Technical Journal, University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Taxila, Pakistan Vol. 21 No.

II-2016

Hill Torrent Management in Southern Punjab of

Pakistan: Historic Perspective and New Trends
M. M. Qureshi1, M. U. Rashid2, M. A. Shah3, M. A. Baluch4
1
Principal Engineer, Associated Consulting Engineers
2
University of Management and Technology
3
National Engineering Services
4
University of Engineering & Technology, Taxila
1
[email protected]

Abstract-Hill torrents (locally known as Rodh Kohi) Keywords- Hill Torrents, Catastrophic Floods, Flood
are distinct type of waterways in which water drains Water Management, Piedmont Area Irrigation
from the mountains and hit the localities and
infrastructure in its way with enormous speed. More I. INTRODUCTION
than 200 hill torrents originate from the west of
Suleiman Range and hit Taunsa, Dera Ghazi (D.G.) The term torrent is utilized for water carrier
Khan and Rajanpur Districts of Punjab in Pakistan. channels carrying flash water flows; the term is mostly
Among these, 13 hill torrents are having large utilized for steep mountainous rivers generating rapid
catchment areas and flood potential. These Hill runoff. Locally these types of channels are termed as
Torrents after crossing fan area locally named as “Rodh Kohi”. The torrential area of Dera Ghazi (D.G.)
“Pachad area” crosses D.G. Khan Canal through 22 Khan and Rajanpur Districts of Punjab province is
numbers cross drainage structures and frequently situated between the Indus River and the Suleman
creates disaster up to River Indus. Hill Torrents range surrounded by province of Sindh, Baluchistan in
generally associated with uncertain flood flows have the west and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) in the North.
kept D.G. Khan and Rajanpur Districts Hill Torrent fan About forty five percent of the total catchment areas lie
area socio economically very weak. Most often in the two districts and the remaining 55% in the
catastrophic flood events cause loss of billions of province of Baluchistan. The area in the west (on the
rupees to infrastructure, houses and irrigated lands. right side of the Indus River) which is unirrigated by
Conversely huge area, about 2.02 hectares, cultivable local canal Irrigation network is piedmont area locally
piedmont (Pachad) area fails to receive valuable known as "Pachad" area and is fertile due to
irrigation water. Since the ancient times, diversion unexploited sediment deposits of the mountains
embankments of small size have been utilized by local brought down with flood water. Pachad area is
people for diverting flood flows to their irrigation considered to be an area between darrah (the point after
fields. These earthen embankments usually fail for high which torrent enters the plains) and the right bank of
flow events but effectively divert low floods. A number Indus River. The torrential area of the two districts
of studies and plans were suggested to manage the Hill consists of thirteen (13) major Hill torrents extending
Torrent Floods since 1929 to date. It has been noted that from Kaura and ending at Sori Janubi as shown in
these projects have shown some improvements in terms Figure 1. These torrents after crossing the piedmont
of utilization of Hill Torrent water for irrigation to uplift area hits the cross drainage structures constructed
the economy of the area. It has been observed that across the Chashma Right Bank, D.G. Khan under
piedmont area of the hill torrents is very fertile but due construction Kacchi canals and ultimately enters to
to erratic nature of floods land utilization is very low. Indus River. The piedmont area of these torrents is
The flood water due to its erratic nature one side situated in the arid zone of the country and only source
destroys the infrastructure while on the other side of agriculture water is floods and rains. The rainfall
barren land in piedmont area (Pachad area) is deprived pattern is such that it causes erratic and uncontrolled
off water for agriculture. This situation demands that floods during Monsoon months (June to August). The
there is a lot of space to improve the management of flood water in monsoon at one side destroys the
Hill Torrent floods. In this study existing management infrastructure in D.G. Khan Canal / Chashma Right
practices and appraisal of previous studies for Hill Bank Canal command area due to erratic nature of
Torrents management in southern Punjab have been flows while on the other side barren land in piedmont
discussed with focus on additional prospective for area are deprived off water for agriculture [i].
sustainability of initiatives to gain full benefits of Hill Various studies conducted on optimum use of flash
Torrent water with an improved protection against flood water for irrigation purpose and minimize the
flood vulnerabilities. drought effect for Hill Torrent's concluded that the

2
 Technical Journal, University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Taxila, Pakistan Vol. 21 No. II-2016

provision of storage reservoirs, diversion structures 1 Kaura

and cross drainage structures utmost important 2 Vehova

3 Sanghar
[ii-iv]. Conventionally agriculture growers in hill 4 Sorilund
torrents regions use low flows of torrents by building 5 Vidor

small embankments locally named "Gandaz". It has 6 Sakhi Sarwar

7 Mithawan
been noted that flash floods break small embankments 8 Kaha
and not allow the farmers to use this precious water. 80 9 Chachar

% agriculture contribution of Pakistan is supported 10

11
Pitok
Sori Shumali
from Punjab therefore it has a key role in Pakistan's 12 Zangi
economic life. More than 90% agronomic production 13 Sori Janubi

in Punjab is through irrigated land exploiting a major

part of its conventional water resources and land. Now Fig. 1. Location of Hill Torrents of Rajanpur and
with increasing population and reducing land D.G. Khan Area of Punjab, Pakistan
resources, demands utilization of barren lands that only
rely on the flood water irrigation. It has been noted that II. EXISTING WATER MANAGEMENT OF
cropping intensity in piedmont area of hill torrents HILL TORRENTS
fluctuates significantly according to the level and
frequency of inundating. Sorghum and Millets are For cultivating the seasonal crops flood Irrigation
sown on maximum of the cropped area on flood is conventionally utilized for diverting flow of hill
dampness and afterwards oil seeds are grown. For the torrent into areas to be irrigated. The agricultural
occasions when flood period ends, late and optimal soil practices are developed keeping in view the extreme
dampness is there in the soil from previous inundating, occasions of inundations and droughts and a unique
wheat is cultivated in the month of November. The irrigation system for hill torrent area is being practiced,
flood water and silt of Pitok and Sori Shumali is known locally as “Kamara Irrigation”. In this system
brackish so injurious for plant growth. The piedmont sequential water rights are enforced and irrigation
area of remaining eleven hill torrents is very fertile pattern are dictated starting higher to lower riparian,
because it has been developed by the continuous silt without concern of the period and amount of flows
accumulation carried out by flood water. It has been generated through storms. Due to this arrangement
noted that the yields per unit area are low which may be distant lower riparian's could not get irrigation water
attributed to erratic and insufficient water availability throughout a year of low flow. For utilizing the flood
and poor management practices [v]. water generally embankments of earthen material are
The use of GIS was found effective for integrated constructed through the stream with big water passage
way of conserving the excess water to minimize the on one or both sides of the stream. Traditionally earthen
flash flood risk and its use for irrigation purposes. embankments and arrangement of water delivery were
Earthen reservoirs were proposed using GIS to achieve built by the local peoples on their own by utilizing their
both the objectives [vi]. In order to uplift the quality of customary expertise. It has been noted that locals,
life for the people inhabiting the piedmont areas of prepare field by constructing embankments of about
these torrents and to avoid destruction of valuable 1.8 m high to store the water by keeping in view the soil
infrastructure due to sudden floods, this research work type, share in water and various other local factors. As
investigated existing water management practices, soon as water dried up in the field, crops are sown
various previous studies and implementation which flourish due to the moisture stored in the soil. No
programs, conducted various site visits to the piedmont further irrigation is possible except rain if it occurs.
area to evaluate the outcome of existing management This arrangement is barely proficient of handling
efforts and proposed new development strategies. the small flows, upon which moderate and large flows
Previous reports have been discussed keeping in view destroy the earthen embankments of farmers and
the management of floods of all 13 torrents and due to frequently cause unprecedented damages to the local
limited space, scope of evaluation for existing economy. These sudden floods are causing not only the
management practices and proposed development wastage of irrigable flows but from centuries are
strategies have been discussed only for Kaha hill causing loss of human lives, edible, potable and
torrent. Kaha hill torrent has been selected for cashable agricultural production.
discussion as this torrent bring maximum discharge Cropping intensity is defined as the percentage
(Q100 = 6440 m3/s at darrah) among the 13 torrents and ratio of the cultivable command area to the cropped
has maximum potential of agricultural growth. area. For evaluating the existing system cropping data
from revenue record from concerned offices of
Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan Districts has been
collected (2010-2013) and average cropping intensity
has been computed. The computed cropping intensities
for each torrent are shown in Fig. 2 below.

3
 Technical Journal, University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Taxila, Pakistan Vol. 21 No. II-2016

6.8
11.2
Project (Stage-III) Updating Feasibility Study on Hill
5.3 KAURA Torrents Management Plan in CRBC Area in
VEHOWA
11.1
Dera Ghazi Khan District, Irrigation & Power
SANGHAR
SORI LUND
Department, Punjab, [x]
18.9
VIDORE
After reviewing the above reports following are
SAKHI SARWAR the inferences;
12
MITHAWAN  It was identified [vii] that recommended strategy
9
CHACHAR
should be, “utilizing the maximum quantities of
KAHA
11.7
1
ZANGI
floodwaters in areas where they are generated”. F o r
7.4
7.8 SORI JANUBI
utilizing the flood waters gabion dispersion
structures were proposed and no structure for
Fig. 2. Existing Cropping Intensity of Hill Torrents of storage or delay action dams was planned.
Punjab Province, Pakistan  It was proposed [viii] that catchment management
techniques will cater sediment production of upper
The analysis indicates the annual cropping catchment for sustainable and long term solution f o r
intensity of the area is from 19% for Kaha to as low as 1 hill torrent management difficulties. The study
% for Sori lund. According to the amount and proposed some dispersion structures for Vidore as case
frequency of inundation in piedmont area, large study.
variation in the cropping intensity has been noticed.  It was adopted [ix] to build suitable flood
Sorghum and Millets are sown on maximum of the dispersion and diversion structures sustained by a
cropped area on flood dampness and afterwards oil system of surface drains to securely take the left over
seeds are grown. Hill Torrent wise existing crop yields flow to the Indus River. In this study also no
have also computed by analyzing field investigations storage/delay action dam structure was proposed with
and deliberations with officials of agriculture the reason that dams may fill immediately due t o
department functioning in the area. Published reports heavy sediment loads.
on Agricultural Statistics of Punjab for districts of Dera  Six alternatives were evaluated [x] and finally
Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur were also consulted and recommended approach was Diversion
compared for determining the existing crop yield /Distribution Options for attaining flood
levels. The crop yields estimated for Oil-Seeds, Pulses, mitigation and irrigation purposes in the piedmont
Wheat, Bajra and Sorghum are 305, 280, 495, 242 and area. This study has also not considered dam
293 kg/acre respectively. The overall yields are low that structure in mountains with the same reason as
may be attributed to erratic and insufficient water mentioned above.
supplies. Socio-economic situation of the agricultural The outcomes of previous reports suggested that
community can be deteriorated without flood almost all the studies have considered
protection and proper management of water resources. distribution/diversion of floods in piedmont area with
In order to improve the socio-economic condition gabion dispersion structures and have not considered
of the local people of piedmont area various studies and dams - either delay action or storage option - in
implementation plans were initiated by various mountain area.
governmental agencies. In this research effort various The probable reason of ignoring dam structures in
previous reports have been studied and their mountain area may be techniques of reservoir flushing
recommendations are discussed below. were not mature at the stage when these reports were
prepared. Now, with the current engineering
III. REVIEW OF PREVIOUS REPORTS knowledge it is possible to flush reservoir by adopting
suitable techniques. Therefore, in the present study,
Following previous reports have been studied to development plan is to consider flood management at
review the previous development plans; two stages i.e.
 NESPAK (1984), Flood Management of Dera  in mountains by constructing delay action/storage
Ghazi Khan Hill Torrents [vii] dams with suitable flushing arrangement and
 JICA (1992), Feasibility Study (FS) on  in the piedmont area by constructing dispersion
Development of Irrigation based upon Flood structures/regular canal irrigation.
Flows of Dera Ghazi Khan Hill Torrents [viii] IV. PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF
 NESPAK, (1998). Master Feasibility Studies for
Flood Management of Hill Torrents of Pakistan,
EXISTING STRUCTURES OF KAHA HILL
Flood Flows of D.G. Khan Hill Torrents, Federal TORRENT
Flood Commission, Ministary of Waters and Kaha Hill Torrent is one of the main hill torrents of
Power, Govt. of Pakistan, [ix] Dera Ghazi Khan. It originates in the area lying within
 NESPAK, (2005). Chashma Right Bank Irrigation administrative territory of Balochistan Province and

4
 Technical Journal, University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Taxila, Pakistan Vol. 21 No. II-2016

drains an area of over 57, 00 sq km of Suleman Range. the water entry to the off-taking channel (wah). On the
Kaha leaves mountains, upstream of Harand and fans downstream side gabion crating is provided at glacis. It
out into numerous small channels known locally as has been observed and reflected from the figure that
wahs in downstream area. Flows of Kaha are managed gabion crates are damaged due to high velocity
with the help of 13 dispersion structures as shown in torrential flows. It has been noted that around
Figure 3. Recently under annual development program downstream cutoff walls high speed flood water caused
almost all the structures were modified from wire crate erosion as shown in the Figure 5. On the downstream
gabion structures to rigid PCC structures. side of the newly constructed structures these problems
It has been noted that all the flood water dispersion arise as energy dissipation phenomenon probably has
structures across the flows are now rigid and not been considered in the design. It has been noted that
constructed using PCC instead of conventionally used no permanent structure has been provided for the off
earthen embankments. It was informed by the local take of irrigation channels (Wahs). Drawback of this
officials of the government agencies that, these rigid practice is that during high flows usually these earthen
structures were constructed from year 2011 to 2013 off takes could not perform properly and sometimes
under the annual development program and were beds of wahs near off-take are subjected to heavy
according to the suggestions of various studies erosion and on other hand sediment accumulate at the
conducted in the past. These structures generally mouth of wah and restrict the entry of water. It has been
comprise of following components; observed that upstream guide banks are constructed of
 Construction of a weir along whole width of hill local material and for preparing embankment it is not
torrent flow path which is a dispersion structure compacted as shown in Fig. 4. Disadvantage of this
 Upstream, downstream and central cut off walls on practice is that during high flows these embankments
the basis of worst scour. could not sustain the pressure of water and usually
 Abutments, wing walls and retaining walls. cause breaches. Due to breaches in guide bank water
 Off taking channels on right and left side will disperse wildly instead of passing through the
structures.
 Protection bunds / embankments.
Although no data is available to compare the
 Bed stabilizer on downstream of main weir. performance of these rigid dispersion structures to the
For the purpose of performance evaluation of historic earthen structures in terms of increase in
existing structures although several sites were visited cropping intensity or crop production. But from the
as part of this study but in this paper two representative discussions with local people it has been noted that
sites i.e. Muhammad Wah and Jindra Wah have been these rigid structures are useful in improving the water
discussed and shown in Figures 4 and 5. diversion and reduced the annual efforts of the local
It has been noted that upstream side of the people that they have to put after each flood in term of
structures are filled with sediments after two flood reconstruction of diversion weirs.
seasons. This filling is as per design and will improve

Fig. 3. Line Diagram of Kaha Hill Torrent

5
 Technical Journal, University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Taxila, Pakistan Vol. 21 No. II-2016

Fig. 4. Muhammad Wah (at 4.60 km) Kaha Hill Torrent

Fig. 5. Jindra Wah (at 29.20 km) Kaha Hill Torrent

V. PRESENT DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR enough volumes to store the discharges that attenuate
KAHA HILL TORRENT the peak of 100 year return interval discharge to 50%
and to increase the cropping area from existing 6854 ha
Present development plan of the Kaha hill torrent to designed 36180 ha. The salient features of the dam
has been proposed by keeping in view two issues i.e. to and its appurtenant structures are presented below.
substantially reduce the flood peaks and to improve the
irrigation agriculture of the area. For this purpose Kaha Inflow Flood
watershed was visited and identified a potential Inflow Design Flood = 6440 m3/s (100 year Return
location for multipurpose dam near Nilakund village. Period)
The latitude and longitude of the site are 29º 33' 46” and Dam / Reservoir
69º 48' 39” and it is about 18 miles upstream of Kaha Top of Dam Embankment = El. 684.4 m asl
darrah. For evaluating the storage potential of the site, Height of Dam = 124.0 m (El. 684.4 El. 560.4)
freely available SRTM digital elevation data has been Reservoir Dead Storage (El. 575.7 m asl) = 0.11
acquired and elevation area capacity curve prepared as Million m3
shown in Fig. 6. Reservoir Gross Storage at MCL (El. 674.7 m asl) =
Hydrological studies at the dam site consist of 1227.62 Million m3
computing the water availability and flood Live Reservoir Storage = 1227.51 Million m3
hydrographs. For this purpose rainfall runoff analysis Spillway
has been done by utilizing the HEC-HMS computer Spillway width = 152.3 m
software. The computed flood hydrographs at the dam Crest Level = El. 674.7 m asl
site are shown in Fig. 7. Maximum Conservation Level (MCL) = El. 674.7 m
Dam height and its appurtenant structures like low asl
level outlets and spillways at the selected site has been Low Level Outlets
designed in such a way that created reservoir has Invert Level of LLOs = El. 575.7 m asl

6
 Technical Journal, University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Taxila, Pakistan Vol. 21 No. II-2016

Flushing Outlet hydrograph of 100 yr return Fig. 6.

No. of Outlets = 4 No. Elevation~Area~Capacity Curve at Selected Dam Site
Size of Outlet = 2.74 m x 2.74 m in Kaha Hill interval reservoir routing studies have
Total Discharge Capacity of Outlets at MCL = 924 m3/s been conducted by utilizing the MS Excel sheet
Water Availability program. The output of the reservoir routing study was
Average Annual Availability = 250 Million m3 an outflow ydrograph and is shown in Figure 8 below. It
Annual Agriculture Demand = 160 Million m3 is evident from the figure that peak of the hydrograph is
Proposed Cropping Period = Whole year attenuated from 6440 m3/s to 3216 m3/s.
Total CCA = 36180 ha It is clear from the above analysis that if the
Cropping Intensity = 70% per annum development plan proposed as part of this study is
Agricultural Shortages = 10.0% implemented it will not only improve the irrigation
By utilizing the elevation~area~capacity, outflow agriculture of the area but also ensure safety of the
rating of the dam outlet works and the inflow downstream areas from the hazards of sudden floods.

3
Volume (Mm )
3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0
710 710

690 690

670 670

650 650
Elevation (m asl)

Elevation (m asl)
630 630

610 610

590 590

570 570

550 550
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000
2
Surface Area (m ) x 10000

2 3
Surface Area (m ) Volume (Mm )

Fig. 6. Elevation~Area~Capacity Curve at Selected Dam Site in Kaha Hill Torrent

14,000

12,000

10,000
Discharge (m /s)
3

8,000

6,000

4,000

2,000

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60

2.33 5 10 25 50 100 1000 10000

Fig. 7. Flood Hydrographs at Selected Dam Site in Kaha Hill Torrent

7
 Technical Journal, University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Taxila, Pakistan Vol. 21 No. II-2016

Reservoir Routing
7000

6000

5000

Discharge= m /s
4000

3
3000

2000

1000

0
0.00 20.00 40.00 60.00 80.00 100.00 120.00
Time (hrs)

Inflow Hydrograph Outflow Hydrograph

Fig. 8. Inflow and Outflow Hydrographs for Kaha Dam

VI. CONCLUSIONS AND feasibility study for the construction of dams in the
RECOMMENDATIONS mountain areas of the hill torrents.

Following are the main conclusion and ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

recommendations of the study;
 The piedmont area of the hill torrents despite of Writers are thankful to Punjab Govt. for providing
having fertile lands in general is producing low relevant information / data. The amenities provided by
value crops. The land utilization per year varied the National Engineering Services Pakistan, Lahore
from torrent to torrent. Maximum existing during this study are also acknowledged thankfully.
cropping intensity is 19% in Kaha to as low as 1%
in Sori lund.
REFERENCES
 Historically, flood waters of hill torrents were
diverted by using earthen embankments that [I] Shafiq M, (2013). Hill Torrent Management
washed away in even low to medium floods. Now, Initiatives In Southern Part of Punjab an
due to intervention of governmental agencies there Overview, Impact Analysis & Way Forward,
is trend of constructing rigid dispersion structures Paper No. 746, Pg (289-314), Proceedings of
instead of old flexible embankments. 72nd Annual Session of Pakistan Engineering
 Newly constructed rigid structures cause Congress
improvement in diverting the flood waters to [ii] Kamran MA Shamshad T (2014) Impacts of Hill
irrigation fields. Beside this there is need to Torrents Management on Socio Economic
improve the design of downstream energy Conditions of Arid Land Farmers: a Case Study
dissipation arrangements according to the state of of Tehsil DG khan. AJHAL 1.
the art engineering practices. [iii] Mirjat MS, Soomro AJ, Mirjat KH, Mirjat MU,
 Presently flexible structures have been provided Chandio AS (2011) Potential of Hill Torrent
for the off take of irrigation channels (Wahs). It is Spate Irrigation in the Kohistan Areas of Sindh
recommended that these off takes should be “A case Study”. Pakistan journal of Agriculture
designed as rigid structures to withstand high Engineering 27 (2) 100-114.
floods. [iv] Saher FN, Nasly MA, Kadir TAA, Yahaya
 It is recommended to improve the existing rigid NKEM, Wan IShak WMF (2014) Managing
dispersion structure by keeping in view their Flood Water OF Hill Torrents as Potential
present performance. Source for Irrigation. Journal of Flood Risk
 Present development plan of the Kaha hill torrent Management.
involve construction of 124 m high dam. [v] GoP, (1990). Harnessing Hill Torrents In Dera
Implementation of this development plan can Ghazi Khan, Irrigation and Power Dept. Punjab
cause appreciable reduction in flood peaks and [vi] Ya s i n Z , N a b i G ( 2 0 1 4 ) A l t e r n a t i v e
will increase the cropping area by 5 times as Management Plan for Flash Floods and Flow of
compared to existing. M i t h a w a n H i l l To r r e n t s i n P a k i s t a n .
 It is recommended to initiate a comprehensive International Journal of Scientific and

8
 Technical Journal, University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Taxila, Pakistan Vol. 21 No. II-2016

Engineering Research 5 (12). [ix] NESPAK, (1998). Master Feasibility Studies for
[vii] NESPAK, (1984). Flood Management of D.G. Flood Management of Hill Torrents of Pakistan,
Khan Hill Torrents, Federal Flood Commission, Flood Flows of D. G. Khan Hill Torrents,
Ministary of Waters and Power, Govt. of Federal Flood Commission, Ministary of Waters
Pakistan and Power, Govt. of Pakistan
[viii] J I C A , ( 1 9 9 2 ) . F e a s i b i l i t y S t u d y o n [x] NESPAK, (2005). Chashma Right Bank
Development of Irrigation based upon Flood Irrigation Project (Stage-III) Updating
Flows of D. G. Khan Hill Torrents, Federal Feasibility Study on Hill Torrents Management
Flood Commission, Ministary of Waters and Plan in CRBC Area in Dera Ghazi Khan District,
Power, Govt. of Pakistan Irrigation & Power Department, Punjab