Under contract from Turkey's State Hydraulic Works, Ozerka Insatt began construction on the dam in 2008 and a completion date has not been announced.

[2] The reported purpose of the dam is water storage and it can also support a 2 MW hydroelectric power station in the future.

[2] Another purpose of the dam which has been widely reported in the Turkish press is to reduce the freedom of movement of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants.

Blocking and flooding valleys close to the Iraq–Turkey border is expected to help curb cross-border PKK smuggling and deny caves in which ammunition can be stored.

[7] According to the 10th Regional Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI), the construction of the dam was completed in 2023.