MRRD signs 151 contracts for potable water supply projects

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) on Sunday signed 151 contracts for potable water supply projects, costing 361 million afghanis, with local community development councils across the country.

Mujiburrahman Karimi, MRRD acting minister, at the contracts signing ceremony here said the projects included digging water wells, setting up water supply networks and building reservoirs for storing healthy water in the countryside.

He said about 237 surficial and deep water wells would be dug up in Kapisa, Khost, Sar-i-Pul, Jawzjan, Baghlan, Maidan Wardak, Faryab, Kabul, Parwan, Panjshir, Balkh and Takhar provinces at a total cost of 61.8 million afghanis.

He said another 72 water supply networks would also be established in Jawzjan, Uruzgan, Badghis, Ghor, Nuristan, Takhar, Kunduz, Nangarhar, Daikundi, Faryab, Samangan, Balkh, Sar-i-Pul, Kunar, Paktia, Badakshan, Kabul, Kandahar, Herat, Paktia, Laghman and Baghlan provinces under the contracts.

He said future networks would cost 30 million afs. Karimi said the projects were funded jointly by the USAID government.

He said with implementation of the projects, about 336,000 individuals would benefit from drinkable hygienic water.

Rolf Luyendijk, chief for UNICEF's Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) program, who attended the ceremony, said: “We will further authorize a fund of $10 million to the MoRRD next year so water is available at schools and hospitals for people by next year.”

Meanwhile, Community Development Councils welcomed the inking of the contracts, saying they would resolve problems of rural people to a great extent.

Fateh Khan, head of the development council for Malakha village in the capital of Paktika province, who signed a contract with MRRD, said the council would establish a water supply network in relevant areas under the contract:  “Based on our contract with MRRD, we will provide potable water facility for Paktika University.”

sns/ma