Hingol Dam

Hingol Dam
Location of Hingol Dam in Pakistan
Official name	Hingol Dam
Location	Lasbela District, Balochistan, Pakistan
Coordinates	25°45′N 66°35′E / 25.750°N 66.583°E / 25.750; 66.583Coordinates: 25°45′N 66°35′E / 25.750°N 66.583°E / 25.750; 66.583
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.

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.

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.

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. 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.