Dams planned on all rivers including Kunar river: Omari

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Deputy Minister for Energy and Water says that in the next five years, 59 large and medium dams will be constructed on the country’s rivers, including the Kunar River.

The long-term plan also includes construction of 184 large dams.

In an exclusive interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, Eng Mujib Rahman Omari Akhundzada, the Deputy Minister, said that plans have been developed for constructing large and medium size dams in various regions of the country for water management, land irrigation, and electricity generation.

These projects will not only irrigate thousands of hectares of land, but will also generate electricity and create job opportunities for thousands of people.

He said long-term plan of the MoEW includes the construction of 184 large dams across all of Afghanistan’s rivers, with an estimated cost of around 13.5 billion dollars.

He added that with the construction of these dams, 1.2 million hectares of land will be irrigated, around 11 billion cubic meters of water will be managed, 3,651 megawatts of electricity will be generated, and job opportunities will be provided for about 2.3 million people.

He noted that in the upcoming five-year plan of the ministry, the construction of 59 large and medium dams included. Upon completion, these dams will irrigate 740,000 hectares of land and manage 5 billion cubic meters of water.

According to him, these dams will be constructed on various rivers and locations across the country, such as Kunar, Kabul, Warsaj, Kokcha, and Lora Arghistan rivers.

Based on his information, several dams are planned to be constructed along the Kunar River. Currently, the design work for a dam in Gambari desert has been completed, and construction work will begin soon.

He said this dam on the Kunar River will manage 3 billion cubic meters of water annually, which will irrigate the Gambari desert and also supply water to the Durunta Dam and Nangarhar Canal.

He added that the construction of dams on the Kunar River requires a special budget, and these dams cannot be completed solely through public assistance.

He said: “Work on water dams is ongoing in the country. For example, the first phase of the second phase of the Kajaki Dam has been completed, which will enable the generation of 50 megawatts of electricity.

The second phase, which involves raising the dam’s height, is more than 40 percent complete, and with this, one billion cubic meters of additional water will be managed. The Kamal Khan Dam, which was previously inaugurated symbolically, is now fully completed and will soon be commissioned for use.”

He also said final work is ongoing at the Shah wa Arus Dam in Kabul, and it is expected to be commissioned within a month. Additionally, work is ongoing on the Bakhsh Abad, Turi, and Dahleh dams.

He said that a portion of the Kharwar Dam in Logar province has been completed, and the rest is in the procurement process. Similarly, work is ongoing on the Sarkhab Dam, and the Shah Toot Dam in Kabul is in the procurement process. Surveys for construction of the Kokcha, Zardalu, and Kileki dams have been completed, and their construction work will begin soon.

He added that steps have been taken to address water scarcity issues in the country, with many regions surveyed; several projects completed, and work has been ongoing on others.

He said that climate change and conflicts have negatively affected water management, but noted that laws and policies for better water management have been drafted and sent to the supreme leader for approval.

He explained that the Afghan government has a long-standing agreement with Iran over the Helmand River, but has no such agreement with any other country regarding water rights.

He emphasized that the Afghan government’s stance is to make beneficial use of its water resources and that it does not intend to deprive other countries of their rights or allow other countries to make unjust demands on Afghanistan’s water resources.

He called on the people of Afghanistan to be cautious in the use of water and avoid unnecessary consumption.

sa/ma

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