Deep wells causing groundwater shortage in Herat

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): Officials in western Herat province express concern over the digging of deep wells by farmers and landowners as the practice has been reducing the groundwater level in the province.

Hamid Elham, an official of the Environment Protection Department, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the high use of groundwater by solar energy and the increasing digging of deep wells had led to a shortage of groundwater resources in the province.

“Today, instead of using solar energy to illuminate houses, it is used to extract groundwater, the continued drawing of water by solar energy increases the risk of groundwater shortage day by day and people will face water scarcity in next 10 years.”

According to him, municipality officials and security agencies have been repeatedly asked to stop the illegal extraction of groundwater, but this process is still ongoing.

Meanwhile, Maulvi Mohammad Nader Kakar, head of the water supply services, told Pajhwok if the illegal drawing of water continued, water shortages would be one of the challenges for current and future generations.

Kakar said the Herat Water basin was following the issue seriously.

He added: “The department is conducting a survey to control wells that have been drilled illegally and to prevent the drilling of non-professional wells in the future.”

Meanwhile, Habib Amini, a resident of Herat, said the groundwater as a large water reservoir would dry up if consumed willfully.

According to him, the authorities should take measures as soon as possible and not allow the groundwater to be used illegally and willfully.

Mohammad Firoz, another resident of Herat, told Pajhwok that in order to use water properly, it was necessary to build the right mechanism for water usage.

According to Herat officials, the average groundwater level in the provincial capital and districts has reached 35 to 40 meters while water could be found in 20 meters few years ago.

sa/ma

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