The reconstruction work for the first phase of the Shahi Canal project in Alingar district of Laghman province has begun.

Officials said that the first phase of this canal will be built with a length of 6.6 kilometers, which can irrigate five thousand hectares of land and meet the needs of thousands of families.

Abdul Latif Mansoor, acting Minister of Energy and Water, said: "I do not divide this project into different phases, such as the first or second phase. We have inaugurated the entire canal, and we will complete it. The first part of it costs eight million dollars, which has been allocated from the Islamic Emirate’s development budget. With the first phase, five thousand hectares of land will be irrigated, and in total, twenty thousand hectares of land will be irrigated."

Farooq Azam, Advisor to the Ministry of Energy and Water, said: "This project starts from this dam, and its first part will be built with a length of 6.6 kilometers and will deliver water regularly to lands that currently receive it irregularly. This is a major project, and once all its phases are completed, one hundred thousand acres of land will be irrigated."

Residents of Laghman are happy with the start of this project and urge the Islamic Emirate to take up work on other parts of this project as soon as possible.

Mujib Rahman, a resident of Laghman, said: "Work should also start on the remaining three parts. This work will create job opportunities for the people, make barren lands fertile, irrigate lands, help in the creation of forests, and prevent water wastage."

Rohanullah, a resident of Laghman, said: "Previously, this dam did not exist, and the waters were wasted. With the construction of this dam, we will be happy; these dry lands will become fertile and green, and our Alingar and Laghman will become very beautiful."

According to information from officials, the Shahi Canal in Laghman will be approximately 70 kilometers long and will be constructed in two phases. Upon completion, it will irrigate around twenty thousand hectares of land and control a portion of Laghman's flowing water.