Salma dam project in Afghanistan to be commissioned next year

Salma Multipurpose Dam, a goodwill project executed by the Indian Government in Afghanistan, is likely to be commissioned in the middle of next year, almost a decade after the beginning of construction work.
Being built at a cost of over Rs 1400 crore across the Harirud River at Chist-e-Shariff in Herat province of Afghanistan, the project envisages generation of 42 MW of power, besides having the potential for irrigating 75,000 ha of land.
"Nearly 90 per cent of the work is over. Some works including electromechanical and transmission lines are to be completed," Union Water Resource Ministry sources said, adding, the project is expected to be commissioned by middle of 2016. The construction works started in January 2006, they said.

WAPCOS Limited, a Public Sector Enterprise functioning under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, is executing the project completely funded by the Indian Government, officials said.
Salma dam is the second largest overseas hydropower project built by India, sources said, adding, its annual energy generation would be 86.6 giga watt hour.
The reservoir water spreads about 20 KM in length and 3.7 KM in width, while the dam, which is 107 Metre high, 550 Metre long and 500 Metre wide, has the gross water capacity of 633 Million Cubic Metres.

About 10 days back, the reservoir started filling up and the diversion of water was closed, which sources said marked a "milestone" in the execution of the project, being implemented under challenging circumstances, with security and other constraints.

The sources said the dam would be handed over to the Afghan Government, which would take care of the maintenance after the project has been commissioned.
Construction material for the project was shipped to Iran from India before being ferried by road to Afghanistan.
"We had engaged both Afghan and Indian workers for construction works," the sources said.