The Bhakra dam turns 50 on Tuesday. It was dedicated to the nation on October 22, 1963 by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
As the stage is set to celebrate the golden jubilee of Bhakra dam at Nangal township on October 22 by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), the Centre has agreed to release a second commemorative stamp in honour of the dam at the function at Nangal, the BBMB said in a press statement. The first commemorative postal stamp was released on December 15, 1988.
Harish Rawat, union minister of water resources, will be the chief guest, while Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda will be guests of honour during the celebrations to be held at the cricket ground, Nangal.
Situated at Bhakra village of Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh, about 13 km upstream from Nangal township, Bhakra dam is one of the highest concrete straight gravity dams in the world. Its lake Gobind Sagar, named after Guru Gobind Singh, is about 97 km long covering about 168 sq km.
Considered as the largest reservoir in India, the height of Bhakra dam above the deepest foundation is 740 ft -- three times the height of the Qutub Minar. The dam was built at a cost of Rs. 245.28 crore (1963 price index).
Bhakra dam played a key role in green revolutions and rapid industrialization in the northern region.
Nehru was so proud of the project that during the construction stage, he showcased it to a number of foreign dignitaries, including the heads of countries. He himself visited the project as many as 13 times during the construction period to inspect the work and even held discussions on the Panchsheel agreement with Chinese Premier Chou En Lai at the site of the project.
The BBMB said the union minister of water resources would also lay the foundation stone of an indoor stadium at Nangal and unveil the commemorative plaque at the Bhakra dam.
Source : Hindustan Times
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