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Investigating feasible sites for multi-purpose small dams in Swat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan: socioeconomic and environmental considerations

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Abstract

The low water storage capacity caused water crisis in Pakistan; therefore, the country needs both small- and large-scale reservoirs to store surplus water resources. The construction of large dams in Pakistan could not be materialized due to financial and political constraints. However, the construction of multi-purpose small dams is the next best option to store water. To this end, there is a need to identify the best feasible sites in the country. The selection of feasible sites for multi-purpose dams must take into account multiple criteria, including engineering, socioeconomic and environmental. The current study utilizes the coupled Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System techniques to identify the feasible sites for multi-purpose small dams, considering the socioeconomic and environmental criteria in addition to the established engineering criteria in district Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The suitability map considered nine engineering criteria, including rainfall distribution, slope, land use, curve number, runoff depth, soil, alluvial depth, closeness to streams, and drainage density, using the weights calculated from priority indices. The suitability map is divided into four classes, i.e., excellent, good, moderate, and unsuitable with the excellent and good classes area of 66.78 km2, and 195.75 km2. Twenty sites (based on accessibility and closeness to Swat River) from each class are selected that are situated in Kalam, Babozai, Bahrain, Madyan, Khwazakhela, Matta, Kabal, and Barikot areas of district Swat and evaluated using socioeconomic and environmental criteria, i.e., community well and no displacement cost, management ownership–private or public, biodiversity protection services, instrumental in groundwater recharge for the community, electricity generation for the local community, low maintenance cost, flood friendly, appropriate distribution of water resources, political well, and irrigation and drinking water potential. The top priority for these areas is electricity generation, flood protection, irrigation and drinking water capability, sustainable operation, low maintenance cost and political well. The current study demonstrated that socioeconomic and environmental criteria augment the engineering approach in identifying the best feasible site for multi-purpose small dams. These sites would not only store the water but would also provide important services (electricity generation, irrigation water, etc.) to the local community and economy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economics and Development Studies, University of Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

    Anwar Hussain

  2. State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Department of Hydraulic Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Khalil Ur Rahman

  3. NICE, SCEE, National University of Sciences & Technology Islamabad, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan

    Muhammad Shahid & Sajjad Haider

  4. Institute of Applied Technology, Thu Dau Mot University, Binh Duong province, Vietnam

    Quoc Bao Pham

  5. Thuyloi University, 175 Tay Son, Dong Da, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Nguyen Thi Thuy Linh

  6. Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Diyala University, Diyala Governorate, Iraq

    Saad Shauket Sammen

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  1. Anwar Hussain
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  2. Khalil Ur Rahman
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  3. Muhammad Shahid
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  4. Sajjad Haider
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  5. Quoc Bao Pham
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Correspondence to Quoc Bao Pham.

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Hussain, A., Rahman, K.U., Shahid, M. et al. Investigating feasible sites for multi-purpose small dams in Swat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan: socioeconomic and environmental considerations. Environ Dev Sustain 24, 10852–10875 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-021-01886-z

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