The Yazagyo Dam in Kalay, Sagaing Region, is drying up as the volume of water fed into it by the Nerinjara River has decreased this summer.

The volume of water fed into the dam by the river has decreased from over 60,000 cubic feet per second in the rainy season to 70 cubic feet this summer.

“The Nerinjara River is not feeding as much water into the dam as it did in the past. The river originates in Chin Hill. But, it is not feeding the dam as much water as it should due to deforestation,” said Ko Win from the Nature Lovers Organization, Kalay.

“The two turbines at the dam can generate electricity in the rainy season,” said U Myo Tun, an engineer at the dam.

“Now, we are removing silt and wood blocking the watercourse towards the turbines,” he said.

The Yazagyo Dam has been filling up with silt and logs ever since a naturally formed landslide dam in Chin Hill collapsed in 2015.

To save the dam, officials are working with international experts to dredge the silt and remove the logs from the dam.—Shin Nay Min (Gangaw)
(Translated by TTN)