Residents complain of lacking access to potable water

GARDEZ (Pajhwok): A number of residents of the Askari Familio area of Gardez, the capital of southeastern Paktia province, complain about lack of access to potable water.

Seeking a solution to the problem, they say 500 families living in the area do not have access to clean drinking water.

Hasibullah, an inhabitant of the locality, told Pajhwok Afghan News they had been consuming water from a local canal.

He said: “About 500 households in our area have to drink water from this canal. Fetching water from there is difficult. We want the government to address our problem.”

Mohammadullah, another resident, said the canal water tended to become dirty due to locals’ negligence and the people using it fell it.

“We are facing a shortage of water. Some people wash clothes in the canal. It is harmful to our health. Fetching water from the canal becomes more difficult in winter.”

Other residents of the area came up with similar complaints and asked the authorities concerned to resolve their problem.

Meanwhile, provincial officials acknowledged some residents of the provincial capital did not have access to potable water.

Fazal Hamid, the urban water supply network chief, said they were striving to provide people with clean drinking water in all parts of Gardez.

He said: “We supply clean water to more than 12 families in the provincial capital. We have also set up a water supply network, benefiting 4,500 families, in Biland Manzlo area.”

The official assured they would resolve the problem of the Askari Familio area as well with the cooperation of partner institutions.

kk/mud