Kabul and water crisis

TERI University Department of Policy studies Kabul and water crisis Under the subject of Integrated Approaches to Sustainable Development Practice, MPD101 Submitted to (Dr. Nimish jha) Submitted by Abdul Wahab Azad (Role No: 1301 MPD) 1 Kabul & water crisis Many years of armed conflict and a lack of good management have seriously affected Kabul water resources which are strongly visible anywhere in the city. Kabul is a city with 6 million population, here 80% of the people do not have access to safe drinking water, and 95% lack access to improved sanitation facilities, although Kabul is the capital of the country and in the last ten years of peace and restoration a number of development projects have been implemented, but still there are so many difficulties if we compare it with the international standards of modern cities. Beside other problems in this city shortage of unpolluted drinking water is one of the most serious issues. According to a report by Oxfam and a comprehensive Research from the U.S. Geological Survey, they have estimated that i the e t 50 ears, Ka ul’s drinking water needs will be six times greater than today according to their estimation at least 60 percent of the shallow groundwater supply wells would be affected, and 50 percent are likely to become inoperative, which really a horrible news. (Donsky, June 28, 2010) According to a statement by Sultan Mahmoud, head of the hydrology and water-management department at the Ministry of Energy and Water (MoEW), 80 percent of the people in rural areas and 70 percent of those who are living in cities did not have access to safe drinking water, but in Kabul this issue is much more serious than other cities of Afghanistan, according to an statement by the deputy minister for public works, Engineer Rassoli, with the IRIN. "Only 20 percent of residents in Kabul have access to clean and safe drinking water". (IRIN, 8 September 2006) At present, all the citizens in Kabul obtain the potable water from the underground wells pumped up by the electric water pumps. Installation and expenses of these wells are high but citizens of Kabul have no other option and such wells are present in almost all the houses, so when there is load-shedding of electricity, people cannot obtain water and this adds more to their problems. In Kabul the sewerage water is dumped in the underground tanks and after some time, when this tank is filled, it is emptied by the trucks modeled for the same purpose. It has been found that most of the sewerage water drips down and get mixed with the water of the well and 80% of water obtained from this arrangement is without any kind of filtration or processing so this water not only contains a number of impurities but also lacks a number of minerals essential for the well-being of health. 2 Shortage of water due to the destruction of infrastructure, mismanagement of Government and people has had major health and economic affect for the residents. Doctors have identified this water to be the main reason behind a number of stomach disorders and other diseases. That is why majority of the citizens (people with high income) use mineral water for drinking purposes while the water of well is used for washing and other purposes. But it is also a reality that majority of middle class and all of the poor families cannot afford this mineral water and they are left with no other choice except to use the available water resources. (Outlookafghanistan, April 08, 2013) Beside other health problems that are caused by contaminated water include dehydration, typhus fever and kidney disease, which have killed thousands of people nationwide. A ordi g to a report TOLO, Water shortages in areas like Kart-e-Sakhi, Asmayee and Tap-eSalam have resulted in a steep increase in the cost of water. Residents in these areas often pay 20 AFN for a single gallon, which is really too much for the poor fa ilies , a ordi g to this report People are facing major problems because of the water shortage. And some time they have to pay up 150 AFN for a barrel of water. (JawidStanikzai, Wednesday, 14 August 2011) There are many reasons behind this issue in Kabul; here a few but most important ones will be in to consideration, I strongly believe that for solving an issue the first and the most important point is to find out the reasons sleeping behind the issue then think of solutions. 1- In the starting point I would like to say that Kabul was designed for 500000-750000 population and now there are about 6 million people living in this small city, mostly people from the provinces are leaving their homes and are coming to Kabul to find employment opportunity and handle their life, the second reason is the bad security conditions in the provinces and rural area of the country where Central Government is not able to handle the security issues. I believe that with creating job opportunity and providing security to the people in their provinces we can successfully overcome to all this dilemmas and can decrease the pressure on Kabul, which defiantly will effect on the resources available in Kabul. 2- As we all know that Kabul was the center of war during many decides and all its infrastructures has be collapsed, so that the current government needs to consider the problem and should have a long term strategy for solving this problems and water sector must be in the priority of their programs. 3- Lack of enough rain and snow has caused much of the surface- water shortage; I believe that with having a responsible government and good planning especially in the forestry sector we can handle this problem, in the country level it will help us to have a better 3 environment and in the larger ring it will benefit us to fulfill our responsibility regarding to the climate change and global warming as a ig dile a of toda ’s e tur . 4- I believe that shortage of surface-water irrigation is basically due to an absence of proper water-resources management and development plans during the long conflict period, in addition Afghanistan still do not have the technical expertise to run a wastewater treatment facility, which is really important and no one can solve it except the centeral government, having a technical expertise will help the country to use their resources in its best possible way, on the other hand it will help the government to manage the things better and have a better water management system inside the country. 5- Some of these problems are highly linked and related with the citizens, and cannot be solved until we did not provide them the needed awareness, I consider that both government and non-government sectors are equally responsible to work in this portion and aware the citizens to use their resources in its best possible way, and stop misusing of available resources. 6- The last and the biggest problem which is always a wrong response from the government Officials to the citizens is Lack of enough Government budget according to the Experts, improvement of water distribution and pumping for the entire Kabul city would cost at least US $25 million, which is too much and the Afghanistan government is not able to fulfill it currently, but I am not agree with this point, because on the other hand we have so much untouched resources in the country, and using of that resources in a better way can help us to complete this kind of projects. The only solution for the above mentioned problems are with Governments responsible agencies, they have to consider and supply clean drinking water to the households through the pipes which is the acceptable system of water distribution in all the modern cities. In such an arrangement, the water obtained would not only be healthy and hygienic but would also be comparatively cheaper and convenient. Beside the drinking water the agricultural activities are also affected by the shortage of water, I believe if we did not manage the available water resources inside the country, it will affect our farmers and will cause more food insecurity, and we will see its impact on the economy, social and environmental safeguards. It is really a bad news that from the 75 billion cubic metres of available water inside the country, more than 30 billion cubic metres of our water flowing outside the country annually (MujibMashal, Dec. 02, 2012), all this are happening because of the mismanagement and having not water dam, I am sure if we manage it; we would not face any problem the future in the agriculture sector. 4 Currently the Afghan government has announces the building of 20 dams, which is really a good news for the future sustainability and food security of the country, Salma dam being built by India in the province of Herat in western Afghanistan, is one the biggest project under the work. According to the officials this dam has the potential to irrigate nearly 75,000 hectares of land and produce 42 MW of electricity. However, the project is already four years behind its schedule (MujibMasha, Dec. 02, 2012). But again I believe after its completion it will have its effect on the sustainability and food security of Afghanistan. To windup the topic I would like to say that all the mentioned problems has their solution, but it needs a strong decision, honestly and good planning in the Government Departments, and I am pretty sure that my country is a country full of unused resources, and that resources can help us to solve the problems and have a strong and developed country. Concerning to Kabul water issue I believe that government needs to have its own water supply system and should supply clean drinking water to household through pipes which is a standard system of water distribution in the world, beside that there is an urgent needs of attention regarding to the channelization of Kabul dirty water, otherwise it will be very risky for the people who are living in Kabul and will cause more health problems. 5 References: Donsky, A. (June 28, 2010). Thirsty Kabul Expected to Need 600% more Water by 2060. Retrieved 10 03, 2013, from Treehugger: http://www.treehugger.com/clean-water/thirsty-kabul-expected-toneed-600-more-water-by-2060.html IRIN. (8 September 2006). AFGHANISTAN: Water crisis a growing human traged. Retrieved 10 02, 2013, from IRIN: http://www.irinnews.org/indepthmain.aspx?InDepthId=13&ReportId=60533 JawidStanikzai. (Wednesday, 14 August 2011). Illegal Wells Hurting Kabul's Water Supply. Retrieved 10 02, 2013, from http://tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/11545-illegal-wells-hurting-kabuls-watersupply MujibMasha. (Dec. 02, 2012). What Iran and Pakistan Want from the Afghans: Water. Retrieved 10 04, 2013, from http://world.time.com/: http://world.time.com/2012/12/02/what-iran-andpakistan-want-from-the-afghans-water/ MujibMashal. (Dec. 02, 2012). What Iran and Pakistan Want from the Afghans: Water. Retrieved 10 04, 2013, from Timeworld: http://world.time.com/2012/12/02/what-iran-and-pakistan-want-fromthe-afghans-water/ Outlookafghanistan. (April 08, 2013). Water Supply Problems in Kabul. Retrieved 10 03, 2013, from Outlookafghanistan: http://outlookafghanistan.net/editorialdetail.php?post_id=7050 Sources for the Cover Pictures: http://tolonews.com/TOLOnews_photo/water-kabul.jpg http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2013/01/14/efforts-conserve-ground-water-kabul http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/photo/2012-05/07/131572780_41n.jpg 6