2 solar-powered water schemes completed in Laghman

MEHTARLAM (Pajhwok): Two solar-powered water supply schemes have been completed and put into service and work on another 10 water supply projects has been launched in five districts of eastern Laghman province, local officials said on Monday.

Rural Rehabilitation Department head Maulavi Mohammad Zahir Zarkmar told Pajhwok Afghan News two solar-powered water supply projects were completed in Esmat and Chahar Dihi villages on the outskirts of Mehtarlam city at a cost of 9.5 million afghanis paid by “Afghanistan Humanitarian Aid Fund”.

He said the two water supply projects enabled 500 families to find access to clean drinking water.

According to Zarkmar, work on 10 more solar-powered water supply projects has been started in five districts (Alingar, Alishang, Dawlat Shah, Qarghayo, Bad Pakh) and the schemes would cost 40 million afs.

He said UNICEF had funded these clean water supply projects and they would be completed in one year and would benefit 3,000 families once completed.

Local residents praised the government for helping them to have access to clean water.

Malik Abdullah Ahmadi, a tribal elder of Garooch area in Bad Pakh district, told Pajhwok Afghan News that local residents had been facing many problems in the absence of clean drinking water.

Engineer Riaz Ahamd, a resident of Char Dihi area, said their children would fetch water from remote areas.

He added: “Now we are happy to have access to clean water.”

aw/ma