SATPARA DAM PROJECT
By
Shahzad Ghafoor
INTRODUCTION
Satpara Lake is the famous tourist resort about 6 km south of Skardu town. The Lake was
formed as a result of the glacial activity when advancing glaciers dammed up the flowing Nallah.
The downstream periphery of the Lake has an over flow channel acting as outlet with perennial
flow in the downstream nallah.
An old earthfill dam constructed by Ali Sher Aenchan, a local Raja of Skardu existed on the
downstream side of the Lake. This dam was breached around 1880. Later on a 4 ft. high stone
bund was constructed by local farmers just downstream of the Lake. About 1300 AF of water
was being stored to use during sowing of Rabi Crops. In 1976, Northern Area Works
Organization (NAWO) partially completed the construction of the breached old dam and
provided an outlet sluice, few meter below the existing Lake. The project did not work well due
to excessive seepage.
THE PROJECT
The Satpara Dam Project augments water supply for irrigation and drinking round the year. It
will ultimately generate 17 MW power and the annual energy output is estimated to be 106 GWh.
The major components of the project are an earthfill Dam, four Power houses and two irrigation
canals. It will provide 30 cusecs of water for drinking purpose, which is now available only for
half of the population. On the average water availability for irrigation would increase by about
50,000 AF.
The project has no adverse environmental impact, with positive impact such as reduction in
respiratory and waterborne diseases, which are common in the area.
MAIN DAM
Main Dam consists of a zoned earth fill embankment 128 ft high and 560 ft long. Other main
features of the project are a gated spillway of 5000 cusecs capacity, an outlet structure with
RCC concrete conduit, a Control tower, a Valve chamber and an Irrigation Valve.
POWERHOUSES
Four cascade powerhouses development are planned. Water from the outlet structure is
conveyed to the Powerhouse-1 through steel penstock. Powerhouse-2 is supplied water through
open channel, forebay and steel penstock. An intake weir along Satpara nallah just downstream
of Powerhouse-1 diverts water to headrace channel of Powerhouse-2.
POWERHOUSE NO 1
Powerhouse 3 & 4 are located on the Left Bank Canal.
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Both powerhouses 1 & 2 are in operation since Oct 2007 and Dec 2008 respectively. The work
on Powerhouse 3 & 4 will be started in the mid of this year.
By December 2010 the Satpara project had generated 57 GWh of electricity which is bringing
progress to the trade, industry and life in Skardu.
CONTROL ROOM
IRRIGATION SYSTEM
The irrigation system consists of a Diversion Weir along Satpara Nallah, Left Bank Canal (135
cusecs), Right Bank Canal (50 cusecs) and their distributaries and minors. Length of left bank
canal is 16 km whereas length of right bank canal is approximately 12 km and this work is
77.5 % complete.
The irrigation system will serve a total of about 15000 acres of land. Much of these lands are
now getting the benefit of regulated supplies from the project.
SALIENT FEATURES
Reservoir Capacity Powerhouses
Gross Storage 93,310 Acre ft Installed Capacity 17 MW
Live Storage 55,617 Acre ft Mean Annual Energy 106 GWh
No of Powerhouse 4
Type of Turbines Francis
Dam
Dam Type Earthfill with silty Irrigation System
Clay Core
Dam Length 560 ft Left Bank Canal 10400 Acres.
Maximum Height 128 ft Right Bank Canal 4600 Acres.
Crest Elevation 8750 F.A.S.L
Gated Spillway 5000 cusecs
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VIEW OF MAIN DAM
VIEW OF SPILLWAY
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