Chotiari Dam (Urdu: چوٹیاری بند ) is an artificial water reservoir situated 35 km away from the Sanghar town in Sanghar District, Sindh, Pakistan. Its construction was completed in December 2002, at the total cost of Rs 6 billion. The main purpose of constructing this dam is to discharge saline water of the Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD). The dam is extended to 24,300 acres (9,800 ha) with storage capacity of 750,000 acres (300,000 ha) feet.[2] It has an active capacity of 0.67 MAF.[3]

Chotiari Dam
Location of Chotiari Dam in Sindh Show map of Sindh Chotiari Dam (Pakistan) Show map of Pakistan
Official name	چوٹیاری بند
Country	Pakistan
Location	Achhro Thar (White Desert) Sanghar District, Sindh, Pakistan
Coordinates	26°8′15″N 69°3′48″E
Purpose	Reservoir
Status	Operational
Construction began	1994 (1994)
Opening date	December 2002 (2002-12)
Construction cost	1.5 billion rupees (approx. US $ 26.3 million)
Operator(s)	Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA)[1]
Reservoir
Creates	Chotiari Water Reservoir
Total capacity	0.75 million acre feet (MAF)
Active capacity	0.67 MAF
Surface area	18,000 hectares (44,000 acres) 160 square kilometres (62 sq mi)
Maximum length	16 kilometres (9.9 miles)
Maximum width	13 kilometres (8.1 miles)
Maximum water depth	45 feet (14 metres)

Before the construction of the reservoir, this site was home to a few natural lakes, fed by tributaries of the Nara Canal. It is also a wetland and habitat for birds, reptiles and small mammals. Now the environment and wildlife of this area is badly affected by the saline water discharge of Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD).[4]

References