Wapcos implements Salma dam project in Afghanistan

NEW DELHI: Water and Power Consultancy Services ( Wapcos) Ltd, a government undertaking under the ministry of water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation has executed and implemented the Salma dam project in Afghanistan.

The infrastructure project undertaken by India on river Chist-e-Sharif in Herat province of Afghanistan has a capacity to generate 42 mw of power and irrigate 75,000 hectares of land, a press release issued by the water resources ministry said.

The reservoir capacity of the dam is 633 million cubic metres. The Central Water Commission provided the design and drawing of the dam to Wapcos, said government officials. The project is located 165 km east of Herat town.

The successful completion of the project represents culmination of years of hard work by 1,500 Indian and Afghan engineers and other professionals in very difficult conditions, the press release said.

Due to security reasons Indian engineers and technicians involved with the project have been reaching the site once in a month by helicopter service provided by government of Afghanistan, the press release said.

The ministry said all equipment and material were transported from India to Bander-e-Abbas port of Iran via sea and then along 1,200 km by road from there to Islam Kila border post at Iran-Aghanistan border and then further 300 km by road from the border post to the site. Cement, steel reinforcement, explosives etc. were imported to Afghanistan from neighboring countries, it said.