Jinnah Barrage

Jinnah Barrage
Location of Jinnah Barrage in Pakistan
Location	Kalabagh, Mianwali District
Coordinates	32°55′06.71″N 71°31′18.92″E / 32.9185306°N 71.5219222°E / 32.9185306; 71.5219222Coordinates: 32°55′06.71″N 71°31′18.92″E / 32.9185306°N 71.5219222°E / 32.9185306; 71.5219222
Purpose	Irrigation, power
Status	Operational
Construction began	1939
Opening date	1946
Dam and spillways
Impounds	Indus River
Height	8.5 m (28 ft)
Length	1,152 m (3,780 ft)
Spillway capacity	950,000 cu ft/s (27,000 m3/s)
Power station
Hydraulic head	4.8 m (16 ft) (rated)
Turbines	8 x 12 MW Pit turbines
Installed capacity	96 MW
Annual generation	688 GWh

The Jinnah Barrage is a barrage on the River Indus near Kalabagh, Pakistan. It is part of the Thal Project which helps irrigate 770,000 ha (1,900,000 acres) in the Sindh Sagar Doab east of the Indus. Planning for the project dates back to the nineteenth century but final plans for the barrage were made in 1919 and it was constructed between 1939 and 1946. The barrage diverts an average of 283 m³/s (10,000 cu ft/s) of water into the 51.5 km (32.0 mi) long Thal Canal where it serves areas in Bhakkar, Khushab, Layyah, Mianwali and Muzaffargarh Districts with 3,362 km (2,089 mi) of additional canal branches and distributors.^[1][2] It has a maximum flood height of 8.5 m (28 ft) and it spans 1,152 m (3,780 ft) over the river. The barrage can discharge up to 27,000 m³/s (950,000 cu ft/s) downstream with 42 spillway gates which are each 18.2 m (60 ft) wide.^[3] Between 2006 and 2012, a 96 MW hydroelectric power station with four 12 MW pit turbine-generators was added on the right bank.^[4] In June 2012 a major rehabilitation project for the barrage began. The project includes the construction of a weir 244 m (801 ft) downstream to help dissipate energy from the spillway upstream of it. New guide banks will be built and existing ones repaired. The railway bridge upstream will be rehabilitated as well. The project is expected to be complete in June 2016.^[2]

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