpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, that was built in 1958 on the Betwa River. Situated 50 km from Jhansi and 93 km away from Deogarh, this earthen dam is 35 m high. The dam has 23 Spillway gates. The catchment area is around 20 km2 with a maximum storage capacity of 1132 million cubic metres.
The dam is popular among tourists. Water sports facilities are also available. The best period to visit this place is from September to May. It connects Jhansi to Babina route.
Nearest railway stations are at Matatila, Talbahat (10 km) and Lalitpur, Uttar Pradesh (40 km).
Adapted from Wikipedia: Matatila Dam (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Dam type
- Masonry
- Structural height
- 35 m (115 ft)
- Installed capacity
- 30 MW
- Impounded river
- Betwa
- Reservoir
- Matatila Reservoir
- Location
- Uttar Pradesh, India
- Year completed
- 1958
- Height rank
- #105 of 115 indexed
- Output rank
- #95 of 102 indexed
- Coordinates
- 25.1056°, 78.3814°
Notable: Built shortly after Indian independence to transform arid Lalitpur and Jhansi.
Among the 115 dams indexed in YearMaps, Matatila Dam ranks #105 by structural height, behind Jinping-I Dam (305 m). By installed generating capacity it ranks #95, behind Three Gorges Dam (22,500 MW).
Nearest cities: Jhansi (42 km), Gwalior (127 km), Sagar (144 km).
More about Matatila Dam
Construction
It is believed that, before the dam's construction, there was a seat of “Mata Sharda” on top of the hill. People worshipped the hill. Later, the hill was renamed as Matatila. “Mata” is for Goddess Sharda and “tila” means “top.” When the dam was constructed here it was given the same name, Matatila Dam.
Matatila Dam was built in 1958. It is an earthen dam with a height of 35 meters.
Power Station of the dam is located at the left bank of the River Betwa. The river originates from Bhopal and passes through the outskirts of Jhansi, forming a border line of the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Then, it flows mostly in Uttar Pradesh. Here, it meets the River Yamuna in Hamirpur district.
The River is completely rain fed.
Economy
Matatila Dam was constructed for dual purposes – irrigation and production of hydro electric power.
The dam is built with a capacity to produce 30.6 MW hydro electricity. For this purpose, both flanks of the dam feature robust structural support to ensure ample water discharge force during the time of releasing water and operating heavy duty turbine engines.
Each unit of the power plant has a capacity to produce 10.2 MW electricity. Three hydro machines are installed at the dam. The method of electricity production is direct release of water.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Matatila Dam (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Major River Dossiers
Hand-written studies of the great river systems of history.
Connected Reaches
Nearby watercourses in the same drainage network.
Water Bodies in the Catchment
Settlements Along the Reach
Hydraulic Infrastructure Nearby
Surrounding Terrain
Betwa: Quick Answers
- Where is Betwa?
- Betwa is located in India, at 24.4674° N, 78.2722° E.
- Are there dams on the Betwa?
- Yes. YearMaps records 2 dams on the Betwa: Rajghat Dam, Matatila Dam.
- What is the tallest dam on the Betwa?
- Rajghat Dam is the tallest dam recorded on the Betwa, at 44 m (144 ft), completed in 2006.
- Which dam on the Betwa generates the most electricity?
- Rajghat Dam has the largest installed hydroelectric capacity on the Betwa: 45 MW. Installed capacity is the maximum rated output, not the annual average.