Which are the 3 Biggest Dams in Maharashtra in 2026?
Maharashtra is home to a large network of massive water reservoirs essential for its economy. Discover the current 2026 official records detailing the top three biggest dams in Maharashtra along with their storage capacities, vital lifelines, and river basins.
Maharashtra just like any major state of India depends heavily on its engineering marvels like dams and reservoirs for rapid growth in industrial and agricultural sectors. And when it comes to owning water reservoirs and dams Maharashtra becomes home to over 2,300 dams out of 5,334 operational dams in India.
The one infamous as the biggest dams in Maharashtra has been serving as the state’s water lifeline for years along with becoming a water distribution channel that shapes regional development.
This article talks about some of the largest dams in Maharashtra along with their river basin and their storage capacity to understand how they become a structural backbone in their respective regions.
List of 3 Biggest Dams in Maharashtra in 2026
Let’s take a look at the following list of dams in Maharashtra along with their measurements and basins as the official Water Resources Department of Maharashtra suggests in its report:
| Rank | Dam Name | River Basin | District Location | Gross Storage Capacity (Mm³) | Catchment Area (sq. km) |
| 1 | Jayakwadi Dam | Godavari River | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | 2,909 | 21,750 |
| 2 | Koyna Dam | Koyna (Krishna Basin) | Satara | 2,797 | 8,527 |
| 3 | Ujjani Dam | Bhima River | Solapur | 1,171 | 14,858 |
1. Jayakwadi Dam
Image Credit: Wikimedia
Jayakwadi Dam near Paithan holds the title of the biggest dam in Maharashtra purely for its overall surface area. Its catchment is 21,750 square kilometers which is almost 1.5 times that of the Delhi NCR region.
The dam supports a big reservoir formation known as the Nathsagar Reservoir behind it. And the water reservoir acts as a crucial sanctuary for migratory birds and local fisheries.
This large earthfill structure primarily serves the drought-prone regions of Marathwada in stabilizing agricultural irrigation and providing drinking water to manufacturing hubs like Jalna and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
2. Koyna Dam
Koyna Dam is both the second biggest and the largest dam in Maharashtra when it comes to electricity generation. The dam is housed in the Sahyadri ranges of the Western Ghats and stands tall at 103.2 meters in height.
It is home to one of the famous water reservoirs we know as Shivasagar Lake.
The dam is also a fuel for the Koyna Hydroelectric Project which is India’s largest completed hydroelectric facility with an installed capacity of 1920 MW.
And thus, the Koyna Dam is rightfully known as the Life Line of Maharashtra for contributing to the state’s electricity grid and needs.
3. Ujjani Dam
Third in the list is Ujjani Dam which is built across the Bhima River in Solapur district of Maharashtra.
Though third in the list of the biggest dams in Maharashtra Ujjani dam is one of the most productive agricultural belts in Western Maharashtra. It irrigates over 5 lakh hectares of land in the nearby areas.
Whereas the Yashwant Sagar reservoir birthed by the dam fulfils the drinking water needs of the entire city apart from being a designated bird sanctuary.
Harshita Singh is an education and general knowledge journalist with over 5 years of experience in educational writing. Specializing in US affairs and GK, Harshita has a track record of breaking down intricate geopolitical and historical subjects into clear, digestible insights for learners. Her strong background in text analysis, coupled with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in English from the University of Delhi, helps her produce authoritative, thoroughly researched content that empowers readers to engage confidently with global current affairs. For inquiries or academic insights, you can reach out to her directly at harshita.singh@jagrannewmedia.com.
