Panjshayr families get healthy drinking water

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

12.20.2010

Courtesy Story

ISAF Joint Command

KABUL, Afghanistan – Thanks to a little self-help and the support of the Panjshayr Provincial Reconstruction Team, 60 families in the Bazarak Municipality now have access to healthy drinking water.

The project, located in Dah-e-Manjur village, consists of a reservoir and a network of pipes more than 3,200 feet (1,000 meters) long. The villagers dug trenches more than two feet (80 centimeters) below the surface to prevent the pipes from freezing during the winter months, said Mawlavi Suleiman, head of Panjshayr Community Development Council.

Panjshayr Deputy Gov. Abdul Rahman Kabiri and Suleiman spoke during a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Bazarak Municipality.

Kabiri emphasized the importance of self-help projects during his opening remarks.

“We shouldn’t wait for other people; we should wake up and be active. Instead of waiting for others, we need to build Panjshayr ourselves together as Panjshayr is,” said Kabiri, through an interpreter.

“The drinking water project was submitted through the [community development council] and implemented in July. The villagers built the reservoir as a self-help project. The cement was paid for by PRT bulk funds,” said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Hakan Togul, Panjshayr civil affairs officer in charge.

“The contractor originally asked for $30,000, but with self-help, the cost of the project was less than $5,000,” Suleiman said.

“Even in times of despair, Panjshayr [will] always rise up to the challenge,” Suileman said.

• Date Taken: 12.20.2010
• Date Posted: 12.20.2010 08:14
• Story ID: 62314
• Location: KABUL, AF