Water release from Afghan-India Friendship Dam brings relief to drought-hit Herat farmers
Herat
The release of water from the Afghan-India Friendship Dam, also known locally as the Salma Dam, into the Harirud River this week has brought much-needed relief to farmers in Afghanistan’s Herat province, who have been struggling under drought-like conditions, according to local reports.
Jointly inaugurated by former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 4, 2016, the dam remains one of the most significant symbols of India-Afghanistan cooperation. Located in Chist-e-Sharif in western Afghanistan, the multipurpose project was designed to generate 42 MW of electricity, irrigate 75,000 hectares of farmland, and provide water for domestic and industrial use.
With a massive storage capacity of approximately 633 million cubic metres, the Salma Dam stands 104.3 metres high and stretches 540 metres in length. The dam’s release of water this week is expected to rejuvenate agriculture in the region, significantly benefiting farmers whose livelihoods depend on irrigation from the Harirud River.
Constructed by WAPCOS Ltd., a Government of India enterprise under the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, the project was completed after years of challenging work by around 1,500 Indian and Afghan professionals. The construction process faced numerous hurdles, including security threats and logistical challenges in transporting materials through Iran’s Bander-e-Abbas port to the Afghan border—over 1,200 kilometres away.
Security concerns have persisted even after completion, with militia groups attempting attacks near the dam site in recent years. Despite these challenges, the Afghan administration’s decision to release water has reaffirmed the project’s critical role in supporting regional agriculture and the enduring legacy of India-Afghanistan partnership in infrastructure and development.
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A symbol of close bonds
- Inaugurated jointly by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on June 4, 2016, the dam remains one of the most significant symbols of India-Afghanistan cooperation.
- It is a multipurpose project planned for generating 42 MW of power, irrigating 75,000 hectares of land, water supply and other benefits to the people of Afghanistan.
