Water has been overflowing from the spillway of the Lower Paunglaung Dam in Nay Pyi Taw, and 10 Hydraulic Elevator Dam (HED) gates have been opened to release water. However, the Ministry of Information has stated that flooding is not expected unless there is exceptionally heavy rainfall.
Currently, 10 Hydraulic Elevator Dam (HED) gates at the Lower Paunglaung Dam have been opened, with inflow and stored water being regulated and balanced. Water flow is also being controlled through the Paunglaung Diversion Dam (Aweiya Diversion Dam). Therefore, flooding is not expected in the downstream and surrounding areas or along the Sittaung River unless there is unusually heavy rainfall, according to the ministry.
The dam originally had a full storage capacity of 549,000 acre-feet. Twenty HED gates have been installed at the spillway, allowing the reservoir to store an additional approximately 21,000 acre-feet of water. This has enabled the generation of an additional eight million units of hydropower annually, bringing total annual hydropower generation to 919 million units, according to the report.
On September 1, Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Min Naung visited the Lower Paunglaung Dam in Zeyathiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw, where he inspected water inflows into the reservoir, the structural stability of the dam and water overflowing from the spillway. He also gave instructions to officials regarding dam safety and the system for raising warning flags indicating the safety status of the dam.
The Lower Paunglaung Dam has experienced water overflowing from its spillway 18 times during the 21 years since it was constructed and put into operation. In 2024, water overflowed more than 11 feet above the spillway due to the effects of Typhoon Yagi, resulting in flooding in the surrounding area.
However, based on the current situation, there is no cause for concern regarding the safety of the surrounding areas or the risk of flooding, the report said.
Officials from the Irrigation and Water Utilization Management Department in various regions are also providing timely updates through social media on the conditions of dams with large water-storage capacities, according to the report.
