Norway-funded project in Samangan provides potable water for over 600 families

SAMANGAN -- The Central Afghanistan Welfare Committee (CAWC) has handed over a water supply project funded by Norway to beneficiaries in Firoz Nakhchir district of Samangan province.

The project, which cost $91,000 (8.1 million AFN) to complete, was completed in six months and handed over to its beneficiaries on January 23.

Some 630 households in the villages of Sar Sofa, Hayatabad and Khwajagai villages now have access to clean drinking water thanks to the project, said Sayed Mustafa Mousavi, director of the CAWC for Afghanistan's northern regions.

The project included the digging of three 70-metre deep wells, the construction of three water reservoirs with a capacity of 45 cubic metres, the extension of the network to 100 water taps and the installation of solar power systems and water pumps, he added.

"The scheme uses solar energy to pump water and to fill the reservoirs. Water is distributed to specific villages through pipes," he said.

"The residents of these areas were, unfortunately, facing severe water shortages in the past. Now that they are connected to the water supply network, they can take clean water for free from the nearest water tap or pipe to their homes," Mousavi said.

"The project was implemented to provide clean drinking water to local residents who suffer from water shortages," he added.

A critical challenge

Local residents, who previously had to fetch water from rivers and canals up to 5km away, have welcomed the project.

Irfanullah, 54, a resident of Firoz Nakhchir district, said before the project was completed, he would fetch water from 4km away by donkey.

"I do not have a grownup son, and for years I had to fetch water for my family from the river ... I know that water from the river and canals is not healthy, but we had no other option," he said last Saturday (February 4).

"Some days the river water would be clear, but other times, floods would make the water muddy. We had to leave the water for hours to allow the mud to settle and would then use the water," he said.

"We did not have clean drinking water in our village before and would walk for hours to fetch water from the river, which was not even clean," said Mohammad Musa Bashash, another resident of Firoz Nakhchir district.

"The lack of water unfortunately was an issue for years. We reached out to the authorities many times, but no one addressed it," he said.

"We are very happy now," he added.

Residents of various villages used water not only from rivers but also standing water like rainwater and ponds, which regularly caused diseases, Musa added.

Development and reconstruction

Aid agencies have implemented critical projects in recent months in the province, said Juma Khan Akbari, a tribal elder in Samangan.

"In the past one and a half years, in addition to addressing the people's environmental problems, aid agencies, especially the [United Nations], have fortunately created work opportunities for thousands of people," he told Salaam Times.

"Irrigation canals, bridges, transport routes, water supply schemes, retaining walls, health clinics and schools are some of the critical projects that have fortunately been implemented in Samangan," he added.

"There is still great need for such projects," he said.