Hingol Dam

Hingol Dam
Location of Hingol Dam
Official name Hingol Dam
Location Lasbela District, Balochistan, Pakistan
Coordinates 25°45′N 66°35′E / 25.750°N 66.583°ECoordinates: 25°45′N 66°35′E / 25.750°N 66.583°E
Status Proposed
Owner(s) Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Government of Balochistan
Dam and spillways
Impounds Hingol River
Height 172 ft (52 m)
Length 2,500 ft (760 m)
Power station
Operator(s) WAPDA
Type Central Core Zone
Installed capacity 3.5 MW
Annual generation 4.4 GWh

Hingol Dam is a proposed small, low-head, Central Core Zone, hydroelectric power generation dam of 3.5 megawatt generation capacity, located in Lasbela District across Hingol River in Balochistan Province of Pakistan at a distance of 260 km (162 mi) North West of Karachi and about 16 km (10 mi) North of Bridge across Hingol River on Makran Coastal Highway and about 8 km (5 mi) north of Kund Malir where the river falls into the sea.[1][2]

Main Uses

With the construction of the proposed Hingol Dam, flood waters of Hingol River will be stored. Gross storage of the reservoir is 2.10 MAF of which an average of about 1.3 MAF water will be annually available for developing irrigated agriculture of command area of 80,000 acres. This project will produce 3.5 MW of power generation with annual energy of 4.4 GWh.

Other Benefits

Damming the flow of Hingol River will save the flood water for irrigated agriculture development, power generation and water supply for drinking and other domestic uses. The project will bring general uplift of the people in the area by creation of employment and business opportunities. These indirect benefits, such as employment opportunities and consequent rise in the living standard of the people, however cannot be quantified in monetary term. The direct receipt of the project will be available in shape of irrigation service fee (Abiana) and receipt of cost of sale of energy to consumers. The project would greatly increase the development of fisheries in the area and provide recreation and employment opportunities to the residents of the area. The estimated cost of the project will be US$ 311 Million. Out of which US$ 227 Million for civil works and US$ 28 Million for electro-mechanical works are required.[1]

History

Feasibility studies for the dam were completed in 1992 however due to various reasons including financial constraints and local opposition the dam is still not constructed. In 2008, members of the Balochistan Assembly opposed the construction of the dam.[3] The local Hindu community is of the view that construction of the dam will damage the historic Hindu temple Hinglaj Mata and would destroy the eco-system of Hingol National Park.[4]

The proposed was shifted 16 km (10 mi) upstream to the original site to facilitate the demands to protect the temple, however since then due to financial constraints progress on construction of the dam is slow.[2]

Salient Features

Type of Dam: Central Core Zoned Dam
Maximum height of Dam:172 ft (52 m)
Length of Dam:2,500 ft (760 m)
Gross Storage Capacity: 1.3 MAF
Installed capacity: 3.5 MW
Command Area: 80,000 acres
Cropped area: 160,000 acres
Cropping Intensity: 200%
EIRR: 16.37%
B.C. Ratio: 1.45:1 [1]

Current Status

• PC-I Proforma (New Site) cleared by CDWP in its meeting held on November 19, 2009 and cleared for approval of ECNEC.
• Detailed Engineering Design and Tender Documents of the New Site is in progress Studies of the Project (New Site) in progress, to be completed by January 2011.
• Construction bids invited on July 11, 2011.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 http://www.wapda.gov.pk/pdf/brochurefodpmarch2011.pdf
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "HINGOL DAM PROJECT". WAPDA, Govt of Pakistan. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  3. ↑ "Balochistan Assembly rejects Hingol dam". Dawn News. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  4. ↑ "WAPDA asked to reassess Hingol Dam design". Daily Times. Retrieved 5 July 2012.

See also