Destroyed in 2006
Campaign calls for the reconstruction of Chaqchaq Dam
SULAYMANIYAH — A campaign to rebuild the Chaqchaq Dam in Sulaymaniyah was launched recently, urging local authorities to act. The campaign organizers highlight the dam’s importance and call on stakeholders to recognize its value to the locale.
Located north of the Sarchinar resort in Sulaymaniyah, the 13-meter-high Chaqchaq Dam was built in 2002 by the Swedish organization Qandil. It was destroyed in 2006 by heavy rainfall and has not been restored since.
The campaign’s petition, released Wednesday, appeals to the administration, responsible parties, wealthy individuals, and philanthropists in Sulaymaniyah to initiate the dam’s reconstruction. “As Sulaymaniyah grows, the need for additional water sources becomes critical. The Chaqchaq Dam is vital for our city, especially as a source of potable water,” said the campaigners.
The campaign emphasizes the dam’s potential benefits: becoming a major tourist attraction, creating jobs, serving as a significant source of fishery resources, enhancing groundwater and spring water levels to ensure continuity during summer, and increasing the region’s humidity to positively impact the climate, greenery, and rainfall.
Information from the Ministry of Agriculture shows that the Chaqchaq Dam, along with other dams in the region like Bawenoor in Kalar and Basera in Chamchamal, awaits funding for maintenance.
This initiative follows a July 21, 2021, announcement by the Media and Information Office stating that the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Prime Minister approved six billion Iraqi dinars ($4,595,722) for the completion and restoration of the Zalan and Chaqchaq Dams. No significant progress on the Chaqchaq Dam project has been noted at either site.