Overview
Rawatbhata is a town and municipality in the Chittorgarh district of the state of Rajasthan, India. It is best known as the site of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS), one of India's principal nuclear power generating complexes, and for the Rana Pratap Sagar Dam on the Chambal River. The town has developed largely around these public-sector installations and the associated townships.
Key facts
| Type | Town and municipality |
|---|---|
| State | Rajasthan |
| District | Chittorgarh |
| Country | India |
| Region | Hadoti, south-eastern Rajasthan |
| River | Chambal |
| Known for | Rajasthan Atomic Power Station; Rana Pratap Sagar Dam |
| Languages | Hindi, Hadoti, Mewari |
Geography
Rawatbhata lies on the Chambal River in the Hadoti region of south-eastern Rajasthan. The surrounding terrain forms part of the eastern fringe of the Mewar plateau, with low hills, dry deciduous forest patches and reservoirs created by a chain of Chambal Valley dams. The town is situated downstream of the Gandhi Sagar Dam in Madhya Pradesh and is closely associated with the Rana Pratap Sagar reservoir, while Jawahar Sagar Dam lies further downstream towards Kota.
Rajasthan Atomic Power Station
The Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS), operated by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), is the principal industrial facility at Rawatbhata. The first unit at the site, RAPS-1, was developed in technical collaboration with Canada and was among the earliest pressurised heavy-water reactors (PHWRs) to be commissioned in India. Subsequent units of the indigenous PHWR design were added over the years, making Rawatbhata one of the largest nuclear power complexes in the country by number of reactors. The station draws cooling water from the Rana Pratap Sagar reservoir.
Rana Pratap Sagar Dam
The Rana Pratap Sagar Dam, named after the Mewar ruler Maharana Pratap, is part of the Chambal Valley Project, a joint hydroelectric and irrigation initiative of the governments of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The dam supports a hydroelectric power station and provides water for irrigation as well as for cooling the adjoining nuclear power complex.
Civic administration
Rawatbhata is administered as a municipality (nagar palika) under the Rajasthan Municipalities Act framework. The presence of NPCIL and central government installations means that significant residential colonies and amenities within and around the town are maintained by the operating organisations in addition to civic services provided by the municipality.
Economy
The local economy is dominated by employment generated by the nuclear power station, the hydroelectric project and ancillary services. Trade, transport and small-scale services serve the resident workforce and the surrounding agricultural hinterland, where wheat, soybean, maize and pulses are commonly grown.
Transport
Rawatbhata is connected by road to Kota, which serves as the nearest major urban centre and the principal railway and air gateway for the region. State highways link the town to Chittorgarh and to district centres in the Hadoti region.
Significance
Rawatbhata occupies an important place in India's civilian nuclear programme as a long-running site for pressurised heavy-water reactor operations and as a centre of expertise for NPCIL. Together with the Chambal Valley dams, it represents one of the major mid-twentieth-century industrial and infrastructure clusters developed in Rajasthan.
Related topics
- Rajasthan Atomic Power Station
- Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited
- Rana Pratap Sagar Dam
- Chambal River
- Chittorgarh district
- Kota, Rajasthan
- Hadoti
- Pressurised heavy-water reactor
References
- Wikidata entry: Q2554975
- Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited, official website.
- Government of Rajasthan, Department of Local Self Government.