Modern Diplomacy: As the leading South Asian economy, India must take lead in helping Afghanistan develop its water resources and harness their full potential. Five major river basins – Kabul, Helmand and western flowing rivers, Hari Rod and Murghab, northern flowing rivers, and Amu Darya – make up the surface water resources of Afghanistan, all of
The Telegraph (UK): North and Western Afghanistan are this year facing their most severe drought in decades as the cumulative effect of several years of low rainfall has seen agriculture collapse. A total of 20 provinces have been affected, with some of the worst including the western and northern regions of Balkh, Ghor, Faryab, Badghis, Herat and
Tolo News: The National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) has warned that underground water reserves in Kabul will dry up within the next 10 years amid an increasing demand and use of water in the capital city. Thirty-two million cubic meters of water is used from Kabul’s underground water reserves every year while the capacity of the
Ariana: Speaking at an event titled “Women’s role in water resources’ management” held on Tuesday in, Kabul Abdullah stressed on water management in the country. “Water is being used ruthlessly in the capital and other provinces that creates challenges for the new generation [in the country],” he said. Click here to read more (external link). Related
Financial Tribune: Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian said by building dams on Hirmand River, the eastern neighbor Afghanistan has significantly reduced the volume of water entering Iranian territories in Sistan-Baluchestan Province. “Over the past year, Afghanistan has blocked the flow of Hirmand water into the country, such that the volume has decreased to 2-3 million cubic
1TV: The level of surface of water has declined by 14 percent in five water zones of Afghanistan, the country’s minister of energy and water said Sunday. President’s senior adviser Hamid Helmandi recommended building small dams in different parts of the counter to tackle the problem. Most of Afghanistan’s water flows out to its neighbours. Click here
1TV: Groundwater levels have declined in Afghan capital Kabul by meters, officials said Monday. Mohammad Naeem Tokhi, the director of hydrology department at Ministry of Energy and Water, said that the rate of decline in groundwater levels is between 1 and 22 meters. Apart from quantity, the quality of ground water in the city is also deteriorating.
1TV: The first of the three-phase project is funded by USAID and which is scheduled to be completed in two years and seven months. With the completion of the project, 10,000 families are expected to benefit from clean and standard water services round the clock. Click here to read more (external link).
Ayaz Gul VOA News July 7, 2017 Residents and civil society activists staged a protest Friday in southern Afghanistan to denounce neighboring Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani for criticizing Afghan water management and dam projects. Hundreds of demonstrators peacefully marched through the streets of Lashkargah, capital of Helmand province near the Iranian border. They chanted, “Death
1TV: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Monday raised concern over construction of dams in Afghanistan. “Dam construction in Afghanistan and Sistan-Baluchestan province (in Iran) play a role in the desiccation of rivers,” Rouhani said addressing at the opening of a three-day international conference on combating sand and dust storms in Tehran, Iran’s Financial Tribune daily reported.