The Rihand Valley multipurpose project and dam are located in which Indian state?

Introduction / Context:
The Rihand Dam and Rihand Valley project form an important multipurpose scheme involving hydroelectric power generation and irrigation. Questions about such projects test a learner's knowledge of Indian river basins and the states in which major dams are situated. The Rihand project is particularly significant in the Sonbhadra region of India and is associated mainly with Uttar Pradesh in exam oriented geography.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks in which state the Rihand Valley Project is located.
• The options are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa (Odisha), and Madhya Pradesh.
• We assume that the focus is on the location of the main dam and project headquarters rather than the full spread of the beneficiary area.
• The Rihand River is a tributary of the Son River and the project is known to be in the Singrauli or Sonbhadra belt.

Concept / Approach:
The concept is to match the Rihand River and its dam site with the correct state boundary. The Rihand Dam is located at Pipri in the Sonbhadra district. Sonbhadra district lies in the southeastern part of Uttar Pradesh, near the borders with Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand. While the project benefits multiple states through power supply and irrigation, the physical dam and the phrase "Rihand Valley Project" in textbooks are most directly tied to Uttar Pradesh.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Rihand is a tributary of the Son River and that the dam is constructed at Pipri.Step 2: Remember that Pipri and the Rihand Dam lie within the Sonbhadra district.Step 3: Identify Sonbhadra district as part of the state of Uttar Pradesh in the southeastern corner of that state.Step 4: Note that Bihar, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh may receive some indirect benefits but do not contain the main dam site itself.Step 5: Conclude that Uttar Pradesh is the correct state associated with the Rihand Valley Project.

Verification / Alternative check:
Most exam guides listing major river valley projects of India clearly associate Rihand Dam with Uttar Pradesh and place it on the Rihand River in Sonbhadra. They may mention that power generated is transmitted to neighbouring states, but the primary location line will read "Rihand, Uttar Pradesh". Maps that mark large dams also show Rihand in the southeastern tip of Uttar Pradesh. These standard references support Uttar Pradesh as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Bihar: Though Bihar lies downstream in the Ganga basin, it is not the state where the Rihand Dam is constructed.
Orissa (Odisha): Odisha is associated with projects on rivers like Mahanadi but not with the Rihand Dam, which lies far to the northwest.
Madhya Pradesh: Some coal and industrial areas in Madhya Pradesh may be close to the Rihand basin, but the dam itself and the named project site are in Uttar Pradesh.

Common Pitfalls:
Because the Rihand basin lies near the junction of several states, students sometimes guess Madhya Pradesh or even Bihar, thinking of where the water eventually flows. Another confusion arises from mixing Rihand with other multipurpose projects like Hirakud on the Mahanadi in Odisha. The best way to avoid these mistakes is to pair each major dam with its correct state and river: Rihand with Uttar Pradesh and the Rihand River at Pipri in Sonbhadra.

Final Answer:
The Rihand Valley multipurpose project is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh.