The dam is a main irrigation project of the area.

This dam is built on the Jakham river, which originates from a small village Jakhamia in Chhoti Sadrisub division.

The Jakham dam's foundation was laid on 14 May 1968 by then chief minister Mohan Lal Sukhadia, however the actual construction-work of the dam started in 1969–70.

Initially the catchment of the Jakham Dam was 5,015 MCft for irrigating 52,354 hectares of land.

Irrigation facility is being provided in 118 villages in Dhariyawad sub-division.