Ministry of Water and Energy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has recently declared that Kabul is facing with water crisis due to reduction in level of underground water.
Head of underground water of the ministry of water and energy Aziz Rahman Aziz says the construction work project of Lalandar has not been resumed due to lack of budget; therefore, challenges to maintain water have increased in recent months.
On the other hand, Kabul residents say access to drinking water is challenging in the capital.
“I go to a water firm providing drinking water to people several times each day to get water, but sometimes it’s difficult to get water due to crowd of people standing in queue to get water,” said Wajidullah, a Kabul resident.
Residents of 11th block of Ahmad Shah Baba Mena say they are obliged to get to the water-producing companies to buy water because all water wells in the area have dried.
Owners of some water firms say their customers buying water have increased recently due to the shortage of water in the capital.
“This year we witness a large number of customers coming to our company to buy water,” said Sakhi, an owner of a water firm in Kabul. He said the level of underground water has reduced significantly and many wells have dried; therefore, most families turned to water firms to buy drinking water.
Meanwhile, ministry of water and energy has said that the recent increase in population, using too much underground water by Afghans and climate changes are key reasons of the shortage of water in the country particularly in Kabul, the capital.
On the other hand, Abdul Latif Mansoor, acting minister of water and energy, has informed that the water transfer project from Panjshir to Kabul to prevent the consequences of water crisis in the capital will be soon launched.
Speaking to the media in a news conference early this week, acting minister of water and energy said that the citizens of Kabul were consuming water indiscriminately, warning that if this situation continued, Kabul’s access to drinking water would be a problem.
“The way we consume water now, if water is consumed like this, maybe in the future there will be no water for drinking in Kabul.” He said. These alarming statements have been raised while the Ministry of Energy and Water has undertaken a project worth millions of dollars, during which water will be transferred from Panjshir to the capital to provide drinkable water to the people of Kabul.
This comes amid increasing complaints of Kabul residents from reduction of underground water and the shortage of drinking water in the capital.
The people are asking the IEA to find a way to address the problems of shortage of water in the country particularly in Kabul, the capital.
Saida Ahmadi
Kabul citizens concerned by intense water shortage
