The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Construction work on the Mianko Dam has begun in Helmand province, between Sangin and Gereshk districts, local officials said.
The dam is being built in Hanjari village and will stand 10 meters high, with a length of 11 meters and a width of 3 meters. Once completed, it is expected to protect hundreds of acres of agricultural land and numerous residential houses from floods and potential destruction.
The project is being implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) with the aim of providing alternatives to poppy cultivation, creating employment opportunities for local residents and strengthening water management systems in the area.
Taliban Minister of Rural Rehabilitation and Development Mohammad Younus Akhundzada said the Mianko Dam project is being carried out at a cost of $380,000.
He added that over the past two months, surveys have been conducted in 119 locations across Helmand and Kandahar provinces, and based on available resources, between 10 and 20 similar projects are planned to be launched later this year.
According to Akhundzada, Helmand, Kandahar, Zabul and Uruzgan are among the provinces most severely affected by prolonged droughts and flash floods, making such development projects an urgent necessity.
The affected provinces continue to face serious challenges due to drought and sudden flooding, and water management projects of this kind are considered vital for safeguarding lives and supporting economic growth.
