AIBAK (Pajhwok): The residents of northwestern Samangan province have blocked implementation of a water supply project, demanding the construction of a reservoir in their area to tackle the water shortage issue.
However, local officials working on the project said the construction of a water reservoir was included in their programme. Officials say the project worth $8.9 million is 95 percent complete but work on it has been halted in Zhwandoon valley.
Mohammad Amin, a resident of Dasht-i-Mazar village in the locality, confirmed to Pajhwok Afghan News they had impeded implementation of the project because they had not been assured of a separate water reservoir.
More than 1,000 families live in the valley and they should not be deprived of the water facility, he added. “We will not allow the water pipe to pass through our area until our legitimate demand is met.”
Eng. Mohammad Sardar Azizi, head of the Omran Holding Group implementing the project, said constructing a water reservoir was not included in the programme in the first phase.
However, he said seven water reservoirs would be built in the second phase of the project being executed by the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD).
Deputy Governor Akhtar Mohammad Khairzada said he had discussed the issue with local elders and told them a water reservoir in their area would be constructed in the second phase.
mds/rm