Chasma Barrage



Chashma is situated in Mianwali District near Kundian, Punjab, Pakistan. It is located at the left side of the river Indus, in close nearness of the Koh-i-Suleiman mountain array. Chashma is famous for the famous for Chashma Barrage constructed on the Indus River. Additionally near is the Chasma Nuclear Power Plant of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, with two components of 300 megawatt CHASHNUPP-1 and CHASHNUPP-2 along with two 325 megawatt CHASHNUPP-3 as well as CHASHNUPP-4. It is located close to the koh-i-suleman array

Wetland : Water storage reservor

Explanation of site:

A huge barrage on the Indus river with a sequence of banks or flood bunds which, at

low water stages, divide the basin into five low lakes each of up to 250 ha in area.

The building was accomplished in 1971. Extreme flooding occurs in spring. The penetration of

the five lakes diverges from 0.2m in the dry season to 5.0m at the height of the flood season;

the penetration of the main river network differs from 4.6m to 8.8m. PH values range from 6.5 to

Climatic circumstances:

Dry subtropic climate with hot summers and cool winters. The annual rainfall differs from

300-500mm, and the comparative humidity from 22-85%. the average extreme temperature in

June is 41ºc and the average minimum in January is 4.5ºc.

Principal vegetation:

The river vegetation contains of Hydrilla verticillata, Nelumbium speciosum, Nymphaea

lotus, Typha angustata, Typha elephantin, Phragmites australis, Potamogeton crispusMyriophyllum sp.-Nymphaeoides cristatum, Potamogeton pectinatus, Saccharum

spontaneum, Vallisneria spiralis and Zannichellia palustris. The natural flora of the

area is a blend of subtropical semi-evergreen scrub and hot thorn forest with

species such as Olea ferruginea, Acacia modesta, A. nilotica, Adhatoda vasica, Dodonaea

viscosa, Gynmosporea royleana, Prosopis cineraria, Reptonia buxifolia, Salvadora

 Maximum of the traditional thorn forest on the plains

to the east of the Indus has been vacant for agricultural plot and for irrigated plantations

of Dalbergia sissoo and other species.

Land tenancy:

The swamp is state owned (Irrigation Department, Government of the Punjab); adjacent

areas are partially state possessed and partly privately owned.

Protection actions occupied:

The swamp was first professed as a Wildlife Sanctuary of 33,084 ha in 1974. The

Reservation was re-notified in July 1984, and again in January 1989 and since then, the

level of defense has greatly better. Some important parts on the right bank of the

River Indus and the tank were not included in the reservation. The parts have nowadays

been systematically plotted, and a stretch of 3km all around the basin i.e., on both edges

of the tank, and downriver of the Barrage constructions, has been proposed to be

comprised within the limitations of the reservation.

Property use:

Storing of water for irrigation, cohort of electricity, and fishing. Fishing tenancies are

decided by WAPDA. Stalks (Phragmites australis and Typha elephantin) and kana

(Saccharum spp.) are collected for use in local hut industries. A fish hatchery has

been recognized at the reservoir, which became operative in 1987. Nearby parts

are used for agriculture, livestock browsing and forestry.

Disturbances then threats:

There are strategies to construct a large stowage dam at Kala Bagh, upriver of Chasma. The

building of this dam would affect the water administration at Chasma Barrage and could bound

it’s use for water storage. Fishing actions at the swamp and livestock grazing on the seashore cause a substantial amount of trouble, and the marked variations inbwater level and gathering of reeds have an adverse effect on the water flora.

Commercial and social value:

The main values are flood control, storing of water for irrigation, group of electricity and fisheries manufacture. More than 1000 metrical tonnes of fish were gathered in 1992. The yield has amplified to a large extent in recent years. The swampland vegetation

supports a local interlacing industry. the barrage also provides excellent chances for

scientific research and preservation education.

Fauna of barrage

A very important staging and overwintering area for a wide diversity of waterfowl. The wetland

has been subsidiary over 50,000 Anatidae and nitwits in mid-winter, and in some years

numerous more. Over 114,000 birds were present in January 1975, and about 100,000 in

January 1987 and January 1988 and more than 200,000 in January, 1989, 1990 and 1991.

The most plentiful species are Anas Penelope, A. crecca, A. acuta, Aythya ferina and

Fulica atra. Supreme counts of Fulica atra have been 165,400; 85,600 and 82,400 in

January 1989, 1990 and 1991 correspondingly. There is a small wintering flock of Anser anser

and Anser indicus infrequently.

Disclaimer: Please note that the information cited in this blog has been obtained from the official website and Facebook page Chasma Barrage.

Note: All the images have been traced from the official face book page of Chasma Barrage.