Afghanistan’s Kunar River Dam proposal sparks controversy; water management dilemma for Pakistan and Taliban
Several citizens have shared their plans with the Taliban administration regarding the construction of a dam on the Kunar River and have even shown readiness to provide financial assistance for the construction of this dam.
After Pakistan began forcibly deporting Afghan refugees, Afghans desired the construction of a dam on the Kunar River. They are ready for all kinds of cooperation in this regard.
The founder and leader of the ‘Hasina Karokhail Charity Foundation,’ Dr. Hasina Karokhail, says she is ready to provide financial assistance for the construction of the dam on the Kunar River. She states that several other women and numerous activists for women’s rights are also prepared to provide financial support for the construction of the dam on the Kunar River.
Ms. Karokhail told Khaama Press, ‘We are ready to provide financial assistance for the construction of a dam on the Kunar River. Many other women and numerous Afghans are enthusiastic about generating electricity from the Kunar River and are prepared for any kind of cooperation in this matter.’
She says that there are women who are even ready to sell their jewellery to raise funds for the construction of the dam on the Kunar River.
At the same time, several Afghan experts have shared their plans with the leadership of the Taliban government regarding the construction of a dam on the Kunar River. Dr. Mirwais Sargand Kuchi says that he has submitted a plan to the Deputy Minister of Economics for cooperation in controlling the Kunar River’s water and building a dam there. The plan suggests that the ministry should seek public funding for this historic project and activate funding mechanisms.
The plan includes, ‘Collecting a fee of $100 from each Afghan returning through Kabul Airport and $10 from each passenger on domestic flights, and the total amount of these contributions should be shared live through a TV screen. According to our calculations, just the Kabul Airport has the capacity to generate between 30,000 to 40,000 dollars a day.’
Another part of the plan mentions, ‘Creating toll points along major roads and collecting 200 Afghanis from each heavy vehicle and 50 Afghanis from each fast-moving vehicle.’
Dr. Kuchi stated, that if Afghans utilize all their national potential, the work to control the Kunar River and build a major dam, comparable to Qush-Tepa, could start within three months.
This comes at a time when, some time ago, the Deputy Minister of Water and Energy of the Taliban, Mujib Rahman Akhundzada, announced plans to build a hydroelectric dam on the Kunar River. He said the dam has been surveyed, but due to its high cost, the plan could not be implemented immediately. He added that the construction of this dam would irrigate one and a half lakh acres of agricultural land and produce 45 megawatts of electricity. The official also mentioned plans to build other dams along the length of the Kunar River.
The Kunar River has been flowing freely into Pakistan for decades without any intervention. Governments over time have promised to build a dam on this river, but so far no government has been able to harness these waters.
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