What is common to the places known as Aliyar, Isapur and Kangsabati?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (d) Water reservoirs
Aliyar, Isapur and Kangsabati are all water reservoirs behind dams: Aliyar in Tamil Nadu, Isapur on the Penganga in Maharashtra and Kangsabati in West Bengal. Each stores water mainly for irrigation.
- ✓ (d) Aliyar reservoir (Parambikulam-Aliyar Project) is in Tamil Nadu, the Isapur dam is on the Penganga river in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra, and the Kangsabati Reservoir Project irrigates Bankura, Midnapore and Hooghly in West Bengal.
- ✗ (a) These places are known for dams and irrigation reservoirs, not for mining.
- ✗ (b) The three sites lie in three different states and are known for their dams, not for tropical rain forest.
Remember · Aliyar (Tamil Nadu), Isapur (Maharashtra) and Kangsabati (West Bengal) are all dam reservoirs.
Sources
- Parambikulam Aliyar sub basin, IAMWARM project report, Water Resources Department, Government of Tamil Nadu ↗ “Apart from its own catchments, water can be diverted to this reservoir through the Aliyar Feeder canal and the Contour canal from the Parambikulam group of reservoirs.”
- Sedimentation assessment of Isapur reservoir, Maharashtra, Central Water Commission (2021) ↗ “Isapur dam was constructed in the year 1983 on the river Penganga in Pusad Taluk of Yeotmal district in Maharashtra.”
- Kangsabati Reservoir Project, Irrigation and Waterways Department, Government of West Bengal ↗ “Kangsabati Reservoir Project was started in the year 1956-57. Till date an irrigation potential of 3,48,477 ha. has been created in the districts of Bankura, Midnapore and Hooghly through this Project.”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2019, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·