Construction of Marunj and Sorra dams needed for flood mitigation

 
 
 
Construction of Marunj and Sorra dams needed for flood mitigation

The current flood disaster has exacerbated the need to construct more dams in the country. In Pakistan, there are hardly any flood-through dams or perforated dams that are solely used for flood control purposes. Due to the shortage of dams, Pakistan usually remains at a high risk of flood disasters. The flood-through dams are constructed primarily for water storage and power generation purposes, the spillways are also built at the same height as the riverbed level, allowing the river to continue its natural flow in normal conditions. However, when the water level rises above the spillways, the dam restricts the amount of flowing through the opening, decreasing the peak flood flow.                                                                                

Considering the current flood disaster, there is a high need to construct dams to get rid of the ravages of floods in future. For this purpose, the construction of Marunj and Sorra dams in Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan districts will be helpful in the smoothly flow of waters coming from the mountainous Sulaiman Range. According to the Provincial Irrigation Ministry, the Sorra dam will be built on the Sorra branch of the hill torrent of Sanghar with an estimated cost of Rs 10 billion. Similarly, the Marunj dam will be constructed across the Kaha Sultan mountain drain, about 15 kilometres from Mari Hill resort and 116 km west of Rajanpur.

It is believed that with the construction of these two dams, the drainage system will be improved which will help reduce flood risks in the country. In addition, the two dams will store sufficient water for irrigation of agricultural land and will also provide water for drinking purposes. Moreover, after completion, the Marunj dam will be considered the third mega-dam after Tarbela and Mangla with a water storage capacity of 800,000 acre-feet. Considering the ongoing situation, an improved drainage system is the need of the hour for the proper release of flood water.

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IMARAT Institute of Policy Studies

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