The same is true of Afghanistan. It was the US that built those canals in the Helmand province. The construction of those canals established central points of control over the water supply and led to the political disintegration of the province. Those once independent Pashtun farmers gradually became virtual debt slaves.
Yes indeed I did read up on how the USA help built canals and dams during the 50s and on through the 70s just prior to the Soviet invasion Post Taliban the US and British soldiers helped restart, but intra-tribal conflicts, government corruption, water mismanagement, and a flourishing opium trade all contributed to uneven sharing or illusion of prosperity hence resentment from the Pashtun farmers.