Beef up river banks, Qala-i-Zal residents ask govt

KUNDUZ CITY (Pajhwok): Some residents of the Qala-i-Zal district of northern Kunduz province have urged the interim government to strengthen the banks of Amu River to check flooding.

A resident of Qolokh Tepa village, Abdul Basit, said the interim government had implemented some projects like retaining walls, but some parts of the river banks were still weak.

He said: “We are satisfied with the  retaining walls along the river banks but want the government to implement similar projects in Baghicha, Baghrikol and Khesht Tapa areas as well.”

Abdul Karim, who lives near the Amu River in Qala-i-Zal district, said thousands of acres of agricultural land had been destroyed by flooding in recent years.

He claimed: “Many people have left this area because the river water frequently washed away their crops and homes. They are currently living in tents.”

Inhabitants of some other areas have also asked the government to build retaining walls along the banks of the river.

An engineer and advisor to the Amu River Basin, Hamidullah Walizada, said they had executed multiple projects to strengthen the banks of the river and planned similar action in vulnerable areas.

Since the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s takeover, many retaining walls had been built along Amu River in the northern provinces of the country.

The residents of Kunduz province praise the steps taken in this regard, but seek the implementation of more projects to protect the river’s banks.

aw/mud