Vulnerable Shiberghan areas being protected from flooding

SHIBERGHAN (Pajhwok): The residents of Shiberghan City, the capital of northern Jawzjan province, have been involved in strengthening vulnerable riverbanks with gabions and retaining walls to prevent floodwater from entering the city, an official said on Saturday.

Jawzjan Economy Department Director Mawlavi Mohammad Zarif Faez told Pajhwok Afghan News that riverbanks in Qara, Mangoti, Jagdalak and Afghan Tapa areas were being strengthened with gabions. The residents of these areas annually suffer losses due to flooding during rainy season.

He said the project was being conducted with financial support from the World Food Program and Modern Organization. Work on the project is underway in some areas of Shiberghan, he said.

Over 175 people have been hired in this project and every individual is provided with 7,200 afs monthly.

This project could help prevent the flow of floodwater to the city and would save several villages from flooding.

Asadullah, a resident of Mangoti village, said: “We suggested to the Governor Office about the construction of gabion and retaining walls in the vulnerable river bank sites.”

He added people in Jagdaleek and Afghan Tapa areas were associated with agriculture and they were poor people. During April and May due to successive rainfall, floodwater sweep away crops and homes of people.

“With this work, our crops and villages will be protected from the threat of flood and our homes secured,” he added.

Flash flood displaced at least 2,000 families and ravaged standing crops on hundreds acres of land in Shiberghan last year.

nh/ma