Inspection of Lower Paunglaung Dam: MOALI UM inspected Lower Paunglaung Dam

Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Min Naung visited the Lower Paunglaung Reservoir in Zeyathiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw, on the morning of September 1. He inspected the inflow of water into the reservoir, the structural stability of the dam, and the overflow discharge from the spillway.

He also discussed with officials matters relating to dam security and the flag-signalling system used to indicate dam safety and security conditions. The Lower Paunglaung Reservoir originally had a full storage capacity of 549,000 acre-feet. Twenty Hydraulic Elevator Dam (HED) gates have been installed at the spillway, enabling the reservoir to store an additional approximately 21,000 acre-feet of water.

As a result, the hydropower generation capacity has increased by eight million units annually, bringing total annual hydropower generation to 919 million units. At present, 10 Hydraulic Elevator Dam (HED) gates are open, and measures are being taken to maintain a balance between the inflow and the water stored in the reservoir.

In addition, water flow is being regulated through the Paunglaung Diversion Weir (Awayar အဝေရာ Diversion Weir). Therefore, there is no immediate risk of flooding, if there is no exceptionally heavy rainfall in the surrounding watershed areas and along the Sittaung River.

During the 21 years since the Lower Paunglaung Reservoir was constructed and put into operation, water has overflowed through the spillway on 18 occasions. In 2024, water overflowed the spillway by more than 11 feet due to the effects of Typhoon Yagi, resulting in flooding in the surrounding area.

However, according to the current situation, there is no cause for concern regarding public safety or flooding. It is also reported that officials from the Irrigation and Water Utilization Management Department in the respective regions are providing timely updates through social media on the conditions of dams with large water-storage capacities.