Mirani Dam

Mirani Dam (Urdu: )is a medium-size multi-purpose concrete-faced rock-filled dam located on the Dasht River south of the Central Makran Range in Kech District in Balochistan province of Pakistan. Its 302,000 acre ft. reservoir is fed by the Kech River and the Nihing River Mirani Dam was completed in July 2006 and it impounded the Dasht River in August 2006. It successfully withstood an extreme flood event in June 2007. The dam is used for irrigation of 33,200 acres in Kech Valley and for the supply of clean drinking water to Turbat and Gwadar.

Location
Mirani Dam is located on the Dasht River, approximately 30 km west of Turbat and 8 km from the nearest point of the under-construction 820 km-long M8 motorway (Pakistan) connecting Ratodero with Gwadar.

Purpose
The Kech, Nihing and Dasht Rivers are seasonal rivers that are dry for most part of the year and only active in the summer months when snow melts in the mountains upstream and during the summer rainfall season. The Kech Valley consists of cultivable soil upon which agriculture activity could be carried out if a constant water supply is ensured. The primary purpose of Mirani Dam was to store water from the three rivers during the summer season and during floods so that water could be available for irrigation purposes throughout the year in order to bring 33,200 acres of hitherto uncultivated land in Kech Valley under cultivation. The secondary purpose of Mirani Dam is to ensure a constant supply of clean drinking water to the towns of Turbat and Gwadar throughout the year.

Construction
Mirani Dam was commissioned by Pakistan's Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) in 2001. Its design was prepared by the National Engineering Services of Pakistan (NESPAK) and the construction contract was awarded, on 15 June 2002 on EPC/Turnkey basis, to Mirani Dam Joint Venture (MDJV), a consortium led by Descon Engineering Limited, a Pakistani company.The Mirani Dam project was the first EPC/Turnkey dam project awarded to Pakistani contractors. Construction of the dam consumed 10.87 million man-hours and, at its peak, 1,550 people were employed for its construction, mostly from Kech and Gwadar districts. Construction was completed in July 2006.[

Salient features
Hydrology: Catchments Area: 7,964 sq. miles Average Annual Flow: 223,000 acre ft. Reservoir: Gross Storage: 302,000 acre ft. Live Storage: 52,000 acre ft. Average Annual Releases: 114,000 acre ft. Dam: Type: Concrete-faced rock-filled Height: 127 ft. Length at Crest: 3,350 ft. Top Width: 35 ft. Spillway: Type: Overflow Clear Waterway: 344 ft. Designed Capacity: 205,800 Cusecs Maximum Capacity: 384,300 Cusecs Outlet: Tunnel Diameter: 8 ft. Capacity: 377 Cusecs Irrigation System Command Area & Capacity: Irrigation System: Gravity, Lined Channels Right Bank Canal: 20,800 Acres & 36 Cusecs Left Bank Canal: 12,400 Acres & 141 Cusecs Total: 33,200 Acres & 377 Cusecs