Baran Dam
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| Baran Dam | |
|---|---|
  Baran Dam Location of Baran Dam in Pakistan | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Location | Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| Coordinates | 33°00′35″N 70°30′09″E / 33.009651°N 70.502571°E |
| Purpose | Irrigation, power |
| Status | Completed |
| Opening date | 1962 |
| Owner | WAPDA |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Earth core rockfill |
| Impounds | Kurrum River and Baran stream |
| Height | 39 m (129 ft) |
| Length | 490 m (1,620 ft) |
| Width (crest) | 1275 m |
| Reservoir | |
| Total capacity | 123.35 million m3 |
| Power Station | |
| Operator | WAPDA |
| Type | Conventional |
| Installed capacity | 5.8 MW |
| Annual generation | 10 GWh |
Baran Dam, located in the Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, is a medium-sized hydroelectric dam characterized by a low-head design and an earth-core rockfill structure, boasting a capacity of 5.8 megawatts. This dam spans the Kurrum River and Baran stream and serves as a pivotal component within a broader initiative aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity in the southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[1][2]
The dam was initially commissioned in 1962 during Ayub Khan government. In 2018, a significant upgrade project, known as the "Raising of Baran Dam Project," was initiated with the objective of increasing the dam's height by 7 meters, thereby expanding its total water storage capacity.[3] The estimated cost for this project was 5.2 billion rupees.[4][5]
Upon the construction of the proposed Baran Dam, it will serve as a reservoir for storing floodwaters from the Baran stream and Kurrum river. The reservoir's total storage capacity is approximately 123 million cubic metres (100,000 acre⋅ft). The stored water will be utilized for the development of irrigated agriculture within an expansive command area covering approximately 69,000 hectares (170,000 acres) via the Marwat Canal.[6] Furthermore, this undertaking is expected to generate 5.8 MW of power, contributing to an annual energy output of 36 TJ (10 GW⋅h).[7]
