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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.

 

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