In recent developments surrounding the Qosh Tepa Canal, conflicting reports have emerged regarding the alleged breach of the canal wall and subsequent water overflow. Officials from the National Development Company of Afghanistan have categorically denied such incidents, asserting that the construction of the second stage of the canal will proceed as planned. The "Uzbekkosmos" agency, responsible for disseminating information about the water leakage, has provided an explanation based on a retrospective analysis of multispectral space images.
Agency reports that regular space monitoring of the construction dynamics of the Qosh Tepa Canal canal revealed the rise of underground seepage waters in areas undergoing excavation since May 2022. During the construction process, artificial barriers were intentionally left in four parts of the canal. These barriers were completely removed on October 10, 2023, marking the end of the first stage of work and resulting in the creation of a water flow.
Space monitoring on November 4, 2023, identified water leakage from a 30-meter section of the right bank at the 75.6th kilometer of the canal. Subsequent observations recorded an expansion of the flooded area from 19.5 km2 on November 5 to 30.3 km2 by December 13.
The international ecological coalition "Rivers without borders" attributes this situation to the inability of the canal walls to withstand the pressure from water flow originating from the Amu Darya. In contrast, Afghan engineers responsible for the construction contend that the water was deliberately directed to an open area at the 75.6th kilometer to manage underground seepage water levels.
Space monitoring indicates that excavation works in the section receiving water from the Amu Darya are incomplete, with approximately 20 meters of unexcavated area at the river connection. Interestingly, analysis of high-resolution space images did not reveal visual signs of purposeful excavations to divert seepage waters.
Additional information suggests that seepage around the leak site is receding, and the channel bed is gradually drying out. The analyses conducted challenge the assertions of the international environmental coalition "River without Borders," which claimed that the bank of the Qosh Tepa Canal was washed by the flow of water from the Amu Darya.
The construction of the Qosh Tepa Canal represents a significant economic project for the Taliban government over the past two years, approached with utmost seriousness. Launched in 2018, the canal stands as the largest water transfer project in the northern part of the country, capable of transferring 10bn cubic meters of water from the Amu Darya to Afghanistan.
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