The Jalaput Dam is a hydroelectric dam built on the Machkund River, a tributary of the Godavari River[2] in India which rises in the Mudugal hills of Alluri Sitharama Raju district and near Ondra Gadda it becomes the boundary between the states of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

About 48 km south of Jeypore, it winds westward along the edge of the plateau before abruptly turning at a short angle to the south-west down a steep descent popularly known as Duduma Falls.

The electricity generated here is supplied to many nearby towns including Visakhapatnam, Vijaywada, both in Andhra Pradesh and, Koraput and Jeypore in Odisha.

There is also the possibility to install a huge capacity Pumped-storage hydroelectricity station for the needs of peaking power using high water level drop.

[citation needed] The existing MHES[4] can also be kept in operation by diverting the surplus water from the nearby upper Kolab reservoir[5] into the Machkund river basin by joining with a nearly 4 km long tunnel.

This would facilitate the use of excess water from the upper Kolab reservoir for enhanced electricity generation in MHES and downstream Balimela powerhouse by using nearly 200% more available head in Sileru river basin before putting finally for irrigation use.

Before the present dam was built in 1955, the area was densely forested with the river surrounded by many tribal villages.

Presently many have entered into contractual farming for medicinal plants, jatropha plantation, and tissue culture.

The climate in this zone is very pleasant and a lot of attraction to viewers and mainly in the winter season the temperatures are even recorded 10 degrees below.