Qargha Dam, located in western part of Kabul city, was built during the reign of King Mohammad Zahir Shah in 1333 solay year. The dam was first used for irrigation, but later it became as a recreational site for Kabul people. It has a height of 30 m (98 ft). The dam length is 1.68 km (1.04 mi) and top width is 600 m (2,000 ft). A sluice gate of the dam which was damaged has since been restored. The reservoir water spread area behind the dam is 5,000 hectares.
Currently, the dam irrigates areas as Deh Araban, Badambagh, Police Academy, Kabul Education University, Polytechnics University, Afghan Red Crescent Society and Baghbala.
The reservoir volume is 32.8 million m3, and was developed for the purpose of recreation in the 1950s when Mohammed Daoud Khan was the Prime Minister of the country. It is now a popular picnic location, particularly on Friday’s when it is visited by a large number of picnickers. During the Seventh Fiver Plan of the country, the stored water from the dam was planned for supplementing drinking water to Kabul city.
Currently, hundreds of people from various provinces visit Qargha on daily basis. In recent months, the number of visitors visiting the dam has increased unprecedentedly. Due to recent rainfalls in the country, the dam’s water has increased.
“It’s good time to visit various parts of the country as the security situation has improved in the country,” said Waisuddin Aslami, who has come from Herat to Kabul to visit Qargha Dam. He added that water in the Qargha dam has increased due to recent continued rainfalls in the country.
Sima Sekandar, a resident of Kabul, was another visitor visiting Qargha dam. She said she was excited to visit Qargha even from childhood.
“When I was a child, I was very enthusiastic to visit Qargha, but I could not visit the dam due to insecurities. Now, with my family I came to Qargha to see the dam’s beauty,” Sima said, adding that she’s very happy upon visiting the dam.
She asked those visiting Qargha dam to pay attention to cleanliness and environmental protection. Meanwhile, officials of the dam say the dam has been damaged due to fighting, adding that an Indian company was renovating the dam, particularly its internal canals.
It is worth mentioning that Qargha is a dam and reservoir at near Kabul, the provincial capital. The reservoir and its peripheral areas provide recreation facilities such as boating, surfing, golfing, etc. and have a hotel on its bank.
There is a fishery development in the reservoir supported by a hatchery on its banks. Irrigation and hydropower developments have also been planned from the stored waters of the reservoir.
Saida Ahmadi
Qargha Dam; historic and recreational site in Kabul
