logo

Odisha Hydro Power Corporation Ltd.

A Gold rated State PSU( A Govt. of Odisha Undertaking )

Powering Green Energy

Welcome To Chiplima Hydro Electric Project

Hirakud Power System:II (Chiplima)
  • Location: 30 Kms. from Sambalpur
  • No. of Units: 3(Three)
  • Name of the Dam: Chiplima
  • Type of Dam Forebay
  • Installed capacity: 72 MW

The multi-purpose Hirakud Dam across the river Mahanadi was constructed for flood control, irrigation and power generation. Hirakud Dam is a composite structure of earth, concrete and masonry. The main dam having an overall length of 4.8 km spans between hills Laxmi-Dungri on left and Chandli-Dunguri on the right. The dam is flanged by 21 km log earthen dykes, both on left and right sides to close the low saddles beyond the abutment hills. It has the distinction of being at one time the longest earth dam in the world, being 25.8 km long with dams and dykes taken together. It also has the rare distinction of forming the biggest artificial lake in Asia with reservoir spread of 743 sq km at full reservoir level. Hirakud dam intercepts 83400 sq. km of Mahanadi catchments. The reservoir has live storage of 4823 million cubic meters with gross storage of 8136 million cubic meters.

Water from dam enters the turbine through trash-rack, intake structure and penstock and gets discharged to the tailrace through draft tube. To control the flow, hydraulic intake gates are provided for each machine.

The power component of HPS consist of

  • Power House I at Burla
  • Power Channel – a 26.72 km long water conducer system to carry the tailrace
    water from Burla Power House to Chiplima Power House.
  • Power House – II at Chiplima

Stage – I

The main features of stage I are dam and appurtenant works, canal system and power generation & transmission. Four generating units with installed capacity 123 MW (2x37.5 + 2x24) were completed in PH-I at Burla.

Stage – II

The main features of stage II are Power channel, power generation at PH I & II and transmission system. Two more generating units with installedcapacity of 75 MW) 2 x 37.5) were added n power house Burla. Three generating units with installed capacity of 72 MW (3 x 24) were completed in power house-II at Chiplima. The work under stage II was started on Jan. 1957 and was inaugurated by late Dr. A. N Khosal.

Stage – III

The work under stage III covers the installation of 7th Unit (37.5 MW) at Power House-I, Burla. The work started on 1st December' 1982 and completed on 13th September' 1990.


N.B. : As a part of restructuring, Chiplima Power House (Power House No. II) has been separated from HPS, Burla, with effect from 01.07.2009 and renamed as Chiplima Hydro Electric Project, Chiplima. Similarly, the Burla Power House (Power House No. I) has been renamed as Hirakud Hydro Electric Project, Burla.