It is a rubble-concrete dam constructed on Koyna River which rises in Mahabaleshwar, a hillstation in Sahyadri ranges.

Due to its electricity generating potential, Koyna river is considered as the 'life line of Maharashtra'.

The catchment area dams the Koyna river and forms the Shivasagar Lake which is approximately 50 km (31 mi) in length.

Indian scientific establishment has formulated an ambitious project to drill a deep borehole in the region and intensely study the earthquake activity.

The proposal is to drill up to 7 km and study the physical, geological and chemical processes and properties of the reservoir triggered earthquake zone in real time.