Bolstering Afghanistan's growth: Water project may enhance local's livelihood

Photo By Spc. Tamara Gabbard | A courtyard in the home of a leader of Afghanistan shows an idea of what the country could look like given the water and stuff needed in areas that are lacking.  

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

07.04.2008

Story by Pvt. Tamara Gabbard 

382nd Public Affairs Detachment

By Pvt. Tamara Gabbard
382nd Public Affairs Detachment

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – A Parwan Provincial Council member, Civil Affairs leader and United Nations Habitat District manager met to discuss plans to improve water distribution, June 23.

Some areas of the Parwan province have been without water for years while other areas are nearly flooded – plans were discussed to distribute the water.

Ahmed Zaki, council member, Army Capt. Steve H. Keiser, Parwan and Kapisa Civil Affairs leader, and Mohammad Hashim, U.N. Habitat District manager, hope the water distribution will enhance villagers' livelihood and bolster Afghanistan's growth. Northern districts receive water from the Panjier River but the southern areas relied on a Chinese-built canal – which proved successful in those areas in the past, but is now partially blocked.

"We are going to use what is already there," said Kaiser. "We need to remove the sediment that has built up in the old canal and keep it out permanently."

Zaki believes his team may be able to channel forces of nature to unblock the canal.

"This part of the project will need (a minimal amount of) laborers," he said. "We will just create a block and turn the river through the canal and it will flush the canal out naturally."

The next project they plan to undertake is to clean areas south-west of BAF, where water has backed up and is starting to push people out of there homes.

The area will be thoroughly cleaned and its size will be expanded to allow more water flow, said Keiser, explaining that this method will eventually decrease the amount of water in one village and distribute it to another that needs it.

"Once we get into these lower areas where most of the work needs to be done, we will start employing local nationals to build and rebuild the canal," said Keiser. "We will have approximately 50 workers for each section – in each different spot that is being worked on."

After the canal is unblocked, cleaned and expanded, the project will go into its final phase, which will finally get water to the drought-stricken areas.

"There natural flow of water was plugged four years ago due to security reasons," said Kaiser, who explained that the canal cannot run through the air field.

A previous PRT built a windmill-pump reservoir. Still, the project was unsuccessful in pumping enough water to the waterless areas. Kaiser, Zaki and Hashim understand that the key to getting the water lies in building a new section of canal that will wrap around the air field's exterior.

"We have proposed an extension of the existing canal along the west side (of Bagram Air Field)," said Kaiser. "As long as it is not touching BAF, there should be no problem."

Once construction begins, the project is expected to take two to three months.

The three men agreed that water is extremely important to sustaining life and economic progression in Afghanistan, and that security must still remain paramount, said Kaiser. "If you can effect some change in the water flow as well as the economy, you can really help in their lives, and we really want to be good neighbours."

• Date Taken: 07.04.2008
• Date Posted: 07.04.2008 13:46
• Story ID: 21192
• Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF