Communities being formed to prevent disputes over water

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): The River Basin Authority in eastern Nangarhar province says it has started forming cooperative communities to prevent disputes over irrigation water in rural areas.

The authority says farmers often enter verbal disputes due to irregular water supply system and such arguments sometimes turn violent and result in clashes.

.It said recently licenses were issued to cooperative communities for water distribution and protection in three districts in Spinghar valley and  the process would be extended to other districts.

River Basin Authority director Syed Fazl Ahmad Hashimi told Pajhwok Afghan News that the Ministry of Water and Energy wanted to prevent disputes and distribute and protect water through cooperative communities.

He said licenses had been issued to five communities in Ghani Khel, Shirzad and Spinghar districts for water distribution and conservation.

“These communities will distribute and protect water in Munari, Sorkhab, Lamdi, Pakhel and Mamand canals and then farmers can use,”: he added.

According to Hashimi, this series will solve people’s problems and distribute water to all districts and areas.

Meanwhile, Ghani Khel district community head Engineer Aslam said they first make an organized plan and then implement it.

He asked related government departments to help them in implementation of their affairs in order to solve problems and ensure fair distribution of water to all farmers.

Hussain Khan, a farmer in Shirzad district, told Pajhwok Afghan News disputes often occurred between farmers over their turn to irrigate fields.

Noorullah, a farmer in Spinghar district, said owners of lands near Spinghar district would use more water that would not reach lowlands.

River Basin Authority officials says the Ministry of Water and Energy plans to create such communities nationwide.

hz/ma

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