‘A collection of treaties, engagements and sanads relating to India and neighbouring countries’ [‎285] (302/578)

AFGHANISTAN—NO. XXII—1905.
285
ascertained that in only 3 out of the past 35 years has there been any serious
deficiency of water in Seistan during that season. It is necessary, therefore,
first to consider water requirements during the season of spring crops. Any
settlement based on the requirements of that season will meet the case of the re
mainder of the year also.
(c) After carefully calculating the normal volume of the Helmand river during
the period between the autumn equinox and the spring equinox it has been clearly
ascertained that one-third of the water which now reaches Seistan at Bandar-i-
Kamal Khan would amply suffice for the proper irrigation of all existing cultivation
in Persian Seistan, and also allow of a large future extension of that cultivation,
This would leave a requisite supply for all Afghan requirements.
10, I therefore give the following award
AWABD.
Clause I .—No irrigation works are to be carried out on either side calculated
to interfere with the requisite supply of water for irrigation on both banks of the
river but both sides have the right, within their own territories, to maintain existing
canals, to open out old or disused canals, and to make new canals, from the
Helmand river, provided that the supply of water requisite for irrigation on both
sides is not diminished.
Clause II .—The amount of water requisite for irrigation of Persian lands
irrigable from and below the Band-i-Kohak is one-third of the whole volume of
the Helmand river which enters Seistan.
Seistan, to which Sir Frederick Goldsmid’s award applies, comprises all.lands
on both banks of the Helmand from Bandar-i-Kamal Khan downwards.
Clause III .—Persia is, therefore, entitled to one-third of the whole Helmand
River calculated at the point where water is first taken off from it to irrigate lands
on either bank situated at or below Bandar-i-Kamal Khan.
Clause IV .—Any irrigation works constructed by Afghanistan to divert water
into Seistan lands, as above defined, must allow of at least one-third of the volume
of the whole river being available for Persian use at Band-i-Kohak.
Clause F.—To enable both sides to satisfy themselves that this award is being
complied with, and at the same time to avoid the necessity of fresh references
to the British Government and the expense of special Missions, a British officer
of irrigation experience shall be permanently attached to the British Consulate
in Seistan. He will be empowered to give an opinion, when required by either
party, on any case of doubt or dispute over water questions that may arise. He
will, when necessary, take steps to bring the real facts of any case to the notice
of the Government concerned. He will be able also to call the attention of either
party to any important indications of threatening danger to their water-supply
arising from natural causes or their own irrigation works. To enable this officer
properly to fulfill the functions of bis office, free access shall be given to him by
either side to the Helmand river and its branches and the heads of canals leading
therefrom.