Afghanistan Peace CampaignHowever, the Ministry of Energy and Water said that efforts to manage groundwater in the country continue.
Coinciding with World Water Day, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) stated that 79% of the country’s population lacks access to sufficient clean water.
In its latest report, UNDP considers drought, economic instability, and past unrest as reasons that have led to the water crisis in the country.
“Severe drought conditions, economic instability, and the devastating effects of prolonged conflicts have significantly impaired the country’s water infrastructure. The situation is further aggravated by the impact of climate change and extreme weather events, which have led to the destruction of vital water sources and facilities,” the report reads.
However, the Ministry of Energy and Water said that efforts to manage groundwater in the country continue.
The ministry said that in this solar year, 300 projects aimed at water management in various provinces of the country are to be implemented.
According to the Ministry of Energy and Water, the reconstruction work of six major water projects, including the Pashtun dam, Kamal Khan dam, Turi Bakhshabad dam, and Shah and Arous dam, is underway.
“The work on the Kamal Khan dam in Nimroz is 98% complete and is expected to be operational in the current solar year. The work on the Shah and Arous dam in Kabul is 79% complete and is expected to be operational in the current solar year. The first phase of the Bakhshabad dam in Farah will be completed in the current solar year. The work on the Pashtun dam in Herat is 75% complete, and so far, 900 million afghani have been spent on this dam, and it will be operational in the current solar year. The reconstruction work on the Turi Zabol dam has progressed by 90% and will be operational in the current solar year,” the ministry said.
“In terms of water management, the Ministry of Energy and Water has currently started work on more than six dams such as Bakhshabad dam, Band-e-Pashdan dam, Turi dam, and others,” said Matyullah Abed, spokesperson for the Ministry of Energy and Water.
World Water Day arrives while Afghanistan, despite being rich in water resources, still faces unresolved problems of water scarcity, especially clean drinking water.
“Afghanistan only uses thirty percent of the water produced annually in this country; seventy percent remains unused due to lack of infrastructure, water storage facilities, and water distribution systems,” said Najibullah Sedid, a water management expert.
“A clear solution for managing underground water both within Afghanistan and across borders should be considered where all criteria are taken into account,” said Hamidullah Yalani, another water management expert.
On Thursday the acting Minister of Energy and Water also announced the construction of 11 more check dams at a cost of more than 30 million afghanis in eleven districts of Kabul.
“The benefit of these dams is that they store water and release it into springs and canals for irrigation,” said Abdul Latif Mansoor, the acting minister of Energy and Water.
UNDP in its latest report also stated that in the past two years, 67% of families in Afghanistan have been affected by drought-related problems and another 16% by floods.