‘Persia – especially Seistan’ [‎100r] (198/949)

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beino’ dried up. These cases are of such infrequent occurrence that the liability must be faced :
in such drv years it is probable supply would be short at sowing time, and, if so, the areas sown
would be of small extent. What we are very much concerned with is the number of years in
which the supply runs short of the averages reported by Colonel McMahon and there is no
means of knowing this, as observations have only been made for a few years. Ihe supply tor
the cold weather is apparently very certain, and on the whole conditions are very favourable
for a great canal scheme; however, it will be clear that, if this is entered on, water-supply
will be in great demand as the system develops, and that we would have the following state
of affairs :— ,
Acres.
Area requiring annual irrigation ... ••• 1 , 256,192
Available supply sufficient only for ... ••• 764,325
that is, for only about two-thirds of the area.
If extended
Effect on Hamun^i-Helmand.
4 . In very dry years this lake dries up even under present conditions,
irrigation is to be carried out, we must contemplate :—
(i) the Hamun being usually dry throughout a great part of each year;
(u) a further demand for canal water for this great reclaimed area which will increase
the commanded area, 5,893 square miles, by 986 square miles, that is, by one-
sixth ;
(Hi) that the obstacle which the flooded Hamun now forms to a military force from the
north-west would be removed, as occasional floods and surplus water would not
keep this great depression in an impassable condition, since evaporation over the
great expanse must be enormous.
Proposals for canal icorks.
5. These, as explained by Mr. Ward in paragraph 10 of Appendix E to Colonel
McMahon’s letter No. 909 , dated 13 th July 1903 , are as follows : —
(*) Construction of a weir at Ghahar Burjak.
(if) Construction of u canal to down past Killa-i-Fath for irrigation of Afghan
territory on the right of the Helmand.
(Hi) Construction of a canal on the right along the deserted river-bed post Tarakun to
irrigate all the tract on the left bank of the Helmand below Band-i-Kamal Khan
and above the Rud-i-Seistan.
[ir) Continued supply of water down the existing channel to Band-i-Seistan for the
irrigation of Persian Seistan.
/ \ Construction of a great and costly escape channel from Band-i-Kamal Khan to
the Gaud-i-Zirreh depression, which would then take the place of the Hamun-i-
Helmand for the reception of surplus water. .
6 } n alternative to having the weir at Chahar Burjak is to have it at Band-i-Kamal
TTi \“ed bv Mr Ward in paragraph 13 of Appendix E to the letter just quoted. I
of TpfnioiTthat tlns^course will be*found preferable for the following reasons
(i\ It may be found possible to dispense with the weir the river being simp y
( ) impounded, and a P comparatively small masonry head being allowed for the
supply needed for Persian Seistan now irrigated.
prohibitive—and a task of unparalleled magnitude of the kind.
but ™
Disposal of the limited supply of water.
7 . Since the supply of water available only for^about ^ of^i™ coloured
green and yellow in Mr. W ard s tracing mar ve PI ^ ^ area an( i the half selected
template constructing canals to serve ^ore | f or political reasons some depar-
should be that where the and is of ^ and now irrigated require
first consideration, butThese'OnVamounts to about one-fifth of the whole gross area which
asstTgSi- vn ftaa t.. u— -*—>•—■