Murrum Silli Dam

The Murrum Silli Dam or Babu Chhotelal Shrivastav Dam, also spelled Madam Silli and Mordem Silli, is an earth-fill embankment dam on the Sillari River, a tributary of the Mahanadi in central eastern India. It was built under the supervision of British Raj governor Madam Silli for whom it was originally named. It is located in Dhamtari District of Chhattisgarh. Built between 1914 and 1923, it is the first dam in Asia to have siphon spillways. Madamsilli is about 95 km from Raipur. It is one of the most prominent architectural marvels in Chhattisgarh. Its primary purpose is irrigation.

On 3 June 1929 R.S. Rajendranath Sur (government civil engineer, Central province) was awarded by George V the title of “Rai Saheb” for his exemplary works on Murrum Silli Dam.

Murrum Silli Dam
Murrum Silli Dam is located in Chhattisgarh

Murrum Silli Dam
Location of Murrum Silli Dam in Chhattisgarh
Country India
Location Dhamtari District
Coordinates 20°32′17″N 81°39′42″ECoordinates: 20°32′17″N 81°39′42″E
Status Operational
Construction began 1914
Opening date 1923
Dam and spillways
Type of dam Embankment, earth-fill
Impounds Sillari River
Height 34.15 m (112 ft)
Length 2,591 m (8,501 ft)
Dam volume 1,619,000 m3 (2,117,572 cu yd)
Spillway capacity 1,132 m3/s (39,976 cu ft/s)
Reservoir
Total capacity 165,340,000 m3 (216,256,555 cu yd)
Active capacity 161,913,000 m3 (211,774,209 cu yd)
Surface area 25 km2 (10 sq mi)