GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): The construction of Sarda Dam in Andar district of southern Ghazni province will help irrigate 15,200 hectares of land and generate work opportunities for thousands of people.
The dam, if constructed, will store water from natural steams and rains in its reservoir which will be distributed to agriculture lands in a proper way.
Water Management Director Ali Yawar said Sarda Dam was an asset for Ghazni and work on its construction should start.
“If this dam is constructed, thousands of hectares of land in Andar and Gero districts will be irrigated and thousands of people will get direct and indirect job opportunities.”
“If the dam is constructed and its canalisation system is improved it would benefit people as well as the government,” he added.
Yaqoub Salem, a resident of Sardai locality, told Pajhwok Afghan News people for the first time planted saplings at the dam site this year.
“Government has long been promising construction of the dam but it never implemented its pledge,” he said.
Writer and Journalist AsadullahJalalzai said when the Sarda Dam had been operational the level of agriculture production was high in Ghazni.
“When the dam was functional wheat was sent to Kabul from Ghazni, sunflower to Helmand and beetroot to Baghlan sugar mill,” he recalled.
He said if investment was made on the dam, and was made functional, the area would become a national park and it would develop.
Mohammad Arif, a farmer from Andar District, said the dam water reservoir and canals were full of silt if the DAM was cleaned up and water stored, it will help irrigate the agriculture lands.
Governor Spokesperson WahidullahJummah told Pajhwok Afghan News that provincial government had sent its plans and recommendation regarding the construction of Sarda and Sultan Dams to capital Kabul.
He hoped with improvement in security situation, work on Sarda and other dams would be kicked off.
Sarda Dam was rehabilitated last time in 1967 when King Zahir Shah was ruling Afghanistan. The dam was built by former Afghanistan king Taimour Shah
Nh/ma
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