The Rihand project is the most important multi-purpose project in Uttar Pradesh. The Rihand river flows across a narrow gorge in the Vindhyan ranges in the Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh. It may appear lazy and docile in the dry season but during the monsoons it is a very strong and vicious river. The river originates in the Manipal Hills in Madhya Pradesh and through its course upto Pipri, its dam site, the river hoards large amounts of water. Moreover, it has a steep fall of 730 metres which is of tremendous natural advantage for hydel power.

The Rihand dam has been built across the river Rihand near Pipri in Mizapur district. The project was completed in 1966. It consists of a concrete dam located at about 46 kms to the south of the meeting point of the Rihand and the Son rivers. It is 934 metres in length and 91 metres in height. The reservoir behind this dam, known as Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar extends over an area of 466 square kilometres. The water stored behind the Rihand dam is released into the river Son, giving it supplies for irrigation throughout the whole year in the eastyern regions of Uttar Pradesh , providing them with additional irrigational facilities of 2 lakh hectares.

The power house at the foot of the dam has six generating units each with an installed capacity of 50 MW each. A dense network of 132 KV and 66 KV transmission lines with the required sub-station runs through the entire eastern and south – eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh. The power system provides power to cottage industries, medium industries and major industries. Apart from these, power is also supplied to over 2500 tube wells irrigating an area of 5 lakh hectares in Faizabad, Gonda, Mirzapur, Gorakhpur, Deoria, Ballia, Ghazipur, Varanasi, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Rai Bareilly, Allahabad and some other districts of Uttar Pradesh.

The main aim of the Rihand Project is to generate hydro electric power. This project is a great boon to the aluminium industry at Renukoot, the chemical industry at Pipri , the cement industry at Churk and other industries like fertilizer, porcelain and paper. The Rihand Project also provides benefits for the development of fisheries, navigation, flood control in the Rihand and Son rivers. Among its other benefits we may consider afforestation, water sports and tourism.