Completion of Gabion Wall Project for Minaret of Jam Protection in Ghor Province
The gabion wall project to protect the Minaret of Jam in Ghor province, Afghanistan, from floods has been successfully completed and inaugurated.
The Ministry of Information and Culture of the Taliban administration announced the successful completion and operation of the Gabion Wall project for the protection of Jam Minaret, one of the most important historical sites in the Ghor province of central Afghanistan.
The project was completed to safeguard the minaret from damage caused by seasonal floods. According to the report, the Gabion Wall project at the Jam Minaret site included the construction of gabion walls, which are 267 meters long, 1.5 meters wide, and 1 meter high. These walls were built around Lake Jam, near the historic minaret, using stone and metal mesh to create resistance against the force of floods. The project was funded by the Asia Development Community Institute and coordinated with the Ministry of Information and Culture.
The total cost of the project was approximately 2.24 million Afghanis, and the construction was completed within 50 working days. Mawlawi Abdulhai Zaim the Head of the Information and Culture Department of Ghor province, emphasized during the opening ceremony that this project ensures the protection of Jam Minaret from the upcoming flood risks. He mentioned that floods in past years had caused damage to this historic structure, and this preventive action would help avoid further destruction.
Some experts, however, argue that additional measures are necessary for the long-term protection of Jam Minaret, such as constructing higher retaining walls and altering the course of the Jam River. These actions are particularly important due to the potential increase in flood intensity during the spring season.
Jam Minaret, which stands at a height of 64 meters and dates back over 800 years, is considered one of the architectural masterpieces of the Ghurid dynasty and is the tallest brick minaret in the world, second only to Qutb Minar in Delhi. The site was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2002. However, due to its geographical location between the Herat and Jam rivers, it has long been vulnerable to flooding and natural erosion. The minaret’s brickwork and tile decorations, which feature Kufic script and verses from Surah Maryam, make it one of Afghanistan’s most valuable cultural treasures.
In recent decades, the lack of proper restoration and preservation efforts raised concerns among archaeologists and cultural activists. Devastating floods in Ghor, particularly in 2019 and 2021, had threatened parts of the minaret’s base and caused sediment buildup around it, highlighting the urgent need for protective measures.
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