22
sides of the aqueduct were meant to
irrigate the land on either side of the channel. About this channel
G.T. Vigne remarks:
“But the more authentic knowledge of
their history, as detailed to me by Ahmad Shah commences with Ali
Sher Khan who built the great stone aqueduct by which water is
blocked across the valley from the Satpur stream and by which also,
a quantity of useful soil that would otherwise be washed away is
banked up and preserved. He built also the fort on the rock and
raised and elevated platform planted with Chinars, close under the
Killah and containing the tombs of the Gyalfos.”
This channel was constructed by the
Moghal Engineer named Gangu and the Channel after completion was
named after him.
1. WATER CHANNEL (STREAM)
FROM HARGISA NULLAH TO KACHURA:-
A water channel (stream) was
constructed from Hargisa Nullah near Koshmara to the Kachura lake.
It was dug on the pattern of those found in Srinagar. Shikaras
(small boats) ferried between Kushmara and Kachura. This stream had
the twin purpose of providing irrigational facilities to the people
as well as recreation to the royal princesses. Ruins of the stream
are still to be found in Giayul village.
2. BUND AT SATPAR LAKE.
Ali Sher Khan is also credited with
the construction of a dam on the Satpar Lake which irrigates Skardu.
During the winter months the doors of the barrage were closed and in
spring time opened according to irrigational needs. This practice is
followed even to this day. In its construction, according to
Hashmatullah, stones and lime were used but it appears that bricks
were also used. Miss Duncan who visited this Bund in 1904 says that
the barrage crosses the river just where it leaves the lake, is
about 14 feet high and 6 feet thick and has two tiers of doors 6
inches each tier, each door being 5’x1’-9” with deep, smoothly cut,
semicircular grooves to receive the rounded edges of the dressed
granite slabs.
|