Some Balkh districts struggling with water shortages

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): The Unity and Development Organisation (UDO) said on Wednesday residents of some districts of northern Balkh province have been faced with a shortage of water.

UDO representative Aminullah Moazam told Pajhwok Afghan News after a joint meeting with officials and residents of some districts the objective was to encourage the people to express views on the issues they faced.

He added the residents and officials of Balkh, Nahar Shahi, Marmal, Khelm, and Khas Balkh districts complained of water scarcity. Some residents had no access to drinking water, he continued.

A number of women grumbled about the failure of the Department of Social Affairs to address the problems being faced by them. Growers from Marmal district, having vast agricultural lands, had not grown crops due to a drought.

Abdul Ghafoor, hailing Marmal, also participated in the meeting. He confirmed they had been faced with an acute shortage of water.

Aziza Noori, a resident of Baba Ali Sher village and leader of local women, said most of the people from the district had been deprived of even drinking water.

“Our people don’t have access to drinking water. Those who have vehicles and motorcycles bring water from far-flung areas. But those without transport facility have to consume contaminated water.

But Abdul Ghani Faqiryar, a representative of the Agriculture Department, said effective steps had been taken to address the water issue. Water wells and canals had been dug up in the districts to resolve the issue, he added.

Faqiryar acknowledged the work they had done was not enough to resolve the problem and there was the need for more efforts. He said the department was trying to create small dams to stop the wastage of water.

nh/mud