Ajwa is a reservoir located about 10 miles east of the city of Vadodara, Gujarat, India.

Ajwa
Ajwa Reservoir 62 doors
Ajwa is located in Gujarat
Ajwa
Location within Gujarat
CountryIndia
LocationVishwamitri river, Vadodara district, Gujarat
Coordinates22°22′30.4″N 73°23′6.4″E / 22.375111°N 73.385111°E / 22.375111; 73.385111
Dam and spillways
Length5,000 m (16,000 ft)
Reservoir
CreatesAjwa
Catchment area195 km2 (75 sq mi)

Construction and function

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It is an earthen dam that was built early 20th century by the then ruler of Vadodara, Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. Its main aim was to provide water to the residents of Vadodara. Although the population of Vadodara at that time was 100,000 it was the ruler's vision to build the reservoir three times larger. This reservoir has the ability to attend to the water requirements of about 300,000 people residing in the eastern parts of the city.

The dam is about 5 km long. It can store water to the height of 211 feet above the sea level (its overflow level).[1] The floor of the reservoir is at around 196 feet. It is connected to the Vishwamitri river which flows through the city of Vadodara, so that excess water in event of floods is dispatched to this river. The reservoir has 62 gates. Sardar Sarovar's One Branch Canal Feed water during dry season whenever requires.[1]

The engineer of the dam was Jagannath Sadashiva Hate, also known as Shri Jagannath Sadashivji. When the reservoir is full, it is supposed to have a catchment area of something close to 195 square kilometers.

Nature conservation

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Adjacent to the dam are the famous Ajwa gardens also called as Vrindavan Garden, which are an adaptation of the famous Vrindavan gardens located in Mysore. It was very famous especially in the evenings for its coloured fountains and a musical fountain. But from 2019 onwards Vrindavan Gargern Turn in to ATAPI Resort.

The reservoir is home to some 340 crocodiles.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b "6,000 evacuated, 1 dead in Vadodara". The Times of India. 23 September 2005. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
  2. ^ "Croc Chronicles: VMC refuses to house homeless crocodiles in Ajwa Sarovar". 21 September 2008.