Clean, accessible water flows in Dam Kalay village

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Dozens of jovial village children gathered around the cool, clean water rushing from the new pipes. With temperatures well above 90 degrees before noon they splashed their hands in the water and rinsed their sandal clad feet.  

The recently finished pipe scheme in the Dam Kalay village, outside Asadabad in eastern Afghanistan’s Kunar province, was the final piece of the Asadabad Municipal Improvement Project, part of which is projected to provide clean, accessible water to more than 5,000 people.

“This is really good for the people,” said Hakimullah, a young man from the village who also goes by the English nickname Johnny-Five. “They had a water problem, but now it’s good. I was getting water from [the] river before … now I get water from the pipes and the people are really, really happy about it.”

Because of the depth of the water below ground it had been difficult to install wells. According to the contractor for the pipe scheme, Hilal Safi, the sporadic wells had to suffice for more than 20 families. Most people would take the long walk down to the river bed to get water, which was problematic and unsanitary.

“People are so happy about this project because they can use the water from the water pipes,” said Safi, Ikram Safi Construction Company director. “Now it is not difficult and they can get healthy water in front of their home.”

ISCC was contracted for the pipe scheme, which took approximately a year to complete. It covers three villages -- Balin, Karala and Dam Kalay. The pipe scheme was just one part of the larger project.

The Asadabad Municipal Improvement Project also included creating 2km of sidewalks throughout Asadabad. Two water trucks were purchased for use in emergencies or as fire trucks. Two municipal trucks were also purchased to ensure Asadabad stays clean and numerous public latrines were built around the city.

Fazlullah Wahidi, the governor of Kunar province, addressed a crowd of villagers from Dam Kalay during the ribbon cutting for the pipe scheme, April 27. He emphasized to them that the provincial government is in place to provide for the people and will work hard to give them the necessities like clean water and electricity. But he also stressed the importance of maintenance and that the upkeep of these improvements falls on the villagers.

“When happiness comes in our homes and our lives, with that comes responsibilities,” Wahidi said. “This is our project and we are proud of it.”  

After being identified as a major need for the people of Asadabad the pipe scheme was developed and funded by several parties; the Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team, Kunar Sectorial Working Group directors, the governor and mayor of Kunar province and the ISCC.