Integrated Water Resources Management for Rural Development and Environmental Protection in Afghanistan

Abstract

Afghanistan is relatively rich in water resources and land. However the last 3 decades of war and a series of droughts have caused many problems. These include a shortage of efficient institutions, organizational capabilities of staff and effective rules and regulations in regards to water use. Furthermore, a centralized structure of water management and overlapping mandates between institutions has led to poor coordination within the water sector and a general lack of information and data for planning. In addition, low public awareness among stakeholders' and damage of local traditional institution.
The above factors have brought about negative impacts on water resources of the country. For example, in 1980 Afghanistan had a 3.3 million hectares irrigated land which has since been reduced to 1.8 million hectares - this has clearly affected the economy and environment of rural areas. As per the new Water Sector Policy, the Supreme Council for Water Affairs Management has been established. This is chaired by first vice president and its members are from line ministries. This, it is hoped, will improve willimproveiiii coordination between key stakeholders. Moreover, previous Water Law has been revised. River Basin Agencies/ Councils, Sub-basin Councils and Water User Associations will be formed in the five river basins as management institutions.
The new Water Law focuses on stakeholders' participation in water management, equitable water allocation, and division of tasks at national, basin and sub-basin level including participation of all stakeholders in decision making. Based on new Water Sector Policy and Water Resources Sub- Sector, Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) is carried out through the river basin approach; the objective of IWRM is to decentralize the activities gradually to river basins and sub basins and considerable use of water resources (Mahmoodi, 2006). Therefore, to achieve an integrated water resources management the following common policy principles are:
• Integrated water resources development and management should be undertaken in a holistic and sustainable manner;
• Management and development of water resources should be participatory methods by stakeholders;
• Planning and development of water resources should be decentralized according to natural river basin boundaries.
• Water sector development activities should be participatory and consultative at each level by all stakeholders.
Thus, the goal of the Strategy is management and development of water resources, improved livelihood of present and future generation through:
• access to safe drinking water supply;
• Food security through water security;
• Protection of people income sources from negative impacts of droughts and floods;
• Access to hydro power in both rural and urban areas;
• Water supply for improvement and development of industries (MEW, 2004a).
In order to achieve these strategic goals, the following programs have been developed and are ongoing:
1 Institution development program and capacity building.
2 River Basin Management national program for poverty alleviation.
3 Rehabilitation of irrigation schemes program for modernizing of irrigation systems and prevention of water loss.
4 National Program for water resources development for identification of water resources, formation and application of water supply infrastructure.
5 Rural water supply and sanitation system for supply of safe drinking water of rural areas.
6 River bank protection program to control floods.
Implementing the above programs, we can achieve our goals which are poverty alleviation and unemployment reduction, socio-economical growth and public welfare; they will result in improved rural development and sustainable environmental protection (ANDS, 2007).