Ithai Barrage

Ithai Dam
Location of Ithai Dam in Manipur Ithai Barrage (India)
Official name	Ithai Barrage
Coordinates	24.4250575°N 93.8364636°E / 24.4250575; 93.8364636
Construction began	1971
Opening date	1983
Construction cost	Rs 1,150,000,000
Pumps	3
Installed capacity	105 MW

The Ithai Barrage impounds the Manipur River just below the confluence of the Imphal River and the Tuitha River. It is part of the Loktak Hydroelectric project.

Its primary objective is to regulate water levels in the Loktak Lake, effectively converting it into a reservoir. Initiated by the Ministry of Irrigation and Power in 1971, the project was overseen by the National Hydro-Electric Power Corporation and completed in 1983, with an estimated expenditure of ₹115 crore (US$14 million).

Functionally, the barrage comprises three units, each capable of generating 35 MW, totaling 105 MW of power generation capacity. Additionally, it provides irrigation services to approximately 24,000 hectares of land, enhancing agricultural activities in the region. Notably, the Imphal River serves as the primary outlet for draining water from Manipur's central valley. Given that all watercourses in the valley are intricately linked, with the Loktak Lake acting as a nexus, the Ithai barrage assumes a pivotal role in regulating the region's water dynamics.

In fact, the Imphal River is the only outlet of draining water from the central valley of Manipur, since all the rivers, streams and major water bodies in the valley are connected directly or indirectly through the Loktak Lake, and subsequently drained outside the state joining the Chindwin-Irrawaddy system of Burma. Hence, Ithai barrage can be considered as the main gate which control quantity of water of Manipur Central valley, playing an important role in the environment of the valley as regards to the water supply, water storage, flood, drought, agriculture, fishery, irrigation, power production, aquatic flora and fauna etc. of Manipur central valley in particular and Manipur state in general.