Spring Rains Fill Shah wa Arus Dam, Taliban Open Gates for Irrigation
Following recent rainfall, the storage capacity of the Shah wa Arus Dam in Shakardara district of Kabul province has been fully reached. The Taliban administration has announced that the dam’s gates have been opened to release water towards agricultural lands.
Videos circulating on social media showing water flowing from the dam have been widely welcomed by residents across the country, with many citizens viewing it as a sign of improving water resources after several years of drought.
The Shah wa Arus Dam, built during the republican era, has a storage capacity of 9 million cubic meters of water and the ability to generate 1.2 megawatts of electricity. In addition to supplying irrigation water, this dam also helps in alleviating electricity shortages in some areas.
Afghanistan has faced consecutive droughts in recent years, which have led to reduced river water levels and dam reserves. This spring’s rainfall has increased water levels, causing some dams to overflow. However, experts consistently stress the importance of transparent and effective water resource management to sustainably and fairly meet agricultural and public needs using these capacities.
