HERAT CITY (SW): The Indian-sponsored multi-million dollars Salma Dam passed a critical stage on Sunday with closure of Diversion Tunnel Gate and start of filling of dam reservoir.
Filling of 20-km long and 3.7 km wide dam reservoir is likely to take 9 to 12 months. The dam located in the western Herat city near Iran has storage capacity of 640 million cubic meters.
Aseluddin Jami, Acting governor told SW that a ceremony would be held soon to officially mark this historic occasion.
The reservoir project was first conceived in the late 70s, but was damaged early during the civil war in the 1990s. The project was left incomplete for a significant period of time due to the ongoing instability. Local press also blamed Iran for hindering the project.
Salma dam is a $ 300 million hydroelectric and irrigation project being constructed on Hari Rud river in Chiste Sharif district of Herat. Afghanistan is likely to get around 42 MW of power from it besides improved irrigation facilities for some 80,000 hectares of land.
The project includes construction of 107.5 m high and 550 m long rock fill dam and other typical components of any hydroelectric power project, i.e. Spillway, Powerhouse, Switchyard, and Transmission line.
ENDS
