Nawzad residents urge construction of Farhad Dam

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): The residents of Nawzad district in southern Helmand province have demanded the construction of Farhad dam as had been suffering from drought and lack of drinking water.

Akhtar Mohammad, the resident of Khawa area in Nawzad, told Pajhwok Afghan News they faced clean drinking water shortage and they have to arrange drinking water from a long distance in hand-cart or on animals.

They said their crops dried up and if the situation continued they will soon migrate to another place.

“We travel few kilometers to another destination to find drinking water and bring water on animals or on hand-cart,” he said.

Jumma Gul, the resident of Khas Nawzad area, said clean drinking water disappears, adding that a huge dam could be built in the Khas Nawzad area, asking the government to take action in this regard to resolve the water shortage issue.

He said local residents worked for the construction of dam in Farhad area but it yields no outcome.

“The construction of dam in Farhad area will not only help address the water crisis but it will also provide water to our barren lands for agriculture purpose,” he said.

Mohammad Faridon, a senior official of the River Zone Department, said: “Farhad Dam site is situated 35 kilometres to the north of Nawzad and it is a suitable site for dam construction.”

He said on the direction of the government house they visited the dame site but since the project is huge so they did not had enough fund for its construction.

He asked people to pay attention to the use of water and be careful in consuming water.

Deputy Information Affairs Director Mawlavi Mohammad Qasim Riyad said also acknowledged the problems faced by the people and said efforts should be made to control water.

“Fighting and drought forced Nawzad people to migrate from their own area to another places,” he said.

It is worth mentioning that people in different parts of the country complained against drought.

nh