Government of Pakistan

Geological Survey of Pakistan

Directorate
Project Schedule for the year 2016-17

Project No.
Project Tittle: Preliminary Geological Studies to Determine the Optimum Sites
for Small Dams in Qilla Saifillah and Loralai Districts, Blochistan

Location:

Qilla Saifillah and Loralai Districts, Blochistan

Project Duration:

10 months

Field duration:

1 month

Directorate:
Prepared by:
Forwarded & Recommended by:
Supervised By:
Approved By:

Director General

Project Personnels:
1. (Assistant Director) _________________________

Introduction
Water is a vital material for the existence of human beings, not only of drinking but also
in other usages and requirements of human beings. Dam is one of the ways to store water to use
it whenever needed. Dam site selection in order to store water in the rainy seasons and use it in
the drought seasons is an effective task to make the proper use of water in Balochistan's
situation. The most important point in the study of dams is the selection of the best spot of the
basin in order to lower the costs and increase the benefits. The project will directly address the
water scarcity issue by providing storage sites during flash floods thus not only providing water
for irrigation and drinking purposes but also reducing the risk of flood damage. By delaying the
flood peaks, the dams will also contribute to Ground Water Recharge.
The geological study for dam sites mainly involves recognition of various formations and geological
structures at the dam site and neighborhood. This study involves Selection of suitable sites on the basis of regional
geology, topography and surface features.
Description of Study Area

Significance of the Project

The changing weather conditions due to climate change demand prompt action for
preservation of rainwater. Construction of dams to check wastage of water is integral. In the
recent years, Quetta and other parts of Balochistan have experienced torrential rains. Due to
climate change, the rain pattern has changed. Previously there were three or four spells of
showers during the monsoon season but now we have sudden, violent rainfall or no rainfall for
months. There has to be an effective mechanism to save torrential rainwater. Over 80pc of
Balochistans irrigation land is fed through rainwater. The economy is largely based on
agriculture and livestock and both rely on rainfall which means that with less rain, there will be
less produce from the agriculture sector.
The fall in precipitation in the Balochistan resulted in drying up of karezes and springs.
The farmers running out of options started pumping the underground reserves. After 1997-2003
drought the number of tube-wells in Balochistan increased rapidly. According to an estimate by
the International Water Management Institute there are over 21000 tube-wells in the province.

Over 40% of the irrigated land is now watered through tube wells and that source is also drying
down fast as rain becomes scarce and unreliable with every passing year in Balochistan.
This project involving the selection of reservoir and dam sites in northern Balochistan
will greatly integrate to mitigate the water crises in Balochistan.
Prime objectives
The main objective of this study is to determine

The optimum sites for small dams

The geological structure of the area
The lithology of area
The ground water conditions in the region
The slope of the area
The drainage pattern
The geological structure of the area, which also includes topography and geomorphology,

is determined by conducting extensive and intensive geological surveys. These surveys would
comprehend the entire topographic details, occurrence of faults and major unconformities and
joint system and geomorphic details of water bodies like rivers, lakes, springs, drainage system.
The lithological investigations would include the type of rock that make up different parts
of the area, on the surface and also up to and even beyond a desired depth, their textures, major
structures and physical and engineering properties like hardness, strength, modulus of elasticity,
rigidity, porosity, permeability.
The ground water conditions are of great significance in all major engineering structures.
The relative position of water table with respect to the project would be thoroughly established
and all variations in it during different periods in a year will be fully ascertained.

Methodology

Desk study: All the available geologic information reports will be gathered. Broad assessment of depth to bed
rock, hazard identifications, rock types, their strength and weaknesses. Thrusts, Folds and faults in the area will be
broadly identified and recorded for the area of interest before the site visit is undertaken.
Remote Sensing & GIS: Application of remote sensing and GIS techniques in hydrology is
today one of the most effective approaches. Recently, remote sensing has provided valuable
datasets to examine hydrological variables and morphological changes over large regions at
different spatial and temporal scales. In this project remote sensing and GIS techniques will be
used to:

Enhance the digital elevation model (DEM) to draw the drainage pattern and slop map
utilizing the ArcGIS software.

Make the Geo reference process to the geological map by using ArcGIS software.

Field Work: Different sites will be examined on ground and geological assessment will be made. General
geological maps and sections will be prepared. Tentative lay-out of the dam will be formulated in this stage.
Following geological characters of the area will be investigated for particular site selected for
dam:

Geology of area comprising of main topographical features, natural drainage patterns,

general characters and structures of rock formations, the trend and type of weathering

and erosion of area.

Geology of site i.e. types of rocks of the area where dam will be built, properties of rocks
i.e. chemical composition, texture and hardness of rocks, porosity and permeability of

rocks.
Structural features of the rock i.e. dip, strikes, outcrop etc.
Structural defect of rocks i.e. folds, fissures, faults etc. Crushing and shearing strength of
rocks, extent of weathering of rocks. Thickness of the bedding planes. Zones of fractures

and weaknesses.
Water table in the area.
Accumulation of stream deposits.

Work plan

Activities

Months (2015-16)
5
6

10

Literature
Review
Field Work
Map
Preparatio
n
Report
Writing

Transport

One double cabin pickup

Cost of the project

a) TA/DA Expenditure
1. TA/DA of four officers for 30 days
@ Rs. 1250 per day....150000
2. TA/DA of one director for 15 days
@ Rs. 1650 per day..25000
3. TA/DA of one Naib Qasid and one driver for 30 days
@ Rs. 350 per days..21000
Total......196000
b)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Contingent Expenditure
POL Charges60000
Hiring of vehicle for security personnel..50000
Repair and Maintenance Charges30000
Five levies and field collies for 30 days..75000
Store.20000
Stationary.10000
Total......245000