Salang River Aqueduct Erosion Control Project ribbon cutting ceremony

PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – When water eroding the banks of the Salang River threatened to destroy an aqueduct and farm land in the Jabal Saraj district in Parwan province, Afghanistan, members of the Kentucky Agri-business Development Team took fluid steps to ensure the longevity of the canal.

The ADT, who is assigned to Task Force Cyclone, appropriately applied for funds to begin work that would ultimately protect the water from undermining the canal. They collaborated with the Army Corps of Engineers, the Parwan Director of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, a contracted company and others to complete the project.

According to the area leader Hamidullah, who joined the Kentucky ADT and many others to celebrate the completion of the Salang River Aquaduct Erosion Control Project, March 8, during a ribbon cutting ceremony, no one is more pleased than the people of the area who were affected.

“We are very glad for the work that was done,” Hamidullah told Lt. Col. Ruth Graves, of the Ky. ADT. “The quality of work is very good and all the people in the area are very happy.”

Others who joined the ADT in the ceremony included, the governor of Parwan, Abdul Basir Salangi; the Parwan DAIL, Shah Mir Amiri; the newly placed Parwan Provincial Reconstruction Team members and many others civilians from the area.

According to Lt. Col. Marion Peterson, had the aqueduct collapsed, it would have been and economic disaster. The aqueduct provides water to about 30,000 families and over 90,000 acres of land.

“There is a strong possibility that the aqueduct would have failed this spring and collapsed into the Salang River had we not taken action,” said Peterson. “[The project saved] the aqueduct, which [the area residents] get their irrigation from and some drinking water, from collapsing and failing.”

According to Graves, the ADT is very happy and proud of the results of the project.

“This project is going to protect the irrigation that is so vital to all the people of this area,” said Graves. “We are very pleased with the way this project came together. It is very good workmanship and this water will provide irrigation to the people and benefit the people of Parwan for many years to come.”

Peterson said he enjoyed working with all those who were employed by the project and it was a fun and rewarding experience.

“I’m an engineer officer, so anytime we get to move dirt and work with machinery and have fun with water, it’s a fun project,” said Peterson. “The contractor had an especially good work plan they’ve been fantastic to work with, the locals and the Afghan government have been outstanding.”