The construction of the dam was endorsed in 1959, however, after the purge of relatively liberal and nationally oriented leaders under Eduards Berklavs and their replacement by Moscow-oriented, ideologically conservative cadres led by Arvīds Pelše.
Konstruktionen af dæmningen godkendtes i 1959, men, først efter udrensning af relativt liberale og nationalt orienterede ledere under Eduards Berklavs og deres udskiftning med Moskva-tro, ideologisk konservative kadrer ledet af Arvīds Pelše.