2009 Bennett IEE PPTA WRDIP 42091-Afg-Iee PDF

Environmental Assessment Report
Initial Environmental Examination

Project Number: 42091
July 2009
Afghanistan: Preparing the Water Resources

Development Project
Prepared by Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Energy and Water, and Ministry of Agriculture,
Irrigation and Livestock for the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The initial environmental examination is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not
necessarily represent those of ADB’s Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in
nature.
INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION (IEE)
Project Number 7088-AFG
July 2009
AFG: WATER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT PROGRAM

Multitranche Financial Facility
Acronyms
AFG Afghanistan
AIMS Afghanistan Information Management Service
BCE Before Common Era
BMAC Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex
BPHS Basic Package of Health Services
BRIWRMP Balkh River Basin Integrated Water Resources Management Project
CE Common Era
CEMP Contractors’ Environmental Management Plan
CIDA Canadian International Development Agency
DAFA French Archeological Mission in Afghanistan
DEWS Disease Early Warning System
EIA Environmental impact assessment
EIRRP-TIC Emergency Infrastructure Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Project –
Traditional Irrigation Component (ADB)
EMP Environment management plan
ENSO El Nino-Southern Oscillation
EOP Environment-on-project
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization
FW Future-with-project scenario
FWO Future-without-project scenario
GOA Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
IDPs Internally displaced persons
IEE Initial environmental examination
JFPR Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction
MAIL Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock
masl Meters above sea level
MEW Ministry of Energy and Water
MFF Multi-tranche financing facility
MoM Ministry of Mines
MPH Ministry of Public Health
MRRD Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development
MUD Ministry of Urban Development
NEPA National Environmental Protection Agency
NGO Non-governmental organization
NSP National Solidarity Program
NVDA Nangarhar Valley Development Authority
O&M Operation and maintenance
OFWM On-farm water management
PAH Polyaromatic hydrocarbons
PDF Project development facility
PPTA Project preparation technical assistance
RBA River Basin Agency
RBC River Basin Council
SRBC Sub-River Basin Council
TA Technical assistance
TAJ Tajikistan
UNEP United Nations Environment Programme
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
UXO Unexploded ordinance
WFP World Food Program
WRDP Water Resources Development Project
WUAs Water users’ associations
ybp Years before present
Table of Contents
A. Introduction ............................................................................................................... 6
B. Components of Tranche 1 ........................................................................................ 7
C. Description of C1 Northern Basins Program.......................................................... 7
1. Location.............................................................................................................. 7
2. Physical Elements .............................................................................................. 7
3. Non-Physical Elements ...................................................................................... 8
D. Description of C2 Nangarhar Valley Development Authority
Improvement.............................................................................................................. 9
1. Location.............................................................................................................. 9
2. Physical Elements .............................................................................................. 9
3. Non-Physical Outputs......................................................................................... 9
E. Description of C3 Flood Management Program ................................................... 10
1. Location............................................................................................................ 10
2. Physical Elements ............................................................................................ 10
3. Non-Physical Outputs....................................................................................... 10
F. C1 Northern Basins Development Baseline Environment .................................. 11
1. Information Sources ......................................................................................... 11
2. Location and Studied Area ............................................................................... 11
3. Environmental Setting in Historical Context ..................................................... 12
4. Physical Resources.......................................................................................... 14
5. Ecological Resources....................................................................................... 20
6. Social, Economic, and Cultural Resources ...................................................... 21
7. Lower Balkh Irrigation System.......................................................................... 26
G. C2 Nangarhar Valley Development Authority Improvement Baseline
Environment ............................................................................................................ 31
1. Studied Area..................................................................................................... 31
3. Economic Development ................................................................................... 34
4. Social and Cultural Resources ......................................................................... 39
H. C3 Flood Management Program Baseline Environment ..................................... 42
1. Information Sources ......................................................................................... 42
2. Location and Study Area Boundaries............................................................... 42
3. Physical Resources.......................................................................................... 43
5. Economic Development ................................................................................... 52
6. Social and Cultural Resources ......................................................................... 55
7. Transboundary and International Border Considerations................................. 57
I. C1 Northern Basins Development Potential Environmental Impacts ................ 58
J. C2 Nangarhar Valley Development Authority Improvement Potential
Environmental Impacts........................................................................................... 60
K. C3 Flood Management Program Potential Environmental Impacts ................... 61
L. Environmental Management Plan.......................................................................... 63
1. Summary of Impacts ........................................................................................ 64
2. Description of Proposed Mitigation Measures .................................................. 65
3. Monitoring......................................................................................................... 69
4. Public Consultation Activities During EMP Finalization and
Implementation.............................................................................................. 72
5. Mitigation and Monitoring Responsibilities ....................................................... 73
6. National Flood Management Unit, MEW Kabul ................................................ 75
7. Tajikistan Participation in Mitigation, Monitoring, and EMP Public
Consultation .................................................................................................. 76
8. Environmentally Responsible Procurement ..................................................... 76
9. Preliminary Cost Estimates .............................................................................. 76
M. Public Consultation and Information Disclosure ................................................. 76
N. Findings and Recommendation............................................................................. 77
1. Impacts and Mitigation ..................................................................................... 77
2. EMP Status and Finalization ............................................................................ 79
3. EMP Costs ....................................................................................................... 79
O. Conclusions............................................................................................................. 79
Figures
Figure 1: Component 1 Location Map
Figure 2: Layout, Bangala Weir and Associated Infrastructure
Figure 5: Soil Regions, Lower Balkh Irrigation Systems
Figure 6: Geologic and Mineral Resources, Studied Area
Figure 7: LandSat Mosaic, Balkh Irrigation System and Surrounding Areas
Figure 8: Balkh Basin
Figure 9: Land Cover, Lower Balkh Irrigation System
Figure 10: Salinity Sample Locations & Values Map, Lower Balkh Irrigated Area
Figure 11: Administrative Boundaries, Roads, Rivers, Settlements, Lower Balkh
Irrigation System
Figure 12: Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS) and Hospital Sector
Figure 13: Archeological Site on the Lower Balkh: Pul-i Imambukri
Figure 14: Lower Balkh Irrigation System, Schematic View
Figure 15: Snapshot of Authorized Water Shares, Actual Intake Widths, and
Excess/Deficit of Withdrawals, 2 Dec 2003
Figure 16: Component 2 Studied Area Districts (Post 2003/4)
Figure 17: Topography
Figure 18: Soils
Figure 19: Land Cover
Figure 20: Earthquake History
Figure 21: Road Network
Figure 22: Afghanistan Immediate Needs Program Subproject Sites, Nangarhar
Province
Figure 23: Topography, Hamadoni/Darqad Fan
Figure 24: Topography, Imam Sahib Fan
Figure 25: Geomorphic Surfaces, Hamadoni/Darqad Fan
Figure 26: Geomorphic Surfaces, Imam Sahib Fan
Figure 27: Proposed Protected Areas of Afghanistan
Figure 28: Khatlon Province, Tajikistan – District Boundaries in the Studied Area
Figure 29: Embankments, Settled Areas, Roads, and Irrigation Canals Along the
Pyanj River in Hamadoni District, Khatlon Province
Figure 30: Hamadoni/Darqad Flooding, July 2005
Figure 31: New District Boundaries – Takhar Province
Figure 32: Darqad and (Old) Yangi Qala Districts
Figure 33: Imam Sahib District, Kunduz Province
Figure : Roads, Secondary Towns, and pre-2003/4 Administrative Boundaries

Tables
Table 1: Population, Studied Area Districts, Balkh & Jawzjan Provinces
Table 2: Social & Economic Development, Balkh & Jawzjan Provinces
Table 3: Kuchi and ADB Indigenous People Considerations
Table 4: Cropping Patterns, Winter/Spring and Summer/Autumn, (i) Head Canal
(Imam) and (ii) Tail Canal (Faizabad)
Table 5: Baseline Socioeconomic Environment, Nangarhar Province
Table 6: Villages and Other Water Users Served by NVDA canals
Table 7: Land Use in NVDA Farms (1980 and 2001)
Table 8: Population, Studied Area Districts
Table 9: Social & Economic Development, Takhar & Kunduz Provinces
Table 10: Population, Studied Area Districts, Afghanistan
Table 11: Mitigation Summary
Table 12: Monitoring Summary
Appendices
APPENDIX A: REGULATORY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK........................................... 133
APPENDIX B: STANDARD CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT ENVIRONMENTAL

SAFEGUARD CLAUSES .......................................................................... 134
APPENDIX C: PUBLIC CONSULTATION ........................................................................ 138
APPENDIX D: CUMULATIVE IMPACT ASSESSMENT…………………………………… 165

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A. Introduction
1. This report presents the findings of an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) of the
Afghanistan Water Resources Development Investment Program (WRDIP or the Project).
This IEE was prepared by the Project Preparation Technical Assistance (PPTA) consultant
team (ADB TA No. 7088 – AFG).
2. The Project is a Multi-Tranche Financing Facility (MFF). MFF is a new type of

financial instrument offered by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) starting in 2007 that
facilitates long-term partnerships between ADB and its clients. It provides opportunities for
constructive dialogue on physical and non-physical (thematic and sector) interventions,
aligns provision of financing with project readiness and the long-term needs of clients, and
reduces some repetitive processing tasks associated with traditional financing modalities.
3. This MFF will likely consist of three tranches totaling up to a maximum loaned
amount of $300 million, to support a medium-term program of water resources and irrigation
development. It was formulated by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
(GOA) and ADB based on partnership experiences with several predecessor projects in the
water sector. The Ministry of Finance is the Executing Agency and the Ministry of Energy
and Water (MEW) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) are the
Implementing Agencies.
4. Tranche 1 is expected to have a total value of approximately $80 million. It will fund
implementation and parallel technical assistance of three components (and a project
management component). Tranche 1 will also provide technical assistance to a Project
Development Facility (PDF) within MEW that will prepare the subsequent tranche and its
components.
5. In accordance with ADB environmental guidelines (referenced in Appendix A) for

environmental categorization, ADB has classified each of the three components of
Tranche 1 as Category B based on a rapid environmental assessment procedure.
Category B projects require initial environmental examination (IEE), including public
consultation, and an environmental management plan (EMP). The IEE determines whether
or not there are potential significant environmental impacts warranting an EIA. If not, the IEE
becomes the final environmental assessment report. 1
6. Under GOA environmental regulations (referenced in Appendix A), all three

components of Tranche 1 merit Category 2 environmental classification. Category 2
interventions are those with “potentially significant adverse impacts on human environments
or environmentally sensitive areas that are less adverse than those in Category 1, are site-
specific and in most instances not irreversible.” 2 Category 2 interventions require
environmental clearance from the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) and
confirmation of mine and unexploded ordinance (UXO) clearance (deemed to be part of the
environmental assessment process in Afghanistan).
1
Each tranche takes on the environmental category of its most sensitive component. The MFF as a whole is not
categorized [para. 29. ADB. 2008 (August). Multitranche Financing Facility. OM Section D14/BP. ]
2
Category 1 interventions have “significant adverse effects that are sensitive, diverse, or unprecedented, and
affect an area broader than the sites or facilities subject to the physical works.”
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7. This IEE has been conducted in accordance with all relevant GOA laws and
regulations, and all relevant ADB policies, guidelines, and manuals (listed in Appendix A). It
was prepared by Dr. Sara L. Bennett, a member of the Landell Mills Ltd PPTA consultant
team, during the period 23 Mar 2009 to 27 June 2009.
8. The post-conflict setting posed some challenges to the environmental assessment

process. During the recently-concluded decades of conflict, data collection was interrupted,
and much pre-conflict data was lost or destroyed. Institutional arrangements for
environmental data collection and water resources planning and management were also
severely damaged. The (re)formation of the structures and processes of national and local
government agencies, and of local communities, are ongoing, and national consulting
capacity is in an early stage of development. On occasion security events interfered with
field work and meeting schedules.
B. Components of Tranche 1
9. Tranche 1 consists of three components:
• Component 1 (C1) Northern Basins Development, located in north-central

Afghanistan
• Component 2 (C2) Nangarhar Valley Development Authority Improvement,

located in south-eastern Afganistan
• Component 3 (C3) Flood Management Program, located in northeastern

Afghanistan on the border with Tajikistan
10. The physical elements, non-physical elements, baseline environment, and potential
impacts of each component are described in turn below.
C. Description of C1 Northern Basins Program
1. Location
11. Figure 1 shows the location of the Component. Figure 2 shows the layout of the
Bangala infrastructure.
2. Physical Elements
12. Large infrastructure. The Component will finance (i) construction of Bangala Weir,
which provides a permanent cross river intake for the Charbalak, Fasilalbad and Acha
Canals; (ii) rehabilitate and enhance flood passage capacity for Samarkandian Weir after
flood damage in May 2009; and (iii) electro-mechanical improvement of Samarkandian Weir
and Narhi Shahi Weir control gates. This will complete the modernization of all but one of the
former traditional intakes in the lower Balkh Basin, significantly improving the ability to
manage water resources in area.
13. Smaller infrastructure. The Component will complete reconstruction and

improvement of about 250 main canal structures, of which 204 were prepared by EIRRP.
Once this work is completed, almost all of the main canal structures in the lower Balkh Basin
will have been upgraded with ADB financing. The Component will also construct and
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upgrade secondary and tertiary canal structures on a pilot basis in concert with the WUA
development program (see below).
3. Non-Physical Elements
a. River Basin Management
14. The Component will support the establishment of the Northern River Basin Agency
and River Basin Council as defined by the Water Law. This will include providing the training
and resources necessary for the RBA to meet its water resources management mandate
including monitoring, measuring, and analyzing flow data. To take full advantage of the
modernized infrastructure, gate operational management rules will be developed in
consultation with water users. In respect of O&M of RBA-managed infrastructure, the
Component will support RBA staff training; development of policy and management
arrangements; and formulation of sustainable financing mechanisms, including user-fee
policies and procedures for water supply and distribution cost recovery as provided for by
the Water Law water service provider provisions. During the initial establishment period, the
Component will provide interim funds on a declining basis to support the O&M of large
infrastructure under RBA control.
15. The Component will strengthen RBA water resources planning and project
management capacity. It will assist the RBA to prepare a water resources management
strategy for the Northern Basins, within the framework of the national water resources
strategy, as called for by the Water Law; and to prepare a Master Plan to guide future
Northern Basins development. All Northern Basins irrigation systems are traditional in type,
and detailed plans, schematics, and data required for modernized water management do not
exist. Accordingly, detailed surveys and assessments will be undertaken of the lower Balkh
Basin, Sholgara Valley (upper Balkh Basin), Khulm, Sari Pul, and Samingan Basins with
respect to water resources, irrigated agriculture, existing water resources infrastructure
assets, rehabilitation needs, and new infrastructure potential. Master planning will include
preparation of infrastructure feasibility studies, detailed designs, and tender documents for
possible Tranche 2 financing, including those for (i) Imam Sahib intake and main canal
structures, (ii) lower Balkh Basin secondary and tertiary structures; and (iii) canal offtakes,
irrigation structures, and flood management infrastructure in the other Northern Basins.
b. Water User Associations

16. The Component will strengthen and formalize the lower Balkh mirab system into
legally established WUAs under the Water Law. Core technical training will be developed
and provided to WUAs covering (i) O&M and minor repairs, (ii) water distribution and
management, (iii) basic irrigation system design and improved structures, (iv) irrigation and
crop scheduling, and (v) system monitoring and evaluation (M&E). Improved on-farm water
management demonstration activities will be provided to WUAs. WUA mobilization and
development plans will be prepared for the other basins in the Northern Basins group, for
possible Tranche 2 financing.
17. The Component will include a pilot program to engage WUAs in the development of
secondary and tertiary structure designs to enhance water management and improve
efficiency. Structures identified and prepared with WUAs involvement under the Component
will be eligible for Tranche 2 financing.
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18. The Component will support the development of River Basin Councils (RBCs) and
Sub-Basin Councils (SBCs) composed of water users as called for under the Water Law.
Individual WUAs in the Lower Balkh Basin will be federated on a canal basis for participation
in the Balkh RBC. Consultations with mirabs and other water users to initiate RBC and
SRBC development will occur in parallel with the Northern Basins Master Plan field work.
More intensive efforts to formalize RBCs and SRBCs will take place under Tranche 2.
D. Description of C2 Nangarhar Valley Development Authority Improvement
1. Location
19. The Component location is shown in Figure 3.
20. The Component includes rehabilitation and upgrading of the main canal, secondary
structures, and larger tertiary structures serving about 25,000 ha, of which about 11,000 ha
is managed by the Nangarhar Valley Development Authority (NVDA) and 14,000 ha is
privately held. Work includes repairs to Darunta Dam head gate; significant desilting of the
main canal; repairs to access roads; improved protection walls; replacement of secondary
canal headgates; improvements of siphons, spillways, and passages for drainage washes;
and repairs to a first-stage intake and pump house. All secondary canal structures will be
rehabilitated, reshaped as required, and fitted with necessary water and grade control
structures.
3. Non-Physical Outputs
21. NVDA Reform. Institutional reform for NVDA under a corporatized management
structure is a key priority of MAIL. The Component will support preparation of detailed
institutional restructuring and development of a business plan, with associated adjustment
costs to restructure NVDA on a corporate basis under an independent board. Options for
sustainable O&M financing for the main canal will be developed. The Component will
provide interim main canal O&M financing on a declining basis during the establishment of
the new system. A market analysis will be undertaken (i) to provide strategic guidance for
restructuring and investment in corporate-managed farming activities; (ii) asset management
recommendations for the machine shop, olive oil factory, and other holdings; and
(iii) analysis of the impact of various land tenure options on the productivity of state-
managed land.
22. Water User Associations. The Component will support WUA development for
privately-managed lands and state-managed land operated by leaseholders. WUAs in these
areas will manage, operate, and maintain the secondary and tertiary infrastructure in these
areas. Currently, a loose mirab system manages water distribution and O&M. Core
technical training will be developed and provided to WUAs covering (i) O&M and minor
repairs, (ii) water distribution and management, (iii) basic irrigation system design and
improved structures, (iv) irrigation and crop scheduling, and (v) system monitoring and
evaluation (M&E). Demonstration activities will be provided to WUAs related to (i) irrigation
techniques to increase efficiency and productivity, and (ii) on-farm water management.
WUA training and demonstration activities will be open to participation of NVDA operating
staff and others involved in farming or irrigating state-managed land.
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23. Water Service Agency (WSA). Restructuring will include creation of a sustainable
irrigation service delivery agency to manage, operate, and maintain the irrigation system.
NVDA reform and WSA/WUA development will be coordinated to achieve comprehensive
integrated irrigation management.
E. Description of C3 Flood Management Program
1. Location
24. Figure 4 shows the location of the studied area and Component physical works.
Adminstrative units wholly or partly within the studied area are Imam Sahib District, Kunduz
Province, (old) Yangi Qala District and Darqad District, Takkhar Province, Afghanistan, and
Hamadoni District, Khatlon Province, Tajikistan.
25. Yangi Qala/Yetim Tapa flood protection works. The Component includes an
earthen embankment of about five to six kilometers length to protect Yangi Qala town and
Yetim Tapa irrigation system. The embankment will be set back from the river by about
500 m. On the river side of portions of it, pre-cast concrete hollow tetrahedral shaped blocks
called porcupines and community afforestation with flood-tolerate tree species will be pilot
tested for their efficacy in protecting the embankment from erosion by decelerating the flow
and inducing sediment deposition. The Component will construct a permanent gated Yetim
Tapa irrigation intake on the Amu Darya to limit flood flows into the irrigated area and Yangi
Qala town. These head works are designed to accommodate the possible future
development of a permanent feeder channel from an upstream site with reliable low flows
and security from flooding.
26. Small-scale bank erosion protection. The Component includes funds for a limited
number of gabions and other quick-gestation, low-cost interventions to protect areas along
the Amu Darya from bank erosion.
3. Non-Physical Outputs
27. The Component will help initiate a National Flood Management Program (NFMP) and
unit within MEW Kabul, produce a five-year capacity building plan, and begin capacity
building activities. Activities will include developing (i) a flood management policy; (ii) a
database on flood-threatened and flood-affected areas throughout Afghanistan; (iii) a flood
management and bank erosion monitoring system; (iv) a flood warning and emergency
response enhancement plan; and (v) a portfolio of priority flood management projects for
preparation and financing. Staff of the new unit will be trained in flood risk assessment, flood
mapping, design of flood management structures, and other flood-related topics.
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F. C1 Northern Basins Development Baseline Environment
1. Information Sources
28. The baseline environment characterization is based on existing documentation, in
particular, the reports of predecessor and concurrent projects in the sector and in the studied
area. 3
2. Location and Studied Area

29. The studied area for this IEE includes (i) all areas and environmental components
potentially impacted by the proposed interventions and (ii) neighboring areas from which
potential environment-on-project (EOP) impacts could originate e.g. upstream catchment
where snowmelt, other runoff, and sediment conveyed to the subproject area are generated:
(i) Gross command area of the lower Balkh irrigation system (approximately
400,000 ha) within the (a) current and potential net irrigation areas
(~120,000 ha); (b) any areas adjacent to or downstream from the current and
3
The projects include:
(i) Emergency Infrastructure Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Project - Traditional Irrigation
Component (EIRRP-TIC, ADB Loan No. 1997; November 2003 for $15 million)
(ii) Balkh River Basin Integrated Water Resources Management Project (BRIWRMP, ADB and
Japanese Fund for Poverty Reduction; November 2004 for $10 million), which, with additional
funding from USAID, constructed Sarmarkandian weir and related connecting works
(iii) Capacity Building for Water Resources Management and Planning (ADB TA-3478, Component 1 B;
March 2003 for $877,000)
(iv) Emergency Irrigation Rehabilitation Program (EIRP, World Bank; ~ $65 million, 2003-8 plus a $40
million extension 2008-11)
(v) Capacity Building for Irrigation and Water Resources (ADB TA No. 4716; December 2005 for
$750,000).
The reports include:
(i) MEW. 2005 (June). Initial Environmental Examination - Rehabilitation of Key Irrigation Structures in
the Chimtal Canal, Balkh River, Balkh Province. Prepared under EIRRP-TIC (ADB Loan No. 1997-
AFG).
(ii) MEW. 2005 (June). Initial Environmental Examination - Rehabilitation of Key Irrigation Structures in
the Dawlatabad Canal, Balkh River, Balkh Province. Prepared under EIRRP-TIC (ADB Loan No.
1997-AFG).
(iii) MEW. 2005 (June). Initial Environmental Examination - Rehabilitation of Key Irrigation Structures in
the Mushtaque Canal, Balkh River, Balkh Province. Prepared under EIRRP-TIC (ADB Loan No.
1997-AFG).
(iv) MEW. 2007 (April). Summary Initial Environmental Examination, Rehabilitation of Key Irrigation
Structures in the Abdullah Canal, Balkh District, Balkh Province. Prepared under EIRRP-TIC (ADB
Loan No. 1997-AFG).
(v) MEW. 2005 (June). Environmental Assessment Project Manual. Prepared under EIRRP-TIC (ADB
Loan No. 1997-AFG).
(vi) SMEC. 2008 (March). Balkh River Basin Management Plan. Report of Balkh River Integrated Water
Resources Management Project (ADB TA JFPR 9060-AFG).
(vii) SMEC. 2006 (December). Balkh River Basin Management Plan, Annex B, Physical Setting. Report
of Balkh River Integrated Water Resources Management Project (ADB TA JFPR 9060-AFG).
(viii) SMEC. 2006 (December). Balkh River Basin Management Plan, Annex C, Basin Environmental
Review. Report of Balkh River Integrated Water Resources Management Project (ADB TA JFPR
9060-AFG).
(ix) SMEC. 2007 (April). Proposal for Formulation and Implementation of Operational Plan and Rules
for Lower Balkh Area. Report of Balkh River Integrated Water Resources Management Project
(ADB TA JFPR 9060-AFG).
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potential irrigated areas that have or could receive flood flows or drainage
from the system; (c) areas adjacent to or downstream from irrigated areas
whose groundwater and surface water resources have been or could be
affected by project-led changes in system operation
(ii) Balkh catchment (approximately ~25,000 km2) upstream of the irrigation

system where sediment, snowmelt, and other runoff conveyed to the lower
Balkh system originate.
3. Environmental Setting in Historical Context

30. The studied area is a large Central Asian oasis that has been inhabited, and thus
modified by human activities, for millennia. Extremely rich concentrations of Mesolithic and
Neolithic settlements dating as far back as 10,000 BCE have been found south of the Amu
Darya in the Turkistan plain. The Neolithic revolution took place in northern Afghanistan
about 9000 years ago, indicating that it may have been one of the earliest centres for the
domestication of plants and animals. Mounds that seem artificial and alien to the
surrounding flat area are the remnants of monumental Neolithic palaces and complex
circular temples. 4
31. In the second half of the third millennium BCE, a new type of social organization,
suggestive of a form of large-scale colonization involving mastery of advanced techniques of
large-scale irrigation, appeared in settlements in northern Afghanistan and Turkmenistan
virginal or near-virginal lands. Archaeologists have started to describe this culture as the
Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex (BMAC). Its fortresses and temples fulfilled a
local function and controlled the local countryside. Major BMAC sites were found in the
Dashli oasis, 30 km north of modern Aqcha (the northwestern limit of the modern irrigation
system), by Soviet archaeologists engaged in large-scale archaeological excavations from
1969-1979. 5
32. Beginning in antiquity and continuing through the centuries, the studied area has an
exceptionally rich history and corresponding archeological assets. The Persian hymns
known as the Avesta, written down about 1800 BC, call the city of Bakhdi (Balkh) in northern
Afghanistan "beautiful, crowned with banners.” From the time of the Persian Achaemenid
Empire (sixth century BCE) until well into the Islamic era, a clan of hereditary priest-
governors managed the irrigation system. Alexander the Great chose Balkh as his base
between 329 and 327 BCE, after which it remained the capital of the Greco-Bactrian
kingdoms. According to early Hinayana biographies of the Buddha, two merchant brothers
from Bactria became the first disciples to receive layman’s vows soon after the Buddha’s
enlightenment in the sixth century BCE. In the first century CE, Balkh’s Nava Vihara
(Buddhist monastery) became the center of higher Buddhist study for all of Central Asia, and
one of the main centres of pilgrimage on the Silk Route. 6 Much later the Arabs called Balkh
‘The Mother of Towns’, and the finest Islamic art and poetry flourished here. Balkh was
comprehensive sacked by Genghis Khan’s Mongol horde in 1220 CE, slaughtering virtually
4
R. Fevre and G. M. Kamal. 2004 (January). Watershed Atlas of Afghanistan. First Edition - Working Document
for Planners. Available: http://www.krbp.net/eng_reports/Watershed%20Atlas_Part%20I_II.pdf
5
W. Vogelsang. 2008. The Afghans. Oxford, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.
6
A. Berzin. 2001/2006. Historical Sketch of Buddhism and Islam in Afghanistan [webpage]. Available:
http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/archives/study/history_buddhism/buddhism_central_asia/history_afghanis
tan_buddhism.html
13
all the inhabitants and leveling buildings, yet a few decades later Marco Polo still described
Balkh as a “noble city and great,” 7 and another few decades later, Ibn Battuta found Balkh
“an utter ruin and uninhabited, but anyone seeing it would think it inhabited on account of the
solidity of its construction.” 8 Balkh must have recovered subsequently, enough that Timur
sacked it again in the 14th century. Balkh is the birthplace of three renowned Persians: two
of the greatest Persian poets, the poetess Rabe'a Balkhi in the tenth century CE, and Jalal
ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi (known to English speakers as the Sufi master Rumi) in the 13th
century CE; and the Persian scholar of philosophy and medicine Ibn Sina (Avicenna) in the
11th century CE.
33. Mazar-i-Sharif (Tomb of the Exalted), east of Balkh, is considered by Afghan Shi'a to
be the final resting place of fourth caliph 'Ali bin Abi Talib (d. 661 AH), to which Shi’as
believe his body was moved after his death in Najaf, Iraq. In 1136 BCE, Seljuk Sultan
Sanjar erected a shrine on the site, which was likely destroyed by the Genghis and his
Mongols in 1220 CE. Timurid Sultan Husain Baiqara (1469-1506 CE) built the present
shrine in 1480-81 CE (885 AH) and rehabilitated the irrigation system, building or widening
the Nahri-Shahi (Canal of the King) to supply water to Mazar, furthering its development into
a large urban center. Tombs of Afghan rulers and religious leaders, including the tomb of
Amir Dost Muhammad (1826-1863 CE) and his family, were added to the Timurid shrine
through the centuries. In the mid-twentieth century the shrine was extensively restored. It
draws Shi'a pilgrims throughout the year but especially during the celebration of New Year
(Nowroz). 9 The seat of administration was moved from Balkh to Mazar in the late 19th
century to escape epidemic disease, probably malaria or cholera.
34. In the mid-20th century during the reigns of Amir Amanuallah Khan 1919-1929, Nadir
Shah 1930-1933, and King Zahir Khan 1933-1973, management of the irrigation network
was significantly improved, with the allocation of individual water rights, publication of the
Law on Irrigation (Qanun-i-Abyari), and establishment of the Department of Irrigation
(Riyasat-i-Abyari) in Balkh. During this period, sharecropped Government land and water
rights in the upstream areas were allocated to thousands of settlers, mostly Pushtun
colonists, displaced Hazaras and Uzbeks, and, in the 1930s, Turkman, Tajik, and Uzbek
refugees from Soviet Central Asia. Evidently new irrigation canals were dug to serve some
of these communities and the number of settlements increased substantially (from 22 to 42
on Abdullah Canal over less than 20 years, for example).
35. After the Saur Revolution in April 1978, Marxist land reforms and other hard-line
policies alienated conservative village communities. By autumn, civil war had begun and in
December 1979 the Soviet Army invaded. Government control of irrigation evaporated and
rival mujahidin commanders and their armed supporters took over. 10 Post-conflict, the GOA
with the support of the donor community has begun to rehabilitate and modernize the
system.
7
UNESCO City of Balkh tentative cultural site webpage (http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1928/), pursuant
to a 17 Aug 2004 application to UNESCO by the Department of Historic Monuments, Ministry of Information &
Culture.
8
I. Battuta and H. A. R. Gibb. 1929/2004. Travels in Asia and Africa, 1325-1354. Routledge. Available:
http://books.google.com/books?id=zKqn_CWTxYEC&printsec=frontcover#PPP10,M1
9
Anon. n.d. Hazrat Ali Shrine Complex. Available: http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=10561
10
Section 2.7.1. SMEC. 2008 (March). Balkh River Basin Management Plan. Report of Balkh River Integrated
Water Resources Management Project (ADB TA JFPR 9060-AFG).
14
4. Physical Resources
a. Atmosphere
36. Air quality. In 2003, Mazar-e Sharif air quality was found to have high levels of dust
and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The PAH values amounted to 13.6 ng/m3, the
highest recorded in Afghanistan. 11
37. Noise. No measurements of noise were found for the studied area. Levels are
expected to be typical of comparable Central Asian rural settings.
(i) Lower Balkh Irrigation System

38. Temperature. The climate is arid to semiarid steppe. Temperatures fall below
freezing during winter nights and rise sharply in spring, reaching 50 C on occasion in
summer. Temperatures peak in mid-July, ~40 C maximum and ~25 C minimum; lowest
temperatures occur in Dec-Jan, with a ~10 C maximum and ~0 C minimum (average
monthly mean daily maxima and minima from 21 years of data).
39. Annual precipitation. Average annual precipitation of 190 mm y-1 at Mazar-e Sharif
near the foot of the escarpment can be taken as representative of the southeastern end of
the irrigated area. Rainfall decreases somewhat to the north, more or less toward the tail-
end areas of the irrigation system.
40. Precipitation variability. Almost all rainfall occurs during the Oct–May period, and
is highly variable from year-to-year, month-to-month, and day-to-day. For 1968-9 and 1976-
8, the average number of rainy days per year was 55; rainfall >3 mm occurred between 5
and 45 days in a year. Annual evapo-transpiration greatly exceeds annual rainfall, by a
factor of 5 to 15.
(ii) Upper Catchment

41. Most of the Balkh River flow entering the lower irrigation system originates as
snowmelt in the upper high-altitude catchment. Historical direct hydrometeorological
measurements for the upper catchment are unavailable. Snow-cover recession can readily
be inferred from satellite imagery, but it is not directly proportional to river discharge which
also requires knowledge of snow-pack depth or equivalent rainfall depth, and estimates of
snowmelt percolation into local groundwater storage in screes, alluvial terraces, which is
substantial. In addition, local physiographic effects have a strong influence upon
microclimatic variation in mountainous areas, so to generate representative upper basin
hydrometeorology data, instrumentation and analysis sufficient to cope with rain-shadow,
barrier effects, snowdrift, summit exposure, exposure, and macro-aerodynamic turbulence is
required.
(iii) Drought and Climate Change

42. Periods of large-scale, multi-year drought are characteristic of central Asia, with the
1998-2002 drought a recent example. It has been suggested that central Asian droughts are
correlated with the El Nino-Southern Oscillation cycle (ENSO), with wetter than normal
conditions in a typical ENSO warm phase (El Nino), and drier conditions during the typical
11
P. 47. United Nations Environment Programme. 2003. Afghanistan Post-Conflict Environmental Assessment.
Gland, Switzerland:
15
cold phase (La Nina). 12 This relationship seems to have held for the 1998-2002 drought,
with the years 1998-2001 having La Nina characteristics. 13
43. The paleoclimate of Central Asia from the middle Pleistocene (781,000 to 126,000
years before present, ybp) up to the present is believed to have been characterized by
progressive aridization with occasional minor fluctuations to moister phases. One
hypothesized reconstruction of Central Asian Holocene climate (11,700 ybp to the present)
has a first wet transgression occurring during 5000-3000 BCE, during which lacustrine
landscapes and human niches occurred in areas now occupied by deserts and takyr
formations (shallow depressed areas with heavy clay soils that are submerged after
seasonal rains), followed by moister transgressions of lesser dimension between 1400-1000
BCE, 600-250 BCE, 900-1200 CE and 1600-1800 CE. 14 Predictions of future climate trends
for this area are uncertain.
b. Morphology, Soils, and Geology

44. Morphology. The studied area is a gently sloping (as low as 0.1 m/100m) delta,
dissected by the canals of the current irrigation system. Low ridges and depressions,
remnants of old channels, are evident in some areas.
45. Soil type. Soils in the Balkh irrigation systems are torripsamments with dunes
(Figure 5). Torripsament soils are in the Entisol soil order (one of the twelve soil orders in
the US soil taxonomy), suborder psamments. Entisols are soils defined by the absence or
near absence of horizons (layers) that indicate the occurrence of soil-forming processes.
They are formed on surface features of recent geologic origin, on underlying material that is
highly resistant to weathering, or under conditions of extreme wetness or dryness. Typical
geographic settings include areas of active erosion or deposition (i.e., steep slopes or
floodplains), areas of quartzite bedrock or quartz sand (i.e., major desert and dune regions),
and wetlands. Entisols are commonly arable if given an adequate supply of plant nutrients
and water, despite the lack of soil development as indicated by the lack of distinct
horizons. 15 Torripsamments are cool to hot Psamments of arid climates, with an aridic or
torric moisture regime and a warmer than cryic temperature regime. Some Torripsamments
are on stable surfaces; others on stabilized or moving dunes. Torripsamments may consist
of quartz, mixed sands, volcanic glass, or gypsumand may have any color. They are
generally neutral or calcareous. Vegetation is mostly xerophytic shrubs, grasses, and forbs.
These soils support more vegetation than other soils with an aridic moisture regime,
presumably because they lose less water as runoff. Some soils on dunes support a few
ephemeral plants or have a partial cover of xerophytic and ephemeral plants; shifting dunes
12
A. Dai, K. E. Trenberth and T. Qian, 2004. A Global Dataset of Palmer Drought Severity Index for 1870–2002:
Relationship with Soil Moisture and Effects of Surface Warming. Journal of Hydrometeorology. 5 1117-1130.
Available: http://www.cgd.ucar.edu/cas/adai/papers/Dai_pdsi_paper.pdf
13
There were two other La Nina years between 1991 and 2008: 1995-6 and 2007-8. See http://ggweather.com/
enso/years.htm for tabular data of several ENSO indicators, and http://www.cdc.noaa.gov/enso/enso.
mei_index.html for a graph of a multivariate ENSO indicator 1945-2008.
14
R. Sala. 2003. Historical Survey of Irrigation Practices in West Central Asia. Laboratory of Geoarchaeology,
Institute of Geological Sciences, Ministry of Education and Sciences of Kazakhstan. Available:
http://www.lgakz.org/Texts/LiveTexts/7-CAsiaIrrigTextEn.pdf
15
Encyclopeida Britannica. n.d. Entisol. Available: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/188942/Entisol
16
may be devoid of plants in normal years. Most of the deposits are of late-Pleistocene or
younger age. 16
46. Geology. Surface geological units correlate with soils in the studied area (Figure 6).
The units found and their distributions are: 17
(i) On irrigated land in the area around Balkh and the area below Aqcha, unit
Q34a predominates (Conglomerate and sandstone [Holocene and late
Pleistocene] - Alluvium; shingly and detrital sediments, gravel, sand, more
abundant than silt and clay).
(ii) North of Balkh, interspersed within the Q34a zone, roughly in a semicircle,
are found large patches of Q4sm (Salt marsh deposits [Holocene] - mud, silt,
clay, more abundant than sand; limestone, gypsum, and salt).
(iii) To the north of the Q34a zone, unit Q3a predominates (same description as
Q34a except without the younger Holocene contributions).
(iv) Further north still, towards the Amu Darya, unit Q34θ (Eolian deposits
[Holocene and late Pleistocene] - Sand) is found.
(v) In the Balkh river course from its entry into the lower Balkh system to its tail-
end past Aqcha, Unit Q4a is found (same description as Q34a except without
the older Pleistocene contributions).
47. Soil salinity. In the plains north of Balkh town and Mazar, a series of low-lying
depressions with high water tables flanked by low ridges, many with saline soils, were noted
in the Balkh River Basin Management Plan (BRMP, Section 2.3.3). These areas likely
correspond to the Holocene salt marsh deposits (unit Q4sm) noted above. BRMP also noted
unusual perennial springs in these depressions, and speculated that they might be related to
underlying geological faults. The undulating morphology may reflect old patterns of alluvial
deposition (abandoned channels), and/or other geological processes as suggested by the
presence of the perennial springs. The Mazar urban area has begun to sprawl northward
onto saline land to the north.
c. Seismology / Earthquake Hazard

48. The largest known earthquakes affecting the lower Balkh area were for events in 819
and 1911 CE, both with epicenters in central northern Afghanistan north of the Hindu Kush.
For both events, the area experienced modified Mercalli earthquake intensities of Levels VII-
VIII. 18 Lesser intensity earthquakes occur more frequently. The studied area is outside of
16
P. 436. Soil Survey Staff US Department of Agriculture. 1999. Soil Taxonomy - A Basic System of Soil
Classification for Making and Interpreting Soil Surveys. 2nd ed. Available: ftp://ftp-
fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/NSSC/Soil_Taxonomy/tax.pdf
17
Afghan Geological Survey. 2006. Geologic and Mineral Resource Map of Afghanistan. AGS Open File Report
2006-0138, Version 2. Available: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1038/
18
Level VII: Difficult to stand. Noticed by drivers of motor cars. Hanging objects quiver. Furniture broken.
Damage to masonry D, including cracks. Weak chimneys broken at roof line. Fall of plaster, loose bricks,
stones, tiles, cornices (also unbraced parapets and architectural ornaments). Some cracks in masonry C.
Waves on ponds; water turbid with mud. Small slides and caving in along sand or gravel banks. Large bells ring.
Concrete irrigation ditches damaged. Masonry A. Good workmanship, mortar, and design; reinforced, especially
17
the zone of most intense earthquake activity in Afghanistan, which is centered on eastern
Badakshan. 19
d. Surface Water
(i) Balkh River
49. The Balkh River is the major natural feature of the studied area (Figure 7 and 8). It
originates in the Hindu Kush mountains of central Afghanistan, fed mainly by snowmelt and
limited spring rains. The catchment area is ~30,000 km2. The Balkh has a total length of
~500 km with slopes ranging from 2.1 m/100m in the upper reach to as low as 0.1 m/100m
in the lower reach.
50. The Balkh winds northward through steep-sided mountain valleys having limited
irrigable area until it reaches the floodplain of the Sholgara Valley (~7000 ha irrigable area).
It then passes through Chashma-i-Shafa gorge and debouches onto the Turkistan plain, a
small extension of the Central Asian plain lying south across the Amu Darya. The Balkh
then trends almost due west along the escarpment, such that 90 per cent or more of lands
irrigated from it are located to its north.
51. At times other than exceptional floods, the Balkh dries up in irrigated areas and
brackish depressions long before it reaches the Afghan border and the Amu Darya River.
Historically the river deltas of the northern Turkistan plain, including the Balkh delta, were
close to the Amu Darya (which is said to have been much closer to Balkh town in antiquity),
but since the development of traditional irrigation schemes centuries ago, these rivers dry up
in canals 50-100 km short of the Amu. 20
52. To the north of the studied area – between the northern boundary of the Balkh basin
and the Amu Darya – is the Dasht-i-Shortepa (Amu Darya Desert), considered to be a non-
drainage basin. This narrow dune field runs along the northern Afghanistan border,
paralleling the Amu Darya River.
53. Most of the gross area commanded by the Balkh River (~400,000 ha) is located on
the Turkistan plain, in an area that slants gently down towards the north from 400 m above
sea level (masl) down to 250 masl.
laterally, and bound together by using steel, concrete, etc.; designed to resist lateral forces. Masonry B. Good
workmanship and mortar; reinforced, but not designed to resist lateral forces. Masonry C. Ordinary workmanship
and mortar; no extreme weaknesses, like failing to tie in at corners, but neither reinforced nor designed to resist
horizontal forces. Masonry D. Weak materials, such as adobe; poor mortar; low standards of workmanship;
weak horizontally. Level VIII:“Steering of motor cars affected. Damage to masonry C; partial collapse. Some
damage to masonry B; none to masonry A. Fall of stucco and some masonry walls. Twisting, fall of chimneys,
factory stacks, monuments, towers, elevated tanks. Frame houses moved on foundations if not bolted down;
loose panel walls thrown out. Decayed piling broken off. Branches broken from trees. Changes in flow or
temperature of springs and wells. Cracks in wet ground and on steep slopes. (From
http://www.propertyrisk.com/mmi.htm).
19
For more information, see http://afghanistan.cr.usgs.gov/hazards.php
20
J. Humlum, 1959. “La géographie de l’Afghanistan. Etude d’un pays aride”, Scandinavian University Books,
Copenhagen. Cited in G. M. Kamal. 2004. River Basins and Watersheds of Afghanistan. Kabul, Afghanistan:
Afghanistan Information Management Service (AIMS). Available: http://nzdl.sadl.uleth.ca/gsdl/collect/areu/
Upload/1710/Kamal_River%20basins%20and%20watersheds2004.pdf
18
54. Balkh flows derive predominantly from gradually melting snowpack over large areas
in the upper catchment. This predictability affords the possibility of managing irrigation water
in a more rational manner than in catchments whose runoff is dominated by short-duration
smaller-scale rainfall events of limited tempo-spatial predictability.
55. Based on available historic data (1964-1978) from Rabat-i-Bala, Balkh average
discharge is ~50 m3s-1 and its estimated annual discharge is 1650 Mm3. Average monthly
discharges were 35 to 42 m3s-1 from August to March; 56 and 58 m3s-1 in April and July
respectively; and 110 and 100 m3s-1 in May and June respectively. 21 The range of mean
annual flows over the years of record, 930 to 2320 Mm3y-1, provides an indication of
interannual flow variability. 22 In the absence of long-term flow records, an estimate of
maximum flow is provided by the Bangala Weir design flood of 1100 m³ s-1 (note that this
design flood may be altered with subsequent studies).
(ii) Marshes / wetlands

56. Salt marsh areas are shown on the surface geology map (Figure 6) and the land
cover map (Figure 9), and are associated with areas of saline soils discussed above. Field
reports of salt marsh locations appear to correlate with the marshes on these maps. Salt
marshes were reported in the upstream and downstream areas of Chimtal canal, 23 and on
both sides of the middle reaches of Dawlatabad canal’s three secondary canals, such that
their main command areas are located far downstream in their tail reaches past these
marshes. 24 These areas are reported to be undulating alluvial plains, where water
accumulates in depressions between clay/sand dunes stabilized by salt-tolerant tussock
grasses. The water source is unknown. It could include contributions from Mazar-i-Sharif
canal overflow, wastewater, groundwater seepage, and / or artesian spring water. 25 Neither
is the age of these marshes known. The salt marsh areas north-east of Mazar appear on
the 1959 topographic maps.
e. Groundwater
57. Two aquifers of significant productivity have been identified in the northern Balkh
basin: (i) Sholgara in the south and (ii) near the Balkh as it flows along the escarpment.
Mazar-i-Sharif water supplies are derived from deep wells drilled in the latter aquifer along
the river. Good quality water is available only in the part of the aquifer fed Balkh River
infiltration. North of the line Dawlatabad-Sheberghan-Balkh-Khulm, oil and gas exploration
21
P. 1, SMEC. 2007 (March). Rapid Assessment of Irrigated Area and Cropping Pattern for Six Canal Systems in
Lower Balkh Area. Report of Balkh River Integrated Water Resources Management Project (ADB TA JFPR 9060-
AFG).
22
For additional discussion and analysis of Balkh flows, see SMEC. 2006 (December). Balkh River Basin
Management Plan, Annex B, Physical Setting. Report of Balkh River Integrated Water Resources Management
Project (ADB TA JFPR 9060-AFG).
23
MEW. 2005 (June). Initial Environmental Examination - Rehabilitation of Key Irrigation Structures in the Chimtal
Canal, Balkh River, Balkh Province. Prepared under EIRRP-TIC (ADB Loan No. 1997-AFG).
24
P. 7. MEW. 2005 (June). Initial Environmental Examination - Rehabilitation of Key Irrigation Structures in the
Dawlatabad Canal, Balkh River, Balkh Province. Prepared under EIRRP-TIC (ADB Loan No. 1997-AFG).
25
P. 43. SMEC. 2006 (December). Balkh River Basin Management Plan, Annex C, Basin Environmental Review.
Report of Balkh River Integrated Water Resources Management Project (ADB TA JFPR 9060-AFG).
19
drilling have found both shallow and deeper aquifers to contain brackish and saline
groundwater. 26
f. Water Quality
58. Data availability. A national groundwater quality database exists and was recently
transferred from the Danish non-governmental organization (NGO) DACAAR to the Ministry
of Rural Rehabilitation and Development. The responsible person at MRRD was not
available during the brief duration of this study. The rest of this section summarizes the
water quality data available from other sources.
59. Surface water salinity. Three surface water salinity (EC or µS cm-1) values were
located for the lower Balkh area:
(i) 1534 µS cm-1 in Aqcha Canal (i.e. Balkh River, at the road bridge; UTM
easting 259358 northing 4078155);
(ii) 416 µS cm-1 in the Balkh River at the footbridge east of Sholgara (311460
4021898); and
(iii) 540 µS cm-1 in the Amu Darya (358510 4119828).
60. These correspond to TDS values of approximately 1000, 300, and 300 ppm
respectively. 27
61. Groundwater salinity. Figure 10 shows groundwater salinity (EC) values in the
lower Balkh at wells sampled during the 2006 BRMP survey. Sample values range from
~200 to ~5000 µS cm-1, (~100 to 3000 ppm) with most in the range 700 to 2000 µS cm-1
(500 to 1300 ppm). 28
62. Salinity and irrigation water. The salinity of irrigation water is roughly categorized
as none <500 ppm, slight 500-1000, moderate 1000-2000, and severe >2000 ppm. The
Aqcha canal surface water value noted above corresponds to moderate salinity, and the
Amu and Balkh values to none. The groundwater salinity values noted above fall in the
categories none to severe (~100 to 3000 ppm), with most in the slight to moderate range
(500 to 1300 ppm).
63. Salinity and drinking water. Under normal circumstances, food is the primary
source of human salt intake, and thus drinking water standards do not set a health-related
26
P. 18. V. W. Uhl and M. Q. Tahiri. 2003. Afghanistan - An Overview of Groundwater Resources and
Challenges. Available: http://www.vuawater.com/vuasite/Afghanistan_GW_Study.pdf
27
Salinity is commonly used term for total dissolved solids (TDS) in water. Conversion to TDS (ppm) units from
EC (µS cm-1) units is given by TDS = f * EC, where f is a conversion factor that depends on the salts present.
Values of f range from 0.5 to 0.8; most waters have 0.6 < f < 0.7. Here a value of f = 0.65 was used.
28
(i) World Health Organization, 2003. Chloride in Drinking-Water: Background Document for Development,
WHO Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality. Available: http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/
chloride.pdf; (ii) World Health Organization, 2003. Sodium in Drinking-Water: Background Document for
Development, WHO Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality. Available: http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/
dwq/chemicals/sodium.pdf; (iii) A. G. Logan, 2006. Dietary Sodium Intake and Its Relation to Human Health: A
Summary of the Evidence. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 25(3). 165-169. Available:
http://www.jacn.org/cgi/reprint/25/3/165
20
upper limit on salinity. 29 For normal healthy adults, a maximum salt consumption from all
sources of 6 g day-1 is generally recommended, less for individuals affected by reduced-salt-
responsive hypertension. A typical aesthetic guideline value for drinking water salinity is 250
ppm, corresponding to 2g day-l salt consumption assuming individuals drink 8 l day-1. As
salinity increases, palatability declines, such that water with salinity > 1000ppm would be
considered undrinkable under normal circumstances.
64. Boron. After sodium and chloride, boron is the element most usually associated with
toxic symptoms in plants. Boron and salinity tend to be correlated, such that boron toxicity
tends to be found in areas of salinity stress. Irrigation water with boron concentrations
above 0.4 to 1.0 mg l-1 can reduce yields in boron-sensitive crops; concentrations above 1.0
mg l-1 harm almost all crops. In wheat, a symptom of boron toxicity is poor grain fill-in. Five
area well water (not surface irrigation water) samples analyzed for boron all had reported
values of 0.1 mg l-1. Additional sampling would be required to confirm or exclude boron as a
parameter of concern in the area. 30
65. Nitrate. There is no evidence that nitrate concentrations pose a threat to agriculture.
5. Ecological Resources
a. Land Cover
66. Land cover within the irrigation system is predominately irrigated fields, cropped once
per year or in years when water is available on a (quasi) rotational basis, as shown in a
thematic interpretation of remote imagery with very limited ground data (Figure 9). This
interpretation identifies as permanent marshland several patches fanning out to the north,
northeast, and northwest of Balkh; and as seasonal marshland areas northeast of the
irrigation system past Mingajik and Mordyan. Other features include small areas of rock
outcrop or bare soil in Charbolac district; and compact orchard areas near Mazar, Balkh
town, Didhadi district town, and northeast of Chimtal district town. Beyond the limits of the
irrigated oasis are sand-covered areas, and, further to the north near the Amu Darya, sand
dunes.
b. Aquatic Biology
67. No existing studies of aquatic biology in the study area were located (see also
Section a.6.i, Fisheries, below).
c. Terrestrial Biology
68. No existing studies of terrestrial biology in the study area were located. Local people
and experts with area experience did speak about medicinal plants that are (over) harvested.
d. Rare / Endangered Species

69. None known. No unique habitats are known to be present.
29
Specific ionic constituents of salinity may have health guideline values.
30
P. B-94. SMEC. 2006 (December). Balkh River Basin Management Plan, Annex B, Physical Setting. Report of
Balkh River Integrated Water Resources Management Project (ADB TA JFPR 9060-AFG).
21
e. Protected Areas
70. GOA has officially stated its commitment to creating seven provisional/potential
protected areas. There are none in the component study area. The nearest is Imam Sahib
approx. 150-200km away (See Figure 27).
6. Social, Economic, and Cultural Resources

a. Population of Studied Area Districts
71. In the absence of village-level population data, the studied area population is best
estimated by totaling the population of those districts of Balkh and Jawzjan provinces that lie
mostly within the lower Balkh irrigation scheme (Table 1). This gives a studied area
population of 820,000, of which 590,000 (70 per cent) are rural and 220,000 are urban. The
studied area population is 60 per cent of the total population of the two provinces.
b. Overview: Provincial Profiles

72. A comprehensive overview of provincial demographic and development indicators is
presented in the Provincial Profiles published in 2007 by the National Area-Based
Development Programme of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD).
Relevant extracts from the Balkh and Jawzjan profiles are presented in Table 2. The
situation in the two provinces is quite similar. Where this is not the case, the information is
highlighted in gray. Information is presented on ethnic groups and kuchi (nomads); water
supply and sanitation; electricity; transport; telecommunications; household income sources
(agriculture, trade and services, non-farm labor; livestock; cooperatives; small industries;
handicrafts; loans); agriculture (industrial, field, and garden crops; fertilizer use; access to
irrigated and rain-fed land; livestock and poultry); education and literacy; health; food and
nutrition; household perceptions of economic trends and shocks; and security.
73. Perhaps the most salient difference between the two provinces is that Tajiks are the
dominant ethnic group in Balkh and Uzbeks are the dominant group in Jawzjan, and the
ethno-political histories of the two provinces are very different. .
c. Transportation
74. The area road network is shown in Figure 11. The main Afghanistan-Uzbekistan
border crossing on the Amu Darya, a key link in regional Central Asian trade, is located 30
km north of Mazar on the main road. The usual assortment of mechanized vehicles
(motorcycles, automobiles, vans, pickup trucks, SUVs, trucks with locally manufactured
bodies, and buses) ply the roads alongside a small number of traditional carts pulled by
donkeys, horses, and mules. Camel caravans are used to transport cotton and other goods
in and out of the rural areas. Nomads (kuchi) live in and move through the area with their
livestock to access grazing areas and water supplies.
75. The Mazar airport currently handles flights to domestic destinations plus international
flights to Dubai and Teheran.
d. Cities & Towns

76. Mazar is one of the largest commercial and financial centers of Afghanistan. The
other urban areas within the studied area are Sherbagan, the capital of Jawzjan Province,
and the district towns.
22
e. Land Tenure and Rural Livelihoods

77. A description of the national situation with respect to land tenure and its implications
for rural livelihoods is provided in the following paragraphs, in the absence of observations
specific to the studied area. 31
78. In Afghanistan, agrarian land relations have feudal origins and remain complex and
inequitable, as in Pakistan and India. A few large landlords likely still own around 40 per
cent of farmland as was the case in the 1981. Most of the cropped area is farmed by
smallholders, but with great variations in farm size by region. Rent-seeking absentee
landlordism is common in many areas and can be a source of conflict within local
populations.
79. Around one-quarter of the rural population is entirely landless, surviving on off-farm
piecework, farm laboring, sharecropping, or some combination thereof. In some areas over
half of all households are entirely landless. Farm laborers generally receive one-fifth of the
crop as payment and sharecroppers, who tend to have more skills, up to one-third.
80. A large number of rural families are homeless as well as landless, and must depend
upon landlords or relatives for shelter from one generation to the next. The men from these
families form a significant body of mobile farm labor, going from landlord to landlord every
year or two with their only capital asset, a small herd of karakul sheep. Although possibly
numbering in the hundreds of thousands, these poorest of the poor are not considered a
permanent part of (any) community and rarely appear in survey statistics.
81. Indebtedness is very high in the rural population with up to 92 per cent and 57 per
cent of sample populations in 2002 borrowing respectively cash and wheat. Many
landowners have their land under a form of mortgage that is to the full advantage of the
creditor. These loans are typically taken up out of desperation, to buy food or cover health
or bride price costs, not to invest in economically productive activities. Outright land sales by
smaller farmers typically soar during droughts and other difficult times. Land purchases tend
to be by those who already own land, suggesting continuing consolidation of holdings.
Those who lose their land find it difficult to re-acquire land and tend to end up in cities as
unskilled domestic or market labor. For the better-off as well as the poor, periodic out-
migration in search of work within and beyond Afghanistan (especially to Iran and Pakistan)
is a well-established routine dating back to the 1960s, and may inflate or confuse figures of
refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
82. Rural society is intensely stratified, and its socio-cultural mores remain largely
effective in perpetuating the status quo. Large and powerful socio-cultural barriers exist
between those referred to as landlords, small farmers, and the landless (neither the rich nor
laborers are referred to as ‘farmers’), and especially between those with and without land.
Farming, an artisan skill and the preserve of tenants and sharecroppers, is considered to be
beyond the homeless and landless mobile laborer, who typically perceives landownership as
not only financially impossible but as getting above his station or ‘not permitted’. Very few of
31
The text in this section is a lightly edited version (in particular, the many footnotes have been deleted) of
pp. 4-6 of the excellent paper: L. A. Wily. 2004 (April). Putting Rural Land Registration in Perspective: The
Afghanistan Case. Paper presented to Symposium on Land Administration in Post-Conflict Areas, hosted by the
International Federation of Surveyors, 29-30 April, 2004, United Nations, Geneva. Available:
http://www.fig.net/commission7/geneva_2004/papers/lapca_06_alden_wily.pdf
23
these mobile laborers were likely among the classified landless who benefited from the
(short-lived) revolutionary land redistributions of 1978-1984.
83. Women are customarily barred from landholding despite religious law recognizing
limited female land inheritance rights. This restriction affects the significant proportion of the
population living in households that are woman-headed, either de facto due to male labor
out-migration or by widows.
f. Health Services Delivery and Surveillance

84. Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS). Health services in the studied area are
provided through BPHS, a hierarchical network of Health Posts, Basic Health Centers, and
Comprehensive Health Centers, that link in turn to the District and Provincial Hospitals
(Figure 12). 32
85. Disease Early Warning System (DEWS). Health surveillance in the studied area is
provided by participation in the national Diseases Early Warning System. The Balkh and
Jawzjan provincial hospitals and several district hospitals are enrolled as DEWS sentinel
sites. The DEWS approach enables rapid identification of disease outbreaks that can then
be targeted strategically with measures to prevent contagion and morbidity/mortality, such as
vaccination, sanitation, quarantine, awareness-raising and distribution of low-cost treatments
modalities such as oral rehydration, etc.
86. In particular, DEWS information provides near-real-time incidence statistics on

malaria and leishmaniasis, both of which are of significant concern in the lower Balkh
system. There is sound scientific evidence linking both diseases to habitats that can be
enhanced or expanded by irrigation system operation and maintenance activities. 33
g. Mineral, Oil/Gas, and Large Industrial Development

87. There is no known mineral potential or development in the studied area. Some
kilometers to the west, natural gas wells exist around Sherbagan town in Jawzjan province.
A defunct gas line runs along the Mazar-Balkh road. Natural gas is still supplied (apparently)
to a fertilizer factory and a power plant near Nahre Shahi Weir.
h. Tourism
88. Mazar is a Shi’a pilgrimage centre. The archeological ruins of Balkh have national
and international tourism potential, but facilities are lacking and there are few visitors.
i. Fisheries
89. Local people and experts with area experience responded in the negative to inquiries
about fisheries. The PPTA national gender consultant, based on her experience in the area,
believes that subsistence fishing may make a significant contribution to the survival
32
P. 12. Ministry of Public Health. n.d. National Malaria Strategic Plan, 2006–2010. National Malaria and
Leishmaniasis Control Programme, General Directorate of Primary Health Care and Preventive Medicine.
Available: http://malaria.who.int/docs/complex_emergencies_db/AfghanistanStrategicPlanRBM.pdf
33
E.g. (i) M. K. Faulde, R. Hoffmann, K. M. Fazilat and A. Hoerauf, 2007. Malaria Reemergence in Northern
Afghanistan. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 13(9). Available: http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/13/9/1402.htm and
(ii) M. Faulde, J. Schraderb, G. Heylb and A. Hoeraufc. (2008). High efficacy of integrated preventive measures
against zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in northern Afghanistan, as revealed by Quantified Infection Rates.
Acta Tropica, 110(1). doi:10.1016/j.actatropica.2008.12.005
24
strategies of very poor people in the studied area. The author observed a fisher net-casting
near the Bangala Weir site.
j. Groundwater Exploitation
90. Available information about groundwater exploitation in the studied area is very
limited. In the northern section of the lower Balkh irrigation system, some farmers use
groundwater for irrigation to compensate for the lack of canal water. In these areas, shallow
wells to 10-20m, both animal- and motor-driven, and deep tubewells to >30m have been
installed. Shallow well water is slightly saline. Even some upstream communities with
access to ample canal water use ground water for supplementary irrigation of cotton.
According to the Aqcha Canal mirab bashi, hundreds of illegal pumps are used in his area,
and an attempt to stop the use of illegal pumps with the assistance of armed police resulted
in a fire fight, during which a mirab was seriously wounded. 34 Groundwater is reportedly
used in Mazar town for some urban domestic and industrial supplies.
k. Domestic Water Supply Behaviors

91. In the studied area, domestic water supplies and irrigation water distribution are
linked in several ways. Some communities rely on irrigation canal water and others on
groundwater, the level and quality of which is affected by irrigation water quantity and
quality. Thus how individuals, families, and communities access and manage their domestic
water supplies is relevant to irrigation system management. In particular, there may be
opportunities to safeguard or improve domestic water supplies that can be incorporated at
low cost in system activities.
92. Between 1990 and the early 2000s, the NGO DACAAR installed more than 24,000
wells to provide safe drinking water primarily to rural communities in south, east, and west
Afghanistan. DACAAR commissioned a study to understand unexpected behaviors around
access to water supplies observed during their program. Though DACAAR’s work area did
not include northern Afghanistan, the study findings give an indication of the types of issues
that could be in play. An extended paraphrase from this study is presented in the remainder
of this section. 35
l. Owned Space and Water

93. Land ownership has a substantial impact on how water supply is perceived and used.
Three forms of village land ownership were identified: public, private and tribe or clan.
94. Tribe or clan owned village land is considered to be the joint property of a group of
families from one tribe or clan. The families sometimes compete in claiming temporary land
ownership, and newly installed tubewells can play a part in this process. There is less overt
competition between families for control of private and public land but a family can enhance
their relative social status by providing water to other families from their own private well, or
by paying for the maintenance of a public well.
34
P. 2. SMEC. 2007 (March). Rapid Assessment of Irrigated Area and Cropping Pattern for Six Canal Systems
in Lower Balkh Area. Report of Balkh River Integrated Water Resources Management Project (ADB TA JFPR
9060-AFG).
35
F. Klijn. 2002 (June). Water Supply and Water Collection Patterns in Rural Afghanistan - An Anthropological
Study [executive summary]. Kabul: DACAAR. Available: http://www.dacaar.org/upload/Source/PDf/executive
summary.pdf
25
95. A practice common to all three forms of land ownership is that the wealthy and the
landowners provide water or the means to obtain water to the poor. They regard this as
almsgiving that will be rewarded either in this life or later, ‘at Gods door'. There is also an
expectation of reciprocity. Something given now will be repaid later by a similar item or in
the form of loyalty or service.
m. Gendered Space and Water

96. Village water collection patterns are related to purdah, which in turn is related to
living standard. Following purdah is an ideal. Wealthy families tend to send their men to
collect water when necessary since that is less shameful then sending their women, given
the fact that these families are able to practice purdah. Within poorer families who are
unable to practice purdah, however, the women generally collect water as it is considered
shameful for men to do so. What is considered shameful for men and women depends on
their family social and economic status.
97. Water sources, routes to water sources, and times at the source can all be gender
segregated, governed by shared understandings of when and where men and woman may
collect water. A change in water sources very often disrupts the balance, since it forces men
and women to negotiate new patterns of water collection. New water sources can be
assigned as 'women's places' if they meets the requirements for public seclusion.
n. External Influence and Interventions

98. Exposure to life outside rural Afghanistan as an internally displaced person or
refugee and the trend in some areas to follow purdah more strictly can affect village water
collection patterns and well site preferences. Another influence has been aid agencies’
involvement of a broader section of the community in discussions of well siting. Formerly
these discussions were dominated by the more well-off, who have the resources to follow
stricter purdah and in turn a preference for wells on private land. Now, the issue of whether
a well site is appropriate for women to use has become something that is discussed and
debated.
99. The drought in Afghanistan during the past three years [1999-2002] has had both
direct and indirect impacts on drinking water supply. Wells have run dry and community-
based maintenance has also been affected. Traditionally wealthy families paid the
maintenance costs of public wells; but they became less inclined to do so during the drought
when funds were tight. Another factor has been that wealthy families increasingly have their
own private wells, meaning that they are not affected by public well breakdowns, which
reduces the motivation to pay public well maintenance costs.
o. Livestock Watering
100. Livestock provides income to about a quarter of rural households in Balkh and
Jawzjan Provinces. In Afghanistan generally, women are responsible for most livestock-
related work at the homestead, while children and to a lesser degree men handle livestock
tasks outside the home compound. Of respondents in Balkh, 65 per cent said that women
were responsible for cattle feeding and watering, and 24 per cent that women were
responsible for grazing cattle. Women overwhelmingly select cattle as their most important
species, with milk production for sale the most important development activity. In turn, of
26
Balkh women cattle owners, 8 per cent said that better water access was the improvement
they most desired in cattle production conditions. 36
p. Current Traditional Resource Use by Indigenous Peoples

101. In the studied area, a vulnerable group that meets some of ADB’s criteria for
indigenousness is the kuchi (nomad pastoralist) people (Table 3). 37 The MRRD provincial
profiles provide disaggregated statistics that indicate very low literacy levels and low school
attendance for kuchi compared to the general population. In 2005 in Jawzjan Province,
there were some kuchi living in Internally Displaced Persons camps. Nationally, kuchi are
estimated to have accounted for over 70 per cent of Afghanistan’s IDPs. 38 A 2005 USAID-
sponsored conference on pastoralists was attended by 24 kuchi representatives including
two from a Balkh shura, one of which was the only woman attendee (judging from attendees’
first names). A water-related opportunity identified at this conference of possible relevance
to the studied area was to assess the potential of establishing salt-tolerant fodder shrubs in
areas where (somewhat saline) drainage water from irrigation systems accumulates, to
improve winter livestock feeding. 39
q. Culturally and Socially Significant Sites

102. The studied area has a long rich history of human occupation (see Section III.B), and
is correspondingly well-endowed with valued sites. The 1982 Archaeological Gazetteer of
Afghanistan by Warwick Ball remains the best published site list. Active field research in the
area is ongoing. The French archeological mission in Afghanistan (DAFA) has a site office
in Mazar-i-Sharif.
103. The possibility of encountering archeological materials during construction of

irrigation infrastructure cannot be ruled out. One known site, Pul-i Imambukri, is located on
the banks of the Balkh, 14 km south of Balkh town (Figure 13).
7. Lower Balkh Irrigation System

a. Overview
104. The lower Balkh irrigation system, as seen in plan view (e.g. in the natural-color
LandSat mosaic, Figure 7), consists of (i) a larger fan-shaped area below Nahre Shahi,
mostly on the right-hand side of the Balkh, with Mazar at its eastern edge and Balkh town
near its center, and (ii) a smaller separate fan-shaped lobe around and below Aqcha town.
In simplified schematic view (Figure 14), the major features of the system are the Balkh
River, the eleven main (primary) canals coming off the Balkh River, and two existing
permanent canal headworks/river diversion structures (weirs).
36
Tables 33-35 and Table 87. Food and Agriculture Organization. 2006. National Livestock Census 2002-3 -
Final Report. Available: ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/i0034e/i0034E00.pdf
37
“…[D]eveloping a single, specific definition or identification for indigenous peoples would be difficult” (Para. 7.
ADB. 1998. The Bank’s Policy on Indigenous Peoples. Available: http://www.adb.org/Documents/Policies/
Indigenous_Peoples/ADB-1998-Policy-on-IP.pdf). The concern is for “those with a social or cultural identity
distinct from the dominant or mainstream society, which makes them vulnerable to being disadvantaged in the
processes of development,” while “differentiat[ing] between indigenous peoples and other cultural and ethnic
minorities” whose needs are addressed by other Bank policies and practices (para. 12).
38
Minority Rights Group International. 2008. World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples - Afghanistan:
Kuchis. UNHCR. Available: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/49749d698.html
39
Day 2, presentation 3. USAID. 2005. Report on the Conference on Pastoralists (Kuchi). Kabul, 15-17
November.
27
b. Existing Weirs
105. The two existing weirs serve seven of the 11 primary canals having rights to 50 per
cent of river flow over a gross command area of ~400,000 ha:
(i) Nahre Shahi Weir – The more upstream of the two existing weirs, Nahre
Shahi was built in 1991 by a joint Afghan/Russian team. It serves three of the
four upper canals, (a) Nahre Shahi Canal directly and (b) Balkh and
(c) Siahgerd canals indirectly through division structures and connecting
works recently constructed by EIRRP-TIC. These three canals have rights to
~15 per cent of river flow over a gross command area of ~63,000 ha.
(ii) Samarkandian Weir – Built in 2006 under EIRRP-TIC with additional USAID
funding, it was commissioned in 2008, after the construction of river closure
works and connecting canals with ADB funding. 40 Samarkandian serves the
four middle canals – Mushtaq, Abdullah, Dawlatabad, and Chimtal. These
four canals have rights to ~35 per cent of river flow over a gross command
area of 130,000. 41
c. Traditional Diversion Structures

106. Traditional diversion structures control flow to the uppermost canal, Imam Sahib
Canal (~4 per cent of river flow over a gross command area of ~15,000), the two lower
canals, Charbolac and Faizabad (~26 per cent and ~88,000 ha gross command area), and
the tail end of the system, Aqcha canal and its four downstream branches (Mardiyan, Aqcha,
Mingajik and Khanaqa), with ~21 per cent of river flow and ~108,000 ha gross command
area. 42
d. Secondary Canals
107. Each secondary canal has four sections as defined by their operation and
maintenance (O&M) requirements:
(i) For canals still having a traditional manjee (diversion spur in river bed) –
transition from the main canal to the secondary canal, located along the river
and prone to flood damage;
(ii) Intake – between the primary canal offtake and the first secondary canal
offtake, running parallel to the river for 2-4 km; prone to erosion due to the
high flow velocity;
(iii) Midway – starts where the water level reaches field level and the channel
turns away from the river following the natural slope of the land; no
sedimentation due to high flow velocity; and
40
So recently, that in April 2009 the operator on site was not (yet?) logging water levels or changes in gate
positions, and stated that gates were adjusted every ~10 days; the approach to a sediment sluice was nearly
blocked with sediment.
41
Despite the involvement of USAID and ADB, there was no environmental assessment of Samarkandian Weir.
42
Section 2.8.1. SMEC. 2008 (March). Balkh River Basin Management Plan. Report of Balkh River Integrated
Water Resources Management Project (ADB TA JFPR 9060-AFG).
28
(iv) Sedimentation – tail reach where sedimentation becomes a problem due to

reduced gradient.
108. The lower Balkh system has about 450 bifurcation points where flow is either split or
taken off into secondary canals or smaller field channels (jui) through small hydraulic
structures, of which slightly more than half are made of brick or rubble (limestone) masonry
with plaster walls; the rest are made of stone and earth. The water division element of these
structures is always a fixed non-gated opening; slots for stop logs are provided but rarely
used. Under-scouring, overtopping, and flow bypassing have caused damage to many
permanent structures on the canals.
e. Upstream Use: Sholgara system

109. The significance of the Sholgara system in the context of this study is as a water user
upstream of the lower Balkh system. In general, Sholgara withdrawals are in excess of its
water rights (paikal), and this is sometimes seen as the predominant cause of lower Balkh
water shortages. Relative to the lower Balkh system, however, the Sholgara system is quite
small (~7000 ha net irrigated area or ~7 per cent of the combined Sholgara + lower Balkh
irrigated areas), and Sholgara average water usage is in proportion to its area (less than ~10
per cent of river discharge).
110. The perception of high average usage in Sholgara may arise from generalizing
observations of high instantaneous usage during short periods of high water-stress, when
Sholgara can withdraw as much as ~30 per cent of river flow (for example during the rare
combination of (i) a 1 in 5 dry year, (ii) strong, hot low-humidity winds, occurring during (iii)
late July-early August peak crop water demand). In reality, quantitative water shortages in
the lower Balkh system are driven predominantly by misallocations and inefficiencies within
the lower system itself.
f. Rotational Irrigation
111. In systems such as the lower Balkh, in which there is cultivable land in excess of the
available irrigation water, some or all farm land is cropped in interannual rotation to maintain
land fertility. Land in rotation is called zamin-i paikali. In the lower Balkh, a fraction (8 to 21
per cent) of the nearly 380,000 ha with paikal rights is cultivated in a given year: perhaps
32,000 ha in a dry year, 64,000 ha in a normal year, and 80,000 ha in a wet year. 43 With the
introduction of fertilizers (eliminating the need for fallowing to sustain fertility) and the control
of water by local commanders, zamin-i paikali has shifted toward the tail end of canals. 44
g. Operation, Maintenance, and Water Management

112. Traditional operation, maintenance, and water management on the lower Balkh has
several distinctive features:
(i) First, traditional water diversion is by means of proportional division

structures. These structures divide the flow in quasi-constant proportion
43
P. 7. SMEC. 2007 (March). Rapid Assessment of Irrigated Area and Cropping Pattern for Six Canal Systems
in Lower Balkh Area. Report of Balkh River Integrated Water Resources Management Project (ADB TA JFPR
9060-AFG).
44
R. Fevre and G. M. Kamal. 2004 (January). Watershed Atlas of Afghanistan. First Edition - Working Document
for Planners. Available: http://www.krbp.net/eng_reports/Watershed%20Atlas_Part%20I_II.pdf
29
regardless of variations in flow rate. Elegantly, the flow division is

proportional to the relative width of the slots, readily visible to everyone in the
community. A structure with, for example, three slots, the first 50 cm wide,
the second 100 cm wide, and the third 150 cm wide, divides the flow into one-
sixth, one-third, and one-half proportions. The disadvantage of these
structures is the lack of (flood) control: they cannot be closed.
(ii) Second, proportional flow division is complemented at tertiary and farm levels
by time rotation among blocks and individual fields.
(iii) Third, the structures are built with local labor from (mostly) locally available
materials, and as such, are vulnerable to washing out during peak flows; and
once washed out, may not be repairable until the next low season. Repairing
the largest structures, the sarabands that divert water from the river into the
primary canals, is a major undertaking that can involve mobilizing a large
number of laborers over a prolonged period.
(iv) Fourth, water bailiffs (mirabs) selected by irrigators have key roles in
operation, maintenance, repair, and water management, with mirabs’
responsibilities and authority varying among and within systems, and with the
season and degree of water scarcity.
113. A number of recent research studies have focused on traditional irrigation and water
management in Afghanistan. A full review of this literature was beyond the scope of this
study. 45
45
These studies include:
(i) J. L. Lee. 2006 (May). Water Management, Livestock and the Opium Economy - Social Water
Management. Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit. Available:
http://www.areu.org.af/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=365&Itemid=
26
(ii) J. L. Lee. 2007 (May). Water Management, Livestock and the Opium Economy - The
Performance of Community Water Management Systems. Afghanistan Research and
Evaluation Unit. Available:
http://www.areu.org.af/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=506&Itemid=
26
(iii) A. Pain. 2006 (June). Water Management, Livestock, and the Opium Economy - Opium Poppy
Cultivation in Kunduz and Balkh. Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit. Available:
http://www.areu.org.af/index.php?option=com_docman&Itemid=&task=doc_download&gid=364
(iv) A. Pain. 2008 (December). Water Management, Livestock and the Opium Economy - “Let
Them Eat Promises”: Closing the Opium Poppy Fields in Balkh and its Consequences.
Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit. Available:
http://www.areu.org.af/index.php?option=com_docman&Itemid=26&task=doc_download&gid=6
19
(v) U. Shah. 2006 (November). Livelihoods in the Asqalan and Sufi-Qarayateem Canal Irrigation
Systems in the Kunduz River Basin. Available:
http://131.220.109.9/fileadmin/webfiles/downloads/projects/amudarya/publications/ZEF_Workin
g_Paper_Amu_Darya_Series_29.pdf
(vi) B. Ter Steege. 2006 (November). Infrastructure and Water Distribution in the Asqalan and Sufi-
Qarayateem Canal Irrigation Systems in the Kunduz River Basin. Publications of the ZEF-
Project 'Social Management of Water in Afghanistan.'. Available:
http://131.220.109.9/fileadmin/webfiles/downloads/projects/amudarya/publications/ZEF_Workin
g_Paper_Amu_Darya_Series_30.pdf
(vii) K. Wegerich. 2009 (April). Water Strategy Meets Local Reality. Afghanistan Research and
Evaluation Unit.
30
114. A salient feature of the lower Balkh system is the discrepancy between de jure
allocation of irrigation water and de facto water distribution. Figure 15 shows (i) the
authorized water share, (ii) actual intake width (i.e. proportion of flow diverted), and
(iii) excess/deficit of withdrawal compared to authorized share, for each of the eleven
primary canals, during one 48-hour period in December 2003. Two distinct parameters are
documented here, one socioeconomic (authorized water shares), and one physical
(withdrawal flows).
115. In much of the documentation on the lower Balkh system, the overwithdrawal /
undersupply situation is portrayed as basically linear: of monotonically increasing irrigation
water deficits going down the system from one primary canal to the next. This was not the
case during the December 2003 observations. Mushtaq and Chimtal, canals 5 and 6, were
overwithdrawing the most; Charbolac, canal 9, was taking (or receiving) close to its proper
allocation. Six canals (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7) were over-withdrawing significantly and in similar
magnitude. Three canals (8, 10, and 11) were in significant deficit, with Aqcha in extreme
deficit. Two canals (3 and 9) were withdrawing close to their allocations. It is unknown how
well this snapshot conforms to average withdrawal and excess/deficit patterns, within a
single crop season or for a crop season over a series of years. The variability of patterns
between seasons and years is also unknown.
h. Agriculture
116. Cropping patterns. Table 4 shows the winter/spring and summer/autumn cropping
patterns for (i) the head canal (canal 1, Imam/Emam) and (ii) a tail canal (canal 10,
Faizabad). Notably, for these two canals, the proportion of land cropped varies along each
canal as much or more as it does between canals at the same relative location down-canal.
The implication is that water distribution cannot be ameliorated simply by equalizing
deliveries from the headworks; water distribution along each canal accounts for as much or
more of the variability in proportion of land cropped and must also be addressed.
117. Northern agriculture in 2004. A 2004 Food and Agriculture Organization / World
Food Program (FAO/WFP) assessment gives an impression of some of the challenges
facing farmers in the northern irrigated oases, including the lower Balkh. The low price
farmers received for 2003 wheat discouraged them from replanting in 2004 the record high
areas of 2003. Heavy rains during the October-December planting season delayed rainfed
and irrigated cereal planting by almost a month. Air temperatures were high during early
spring and summer, increasing crop demand for water and causing early snow-melt.
Irrigation water was rather limited during early summer when crop demand for water was
highest due to a combination of crop growth stage and unusually high temperatures.
Irrigation water was unequally distributed and many farmers with traditional rights to
irrigation water received little or none. Rainfall was below annual average, erratic, and un-
seasonal, significantly lowering yields. A number of international organizations had
previously distributed untested and inappropriate wheat seeds to farmers with unfortunate
results. Mineral fertilizers and agro-chemicals had been generally diluted with significantly
reduced nutrient content. Farmers were therefore reluctant to use newly introduced
improved varieties requiring mineral fertilizers. Finally, more than 60 per cent of the wheat
31
crop in much of the North, including some districts of Balkh, was damaged by sunn pest; this
was the single main cause of crop failure. 46
i. Other Water Users and Wastewater Discharges

118. Other water users include rice and flour mills; microhydro power generators; and
rural and urban domestic users. Irrigation drainage and rural / urban domestic wastewater
are discharged untreated to surface water courses.
G. C2 Nangarhar Valley Development Authority Improvement Baseline

Environment
1. Studied Area
119. The studied area for this IEE consists of:
• Current and potential irrigation command area of the NVDA system, including
urbanized areas located on formerly irrigated land;
• Downstream areas that could receive potential Component impacts;
• Areas with or served by aquifers that could receive potential Component impacts;
and
• Upstream areas that could be potential sources of EOP impacts
120. These areas have been characterized using available data for (i) Nangarhar
Province, (ii) the districts of Nangarhar Province that are partially or wholly within the
irrigation command area, and (iii) the Kabul River Basin. 47
121. The (post-2003/4) districts that are partially or wholly within the current or potential
command area of the irrigation scheme are (Figure 16):
• Bati Kot (NVDA Farms 2 & 3); capital Nader Shah Kot
• Chaparhar (Farm 1?); capital Chapahar
• Jalalabad (Farm 1); capital Jalalabad
• Muhmand Dara (Farm 4); capital Muhmand Dara
• Rodat (Farm 1 & Farm 2); capital Shahi Kot (Sarshahi Kot)
• Shinwar (Farm 3 & 4) ; capital Shinwar
• Surkh Rod (Farm 1); capital Sultanpur Surkh Rod Dand
46
A. Arya and S. Ronchini. 2004 (September). Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission to Afghanistan,
FAO/WFP Special Report. Available: http://documents.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/ena/wfp039134
.pdf
47
Kabul River Basin is the catchment of the Kabul River. Kabul Basin is the geologic unit within which Kabul City
is located. Jalalabad Basin is the geologic unit within which Jalalabad City, and the Nangarhar Valley, are
located.
32
a. Atmosphere
122. Climate is continental with cold winters and hot summers. Mean daily temperatures
at Jalalabad range from a minimum of 8 C in January to a maximum of 40 C in July. Mean
monthly temperature is 21 C. Mean monthly precipitation varies from 5-6 mm in summer to
30-40 mm in spring. Annual precipitation is in the range 200-400 mm. The area is subject to
dust storms, particularly in the summer months. Outside of urban areas, ambient air
pollution levels are considered to be relatively low due to the low level of industrialization.
b. Topography and Soils

123. NVDA is located along a broad valley south of the Kabul River at elevations <1000 m
(Figure 17). Soils adjacent to the Kabul River are Calceralifs with Xerochrepts; farther away
from the river soils are Xerochrepts with Xerothents (Figure 18).
c. Land Cover
124. A thematic land cover map is shown in Figure 19. The pattern is fairly complex.
Overall, rock outcrop and bare soil (orange) predominate. Near Jalalabad City, a block of
gardens (purple) almost encircles the settlement areas (yellow dot and gray). South of these
garden areas is a small block of rangeland (grassland, forbs, low shrubs; pink). Double-
cropped intensive ground- or surfacewater irrigated agriculture (light green) extends from
Behsud west to the provincial border; it is also seen downstream of Jalalabad on the south
bank of the Kabul as well as along hill streams. Single-cropped intensive ground- or
surfacewater irrigated agriculture (lighter brown) and intermittently irrigated agriculture
(darker brown) are found intermixed along both sides of the Kabul River, as well as in small
patches along upland hill streams. Fruit trees (red) are shown south of the river.
d. Surface Water
125. The main surface water feature of the studied area is the Kabul River. The Kabul
River originates in the central Hindu Kush west of Kabul city, and has a drainage area of
54,000 km2, all of it within Afghanistan. It flows eastward through Kabul to Jalalabad,
eventually joining the Indus River east of Peshawar. Its mean annual discharge as it enters
Nangarhar Province is 21,650Mm3, representing 26 per cent of total national river discharge.
Its largest tributary is the Kunar (15,250Mm3 annual discharge). Its smaller tributaries are
the Logar, Panjsher, and Laghman-Alingar; most are perennial with spring season peak
flows fed by snowmelt from the central and Hindu Kush. Kabul River is the only Afghanistan
river within a river system (Indus) that reaches an ocean (the Indian Ocean).
126. Darunta Reservoir is located above Darunta Dam on the Kabul River.
127. No surfacewater quality data was located for the studied area.
e. Groundwater
128. Unconsolidated to semi-consolidated Quaternary and Neocene Age sediments
comprise the most prolific and developed aquifer systems in the Kabul Basin. The
Quaternary deposits consist of unconsolidated conglomerates, pebbles, sand, clays and silt
up to +/- 50m in thickness. The Neocene deposits consist of unconsolidated to semi-
indurated sediments up to +/- 400m in thickness. The Kabul River Basin as four principal
33
Quaternary and Neocene aquifer systems in the Kabul River Basin, including the Jalalabad
Basin and Kabul Basin aquifer systems; the total area extent of the four systems is in the
order of 8,400 km2. Consolidated bedrock units consisting principally of crystalline and
igneous rocks and some sedimentary rocks such as sandstones, siltstones, conglomerates,
and limestones are also present but largely unexplored. 48
129. A national groundwater quality database exists, recently transferred from the Danish
NOG DACAAR to the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, but the responsible
person at MRRD was not available during the brief duration of this study.
f. Geology/Seismology
130. Figure 20 shows the earthquake history of the area. Nangarhar Province is a
relatively quiet area in the Afghanistan context. Since 2000BC, about a dozen earthquakes
of Richter magnitude < 5 and one of magnitude between 5 and 7 have been recorded.
a. Fisheries and Aquatic Biology
131. Fisheries activities in rivers and streams of Afghanistan are very limited, and
information on the number of fishermen, fish species captured, yields and total catch does
not exist. In particular, the extent of the national subsistence fishery is unknown. Fisheries
contribute little to the national economy and historically have not received the same attention
as other animal resources. This may now be changing somewhat with the promotion of
aquaculture as a livelihood alternative to opium production.
132. At one time, Darunta Reservoir was stocked with carp. A warmwater fish farm near
Darunta reservoir was completed in 1966 with the assistance of China who continued to
provide technical assistance until 1972. This farm produced fingerlings of four carp species
(grass, silver, common, and bighead) that were stocked into the reservoir, resulting in the
production of 144.2 tonnes of fish over the six years from 1967 to 1973, with 30 t captured in
1973 by 41 fishermen. 49,50 Currently, none of the wild fish of the area are considered to be of
biological or economic significance.
b. Wildlife and Forests

133. Forests occur on the uplands of Nangarhar Province, though these are being rapidly
destroyed through uncontrolled cutting. Lowland areas of the province lack natural forest.
Olive groves and orchards are found.
c. Rare or Endangered Species

134. Not known.
48
P. 18. V. W. Uhl and M. Q. Tahiri. 2003. Afghanistan - An Overview of Groundwater Resources and
Challenges. Available: http://www.vuawater.com/vuasite/Afghanistan_GW_Study.pdf
49
T. Petr. 1999. Coldwater Fish and Fisheries in Afghanistan. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper No. 385. Available:
http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/X2614E/x2614e00.htm
50
H. J. Saberi. 1997. Fish in Afghanistan. In: Fish, Food from the Waters. Ed.: Harlan Walker. Proceedings of
The Oxford Symposium on Food, Cookery and Food History. Available: http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/lane/
kal69/shop/pages/890frame.htm
34
d. Protected Areas
protected areas. There are none in the component study area. The nearest is in Nuristan
approx. 150-200km away (See Figure 27).
4. Economic Development
a. Overview: Provincial Profile
136. A comprehensive overview of provincial demographic and development indicators is
presented in the Provincial Profiles published in 2007 by the National Area-Based
Development Programme of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development. Relevant
extracts from the Nangarhar profile is presented in Table 5.
137. Information is presented on ethnic groups and kuchi (nomads); water supply and
sanitation; electricity; transport; telecommunications; household income sources (agriculture,
trade and services, non-farm labor; livestock; cooperatives; small industries; handicrafts;
loans); agriculture (industrial, field, and garden crops; fertilizer use; access to irrigated and
rain-fed land; livestock and poultry); education and literacy; health; food and nutrition;
household perceptions of economic trends and shocks; and security.
138. The remainder of this section and the next presents information that complements
this overview.
b. Groundwater Exploitation
139. Groundwater use is mostly for irrigation purposes in Afghanistan. Municipal and
village usage, although primarily from groundwater, comprises a much smaller percentage.
Kabul River Basin is typical in this regard, with irrigation groundwater use estimated to be
450Mm3 yr-1, and domestic water use by the approximately 5 million basin population in the
range of 20 to 40Mm3 yr-1 or about 5 to 10 per cent of irrigation use. Nangarhar Province is
among the top ten Afghanistan provinces for groundwater irrigated area, with 13,800 ha or
33 per cent of total irrigated area served by groundwater, corresponding to an irrigation
water usage of about 100Mm3 yr-1 (p. 15, footnote 48).
c. Cities & Towns

140. Jalalabad is one of the larger urban centers of Afghanistan. The other urban areas
within the studied area are the various district towns.
d. Industries
141. There are no major industries in the Jalalabad area.
e. Infrastructure Facilities
(i) Urban Sewage Disposal
142. There are no sewage treatment facilities in Jalalabad city. Small private sewage
systems exist in which sewage is piped to septic or holding tanks which are meant to leach
or percolate into the ground or be pumped out for disposal. Leach fields in porous soils and
at high densities have the potential to pollute groundwater and make it unsuitable for
domestic use.
35
143. Some areas of Jalalabad city used to be agricultural land irrigated from the NVDA
system. In these areas, unlined irrigation and drainage ditches still exist and carry water,
saturating the soil, raising the water table, and causing sewage tanks to overflow. These
urbanized areas could be dried out by cutting the flow of water into the old irrigation
channels, or, if the channels are still needed to convey irrigation water to further outlying
areas, by lining, covering, or replacing them with pipes. Remaining irrigation drainage
ditches including the Nahre Shahi Canal could be cleaned to improve drainage
conveyance. 51
(ii) Urban Solid Waste Disposal

144. In 2005, City officials identified solid waste and trash removal as one of their most
frustrating and time-consuming tasks. Solid waste includes a range of material, from paper
and plastic packaging to discarded vegetables, feathers, and offal from slaughtered animals.
Livestock slaughter is supposed to be regulated and confined to certain areas, but in
practice it occurs in many parts of the City. Market areas have the most activity and the
most discarded trash. Typically trash is swept or thrown into roadside drainage ditches.
These ditches carry a mixture of excess irrigation water and raw sewage. Urban areas that
were formerly irrigated cropland have heavy flows; areas that were never irrigated usually
have very low flow volumes. If the liquid flow in the ditches is strong enough, trash is moved
downstream until it plugs up the ditch which then overflows. Most ditches fill with trash once
or twice per week and must be emptied. In some areas, sanitation crews rarely clean the
ditches or are unable to access them, so they remain for weeks as stagnant, garbage-filled
pools, full of breeding insects. When ditches are cleaned, water- and sewage-logged
materials are hand-shoveled out into piles or windrows, left to dry for a few days, and then
hand-shoveled onto small dump trucks, if trucks and crews are available. If not, waste is left
on the edge of the street. Many piles are permanent features that are never completely
removed. Once solid waste is on a truck, it is transported to the future Abdul Haq Park, a
wetland in the floodplain alongside the Kabul River that is being filled.
(iii) Urban Domestic Water Supply

145. The City of Jalalabad gets its drinking water from three sources. The oldest system
is supplied by two ancient kariz, tunnels that follow the water table as it rises along alluvial
fans coming out of mountain valleys to the south. These tunnels act as man-made springs
to bring clean water underground directly from the mountains. This water source is
adversely affected during periods of drought.
146. A second Soviet-era system is supplied by four ground water deep tubewells
withdrawing water from 63 to 110 m below ground level in the area just north of the unlined
main NVDA irrigation supply canal which is located on higher ground just south of the
Soviet-mapped city. The original purpose of these wells was to pump out seepage from the
NVDA canal that would otherwise cause waterlogging; excess pumped water flowed into the
irrigation drainage system. Now these wells are used as supplementary sources of urban
domestic water supply. Thus, the Jalalabad domestic water supply now incorporates well
51
P. 9. C. G. Duvivier. 2005 (July). Jalalabad Urban Planning Needs Assessment. San Diego-Jalalabad Sister
Cities Committee. Available: http://www.stevebrownrotary.com/Afghanistan/SpecialReports/Chuck%20Report
%20 Final%20Sept%2005.pdf
36
withdrawals supplied by an aquifer recharged from a nearby irrigation canal that is not
protected from sewage and other contamination.
147. Finally, Precinct Six has a separate water system based on 13 wells, four of which
were operating in 2005. Three new water storage reservoirs provide gravity flow for 19 km
of distribution pipes.
148. Urban water demand in 2005 was an estimated 4500 m3 day-1 with water supplied on
a rotation system to each area of the city for 2 h day-1. The system had two 1000 m3 tanks
that filled during the nighttime low demand period and were chlorinated manually. Many
private water users have their own storage tanks, typically located on rooftops. Water is
pumped, or flows if there is adequate water pressure, into these tanks and then flows by
gravity into the user’s plumbing, thus, the tank volume represents the total water available to
the user for each day. No fire hydrants exist nor are they feasible due to low pressures and
small distribution pipes. In 1978, Japan funded 28 km of pipes for the distribution system.
The Danish NGO DACAAR provided funds for the two storage tanks and for two additional
distribution piping projects of 4 km and 7 km. In 2004, the World Bank funded 27 km of new
pipes.
f. Rural Domestic Water Supply

149. Some villages receive water from the NVDA canal system (Table 6), which some or
all residents may be using for domestic supply as well as irrigation. Groundwater is also
used for rural domestic supply in some areas.
g. Transportation
150. The road network of the area is shown in Figure 21. The usual assortment of
mechanized vehicles (motorcycles, automobiles, vans, pickup trucks, SUVs, trucks with
locally manufactured bodies, and buses) ply the roads alongside a small number of
traditional carts pulled by donkeys, horses, and mules. Camel caravans are used to
transport agricultural produce and other goods in and out of the rural areas. Nomads (kuchi)
live in and move through the area with their livestock to access grazing areas and water
supplies.
151. The Khyber Pass in eastern Nangarhar Province has been a key transit route
throughout history into Afghanistan for trading caravans, invading armies, and out of
Afghanistan for fleeing refugees. Now hundreds of trucks transit the pass daily bringing
goods from Pakistan. The Khyber is a two or three hours drive east from Jalalabad. Most of
the road is paved.
152. The Jalalabad airport is currently being used as a fortified military airfield,
encroaching and causing congestion on the Jalalabad-Khyber Pass highway. The
construction of a new civilian airport in the Gambiri area northwest of the city is underway
with financial assistance from the United States and completion is expected in 2011.
Successful experiences of South Africa and other countries suggest a potential for air freight
export of fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers to Europe, East Asia, or the United States.
153. Though Afghanistan does not have a railway network, the Pakistan railway
terminates close to the border between the two countries at the (currently unused) Torkham
37
border crossing station. A spur to Jalalabad would almost certainly be technically and
economically feasible, subject to bipartite agreement.
h. Land Use (Dedicated Areas)

154. Jalalabad City had five precincts for many years. In 1993, a sixth precinct, Najim-Ul-
Jihad, was inaugurated outside the irrigated agricultural area for a planned population of
25,000 to 30,000. It included 5200 20 m x 30 m residential lots, all sold by the City at a price
of USD10 each. Planned land use maps show public facilities, flood drainage-ways, parks,
commercial market areas, and residential areas. In 2005, about one third of the community
was built, and the remaining two-thirds were vacant; empty lots were reselling for USD 4000
each. Houses are built within traditional mud-walled compounds, and many family
compounds cover two or three lots.
i. Power Sources and Transmission

155. Jalalabad power is supplied from Darunta dam. Electricity supply is inadequate and
tends to be erratic. Darunta is reported to have a number of problems, including 8MW
power generation down from an original capacity of 15 MW, non-functioning gates, and
significant reservoir siltation (80 per cent reduced capacity).
j. Telecommunications
156. As of 2007, mobile phone service providers AWCC and Roshan together had about
206,000 mobile phone customers in Nangarhar Province, or 30 per cent of the adult
population.
k. Agricultural & Irrigation Development

157. For centuries, thousands of hectares of land have been irrigated in the valley using
simple, locally-designed surface and groundwater systems. In the 1960s, the U.S.S.R.
planned and built a dam-reservoir-irrigation system for hydropower and irrigation, under
NVDA state management. In the context of the Cold War, the Nangarhar scheme was a
model showcase project that attracted significant public investment to show success, and
the Nangarhar region has inherited the resulting infrastructure. Fertile land in the Nangarhar
Valley is on the alluvial plain, but the land provided with pumped irrigation by the Soviet
scheme is above this level and composed of unfertile pebbles deposited by spate flows of
small seasonal streams along the Spin Ghar range. To ameliorate growing conditions, the
Soviets bulldozed the land, trucked fertile soil into the area, and provided pumped irrigation
at huge cost. The productivity of this “invented” land along the canal remains problematic:
energy is required to lift the irrigation water, and the light, stony structure soil means that
water losses are high. The area was mostly planted to olive trees, many of which died
during periods of the conflict decades when pumped irrigation was not available. 52
158. The NVDA system area is presently about 25,000 ha, of which 11,000 ha is in four
farms managed directly by NVDA and about 14,000 ha is rented to private farmers in
Sorkhorod, Behsod, Batikot, Ghani Dara, and Mohamand Dara on a one-year lease basis,
where the main crop is wheat. Development of a planned 6000 ha Farm 5 (Hissar Shahi
52
R. Favre. 2005 (September). Potential Analysis of the Eastern Region and Nangarhar Province - Implications
in Regional Programming. Available: http://www.aizon.org/Nangarhar%20Potential%20Analysis.pdf
38
desert, Dasht-e–Sarshahi) is likely unfeasible, as the area requires pumped irrigation; in any
case, 4000 ha of the planned Farm 5 area is now urbanized.
159. Land use on the four existing NVDA farms includes olive and citrus orchards, annual
crops, dairy cows, and farm buildings. All farms have farm and residential buildings,
infrastructures, and equipment. Farm 1 (Hada) consists of 4106 ha irrigated with a lift of
15 m from the main canal with a capacity of 4 m3 sec-1. Farm 2 (Lacha Por), located east of
Jalalabad city 30 km from Lacha Por, consists of about 2400 ha irrigated by gravity from the
main canal. Farm 3 (Ghazi Abad) consists of 3000 ha irrigated by gravity from the main
canal; before their destruction in 2001, the largest citrus orchards were located here. Farm 4
(Bati Kot) consists of 1600 ha irrigated by gravity by the main canal. Additional details are
provided in Table 7.
160. The NVDA olive orchards occupy over 2000 ha distributed among the four farms.
Though about 700 ha of olive were lost during the conflict decades, the NVDA orchards
remain the largest olive plantation in the region. After 2003, FAO and USAID assisted with
rehabilitation but the details are unknown. Olive trees can be productive for generations,
given their capacity to regenerate continuously. NVDA has its own olive processing factory
which has benefitted from Italian assistance.
161. The main irrigation canal begins at Darunta Dam headworks and passes through
rural areas to Farm 1. Southeast of Farm 1, the main canal runs through the Kohe Sorkh
Dewaar tunnels to Farms 2 through 4. The system has 33 secondary canals. Two pump
stations serve Farm 1. Drainage of non-perennial hill stream flood flows across the main
canal is provided by eight large siphons.
162. Over a 12-month period in 2005-6, the USAID Afghanistan Immediate Needs
Program, Nangarhar, funded subprojects in Nangarhar Province which manually removed
over 1.5 million m3 of silt from 2200 km of 1.5 to 3 m-wide community canals; substantially
completed work on 147.5 km of roads; and built over 350,000 m3 of dikes, flood protection
walls, road culverts, washes, and canal intakes including foundation volumes. Some
proportion of this work was done within the NVDA command area (Figure 22). 53
163. Over a nine month period in 2008-9, the USD2.8 million Grand Canal Repair project,
a partnership of the GOA and the Nangarhar Provincial Rehabilitation Team and
International Security Assistance Forces, repaired irrigation structures on 63 km of NVDA
canals in four districts, including repairs to 850 gates and installation of five new siphons to
improve flow control and double the canal’s irrigation capability. The project is estimated to
have directly benefited more than 60,000 families. 54
164. Since June 2004, the World Bank Emergency Irrigation Rehabilitation Project (EIRP),
with a regional office in Jalalabad, has been undertaking small and medium projects to repair
intakes and provide protection walls and cross drainage structures.
53
P. 9. M. Parker and M. Kline. 2006. Afghanistan Immediate Needs Program, Nangarhar - Final and Fourth
Quarterly Progress Report, October 2005-January 2006. USAID Afghanistan Alternative Livelihoods Contract
Number 306-C-00-05-00513-00. Available: http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PDACH905.pdf
54
USAID and 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. 2008 (March). Nangarhar Regional Development Plan -
"Nangarhar Inc.". Available: www.microlinks.org/multimedia/CivMilmedia/Nangarhar_Inc_Business_Plan.pdf
39
165. Nangarhar Province became poppy-free in 2008 and seems likely to remain so for
2009. 55
l. Mineral Development
166. There is no mineral development in the Nangarhar lowlands.
m. Tourism Facilities
167. Present-day Jalalabad is on the site of the major city of ancient Greco-Bhuddist
Gandhara. In 1570, Jalal-uddin Mohammad Akbar, the grandson of Emperor Babur, the
founder of the Mughal empire of India, began building the city on a site chosen by his
grandfather. Up though the twentieth century until conflict intervened, the city functioned as
a resort town, a pleasant and charming place where people from Kabul spent their holidays
or weekend breaks. During the cold Kabul winters, people enjoyed the mild Jalalabad
climate and different landscape. The city has retained some traces of its glorious past. In
the oldest part of the city near the bazaar are the historical gardens of Saraje-e-Emarat and
Amir Shaheed. In some areas, there are private luxury gardens containing palm trees,
bougainvillea, olive trees, sunflowers, old acacias, and other plants. The people of
Jalalabad continue to meet in the public gardens, near the canal, or along the Kabul River
where children enjoy diving and swimming. 56
5. Social and Cultural Resources

a. Overview: Provincial Profile
168. A good overview of social indicators in the province is provided by the 2007
Nangarhar Provincial Profile published by MRRD’s National Area-Based Development
Programme, summarized here in Table 5. This table presents information on social
resources including: ethnic groups and kuchi (nomads); household income sources
(agriculture, trade and services, non-farm labor; livestock; cooperatives; small industries;
handicrafts; loans); education and literacy; health; food and nutrition; household perceptions
of economic trends and shocks; and security. The remainder of this section and the next
presents information that complements this overview.
b. Population of Studied Area Districts

169. In the absence of village-level population data, the studied area population has been
estimated by totaling the population of the districts partly or wholly within the NVDA irrigation
scheme (Table 8). This gives a 2003-4 studied area population of 520,000, of which
420,000 are rural and 98,000 are urban. The studied area population is 47 per cent of the
total population of Nangarhar province.
c. Urban Population
170. During the conflict years, four to five million Afghans fled their homes. Many of these
refugees settled temporarily in vast camps east of Jalalabad along the road to the Khyber
Pass and further east in Pakistan. Many of these refugees have returned home, leaving
55
P. 8. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. 2009 (January). Afghanistan Opium Winter Assessment.
Available: http://www.unodc.org/documents/crop-monitoring/ORA_report_2009.pdf
56
P. 5-6. R. Mahmoudi. 2006. Jalalabad: A Resort City Of Change. Linking Relief, Rehabilitation and
Development Programme (LRRD) in Afghanistan. Available: http://www.urd.org/fr/activites/recherche/fichiers/
LRRD/Urban/LRRD_Survey_Urban_Jalalabad_RM.pdf
40
their camps empty. A study of returnees living in Nangarhar Province found that most
respondents (63 per cent) returned to the same location in Nangarhar where they lived prior
to moving to Pakistan, but that many of those who did not settled in or near Jalalabad city for
reasons of employment and housing, and in some cases because as refugees they had
become urbanized and lost touch with agricultural life.
171. Partially as a result of this history, by 2006 Jalalabad had grown to over 500,000
people. In 2005, city officials projected population growth to 1.5 million people by 2020,
including additional returnees from Pakistan where an estimated 1.5 million Afghans were
still living in 2005 (p. 3, footnote 51). In 2009, population was estimated to be 780,000, a
doubling over the previous decade, and was expected to increase to over 1 million by 2010.
d. Land Tenure and Rural Livelihoods

172. A description of the national situation with respect to land tenure and its implications
for rural livelihoods is provided in the following paragraphs, in the absence of observations
specific to the studied area. 57
173. In Afghanistan, agrarian land relations have feudal origins and remain complex and
inequitable, as in Pakistan and India. A few large landlords likely still own around 40 per
cent of farmland as was the case in the 1981. Most of the cropped area is farmed by
smallholders, but with great variations in farm size by region. Rent-seeking absentee
landlordism is common in many areas and can be a source of conflict within local
populations.
174. Around one-quarter of the rural population is entirely landless, surviving on off-farm
piecework, farm laboring, sharecropping, or some combination thereof. In some areas over
half of all households are entirely landless. Farm laborers generally receive one-fifth of the
crop as payment and sharecroppers, who tend to have more skills, up to one-third.
175. A large number of rural families are homeless as well as landless, and must depend
upon landlords or relatives for shelter from one generation to the next. The men from these
families form a significant body of mobile farm labor, going from landlord to landlord every
year or two with their only capital asset, a small herd of karakul sheep. Although possibly
numbering in the hundreds of thousands, these poorest of the poor are not considered a
permanent part of (any) community and rarely appear in survey statistics.
176. Indebtedness is very high in the rural population; up to 92 per cent and 57 per cent of
sample populations borrowed cash and wheat respectively in 2002. Many landowners have
their land under a form of mortgage that is to the full advantage of the creditor. These loans
are typically taken up out of desperation, to buy food or cover health or bride price costs, not
to invest in economically productive activities. Outright land sales by smaller farmers
typically soar during droughts and other difficult times. Land purchases tend to be by those
who already own land, suggesting continuing consolidation of holdings. Those who lose
their land find it difficult to re-acquire land and tend to end up in cities as unskilled domestic
57
The text in this section is a lightly edited version (in particular, the many footnotes have been deleted) of
pp. 4-6 of the excellent paper: L. A. Wily. 2004 (April). Putting Rural Land Registration in Perspective: The
Afghanistan Case. Paper presented to Symposium on Land Administration in Post-Conflict Areas, hosted by the
International Federation of Surveyors, 29-30 April, 2004, United Nations, Geneva. Available:
http://www.fig.net/commission7/geneva_2004/papers/lapca_06_alden_wily.pdf
41
or market labor. For the better-off as well as the poor, periodic out-migration in search of
work within and beyond Afghanistan (especially to Iran and Pakistan) is a well-established
routine dating back to the 1960s, and may inflate or confuse figures of refugees and
internally displaced persons (IDPs).
177. Rural society is intensely stratified, and its socio-cultural mores remain largely
effective in perpetuating the status quo. Large and powerful socio-cultural barriers exist
between those referred to as landlords, small farmers, and the landless (neither the rich nor
laborers are referred to as ‘farmers’), and especially between those with and without land.
Farming, an artisan skill and the preserve of tenants and sharecroppers, is considered to be
beyond the homeless and landless mobile laborer, who typically perceives landownership as
not only financially impossible but as getting above his station or ‘not permitted’. Very few of
these mobile laborers were likely among the classified landless who benefited from the
(short-lived) revolutionary land redistributions of 1978-1984.
178. Women are customarily barred from landholding despite religious law recognizing
limited female land inheritance rights. This restriction affects the significant proportion of the
population living in households that are woman-headed, either de facto due to male labor
out-migration or by widows.
e. Health Services Delivery and Surveillance

179. Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS). Health services are provided through
BPHS, a hierarchical network of Health Posts, Basic Health Centers, and Comprehensive
Health Centers, that link in turn to the District and Provincial Hospitals (Figure 12). 58
180. Disease Early Warning System (DEWS). Health surveillance is provided by

participation in the national Diseases Early Warning System. The DEWS approach enables
rapid identification of disease outbreaks that can then be targeted strategically with
measures to prevent contagion and morbidity/mortality, such as vaccination, sanitation,
quarantine, awareness-raising and distribution of low-cost treatments modalities such as oral
rehydration, etc.
181. In particular, DEWS information provides near-real-time incidence statistics on

malaria which is of significant concern in the studied area. There is sound scientific
evidence linking malaria to habitats that can be enhanced or expanded by irrigation system
operation and maintenance activities. 59
f. Development Planning Institutions

182. The Provincial Development Committee (PDC) in Nangarhar province, formed in
August 2006, is supported by UNAMA, other UN agencies, the Provincial Reconstruction
Team, USAID, the US State Department, Development Alternatives International, the
European Community, and GTZ, whose representatives participate in the regular monthly
meetings convened by the Ministry of Economy department. The PDC has established
twelve technical working groups that meet regularly. Nangarhar also has 605 Community
58
P. 12. Ministry of Public Health. n.d. National Malaria Strategic Plan, 2006–2010. National Malaria and
Leishmaniasis Control Programme, General Directorate of Primary Health Care and Preventive Medicine.
Available: http://malaria.who.int/docs/complex_emergencies_db/AfghanistanStrategicPlanRBM.pdf
59
E.g. (i) M. K. Faulde, R. Hoffmann, K. M. Fazilat and A. Hoerauf, 2007. Malaria Reemergence in Northern
Afghanistan. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 13(9). Available: http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/13/9/1402.htm and
42
Development Councils in the province that are active in development planning at the
community and village level.
g. Culturally and Socially Significant Sites

183. The most famous site in Nangarhar, Buddhist Hadda near Jalalabad, was
comprehensively destroyed during the conflict decades as were many other places in this
area. Other sites of international and national significance in the province are located in
upland areas, well away from NVDA irrigated areas. Sites of regional and local cultural and
social significance in the Nangarhar Valley lowlands were not identified by this study.
H. C3 Flood Management Program Baseline Environment
1. Information Sources
184. The baseline environment characterization is based on existing documentation. In
particular, it draws on the reports of predecessor and concurrent projects in the studied area
and the technical studies prepared by John Field, river morphologist, and John Ratsey, river
engineer, both on the PPTA team. 60
2. Location and Study Area Boundaries

185. Component 3 includes three major infrastructure construction subcomponents, funds
for localized emergency erosion prevention works, and nonstructural measures. The
locations of the major works are shown in Figure 4. The IEE studied area is defined to
include the area potentially impacted by the three major works and the localized emergency
erosion prevention works (sites to be defined on an as-needed basis during the
implementation phase); plus areas from which environment-on-project (EOP) impacts may
originate. The studied area consists of:
(i) The active and inactive Pyanj River channels and banks and irrigation canals
at and downstream of the proposed works, on both the Afghanistan and
Tajikistan sides of the Pyanj, from the head of the Hamadoni/Darqad fan to
the downstream end of the Imam Sahib fan ~175 km downstream;
60
Predecessor and concurrent projects include:
• Japanese International Cooperation Agency Study On Natural Disaster Prevention In Pyanj River –
Agreed November 2005 with the Tajikistan Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense, to
formulate a Hamadoni District Flood Management Master Plan
• ADB Loan 2124-TAJ (SF) Strengthening of Embankments along Pyanj River in Hamadoni District -
Funds reallocated from ADB Loan 2124 TAJ Irrigation Rehabilitation Project for immediate remedial
action to prevent further flood damage in Tajikistan during the Jun-Aug 2007 flood season. Loan
approval Oct 2007
• ADB Loan 2356 TAJ Khatlon Province Flood Risk Management Project – $23 million to finish
embankment rehabilitation begun under Loan 2124-TAJ. Loan approval Oct 2007
• ADB Regional Technical Assistance 41601 TAJ/AFG Pyanj River Basin Flood Management Project –
$1.7 million for (a) improvements to the knowledge base for basin planning, development, and
management; (b) flood management (improve Pyanj river flow and flood prediction; identify, screen, and
prioritize Afghanistan-Tajikistan mutually beneficial structural/nonstructural flood management
measures; and strengthen flood warning and emergency response in both countries); and (c) support
establishment of a permanent Afghanistan-Tajikistan steering committee to address issues of mutual
concern in the Pyanj River Basin.
43
(ii) All areas (settled, irrigated, and other land-use) in Afghanistan and Tajikistan
potentially vulnerable to increased or decreased flooding, drainage
congestion, bank erosion, water supply, or other water-related phenomena, in
normal or exceptional hydrologic conditions, with or without failure of existing
or Component infrastructure, in and along the above-described channels and
irrigation canals;
(iii) Upstream catchment areas where potential EOP impacts (sediment,

snowmelt, runoff) conveyed to the Component area originate.
186. The greatest amount of information is available for the Hamadoni/Darqad fan area.
This is where Component 3’s most significant potential adverse impacts, from the proposed
Pyanj embankment and the Yangi Qala headworks, are located. A lesser amount of
information is available for the other parts of the studied area. A conscious attempt was
made to present information in a parallel manner for the Afghanistan and Tajikistan parts of
the studied area. Though WRDIP is a partnership between ADB and Afghanistan,
environmental processes and impacts are not constrained within national territorial limits.
Further, national self-interest dictates due diligence with regard to extraterritorial impacts.
Adverse impacts imposed on a neighboring state may, over time, result in more harm to
national interests than impacts of comparable magnitude within the state’s borders.
a. Atmosphere
187. Air quality. Air quality is good as there is no industry and few vehicles. Seasonal
dust storms occur, especially where vegetation has been cleared.
188. Climate type. The climate is classified as continental to sub-tropical. Winter

temperatures are occasionally as low as -10 C, occasionally rising to temperatures in excess
of 40 C in the summer. Snowmelt in the mountains occurs gradually, taking place from
March at lower elevations through to August in the high mountains.
189. Meteorological data source. Meteorological records from Kulyab for the period
1940-1990 are the best available to characterize area climate. Kulyab (elevation 500 m
above sea level) is located on the relatively low-lying flood plain of the Yakhsu and Kulyab
rivers.
190. Precipitation. Average water year (October to September) precipitation for the
period of record was 564 mm. Annual totals ranged from 300 mm (in 1946) to 913 mm (in
1968). A single long winter wet season occurs from October to May. Average monthly
precipitation climbs steadily through the autumn and winter months to a maximum of
130 mm in March, and then decreases rapidly in April/May. Summer, from June to
September, is normally dry but not always, as the heavy monsoonal rainfall and serious
flooding of July 1999 illustrate. Large inter-annual variations in monthly average
precipitation occur. For instance, March precipitation – on average the wettest month –
varied from 35 mm (in 1947) to 280 mm (in 1987). There is no evidence of any secular trend
in precipitation. On the contrary, the first five and last 40 years of record were wetter than
the intervening 1945-1950 period.
44
191. Temperatures. Average monthly temperatures ranged between -6 C and 33 C.

Maximum daily temperatures ranged between 39 C and 46 C. No long-term trend is evident
in the temperature records. 61
b. Topography, Soils, and Surface Geology

(i) Overview
192. The area described here surrounds the reach of the Pyanj River that begins near the
Yatim Tapa irrigation intake, Darqad District, Takhar Province, Afghanistan, and ends
175 km downstream near the international bridge (Shir Khan Bandar, Imam Sahib District,
Kunduz Province, Afghanistan; Figure 4). With the Pamir River, the Pyanj forms the
international border between Afghanistan and Tajikistan. In many places the Pyanj has
multiple channels that move over time, sometimes by gradual accretion and sometimes by
sudden avulsion. Topography in the studied area is shown in Figures 23 and 24.
193. Within the study area, there are two alluvial fans: Hamadoni/Darqad fan at the
upstream end of the studied river reach and the Imam Sahib fan at its downstream end.
Each fan is located in a depression bounded by bedrock uplands which drains at its
downstream end into a narrow canyon. Hamadoni/Darqad fan is 57 km long and 25 km wide
at the widest point. Close to the bottom of the Hamadoni/Darqad depression, the Kokcha
River, the only significant tributary in the study area, falls into the Pyanj. Immediately below,
the Pyanj enters a confined valley approximately 2 km wide. Downstream 23 km, the valley
opens out into the second depression where the river has formed Imam Sahib fan, 63 km
long and up to 25 km wide in places. The two depressions are likely tectonically controlled,
especially at the downstream constrictions.
(ii) Channel Morphology

194. In the upper portion of both fans, channel morphology is typical of alluvial fans. In
the lower portion, channel morphology is significantly influenced by the downstream
constrictions as is evident in the lower 6 km of Hamadoni/Darqad fan and in the lower half of
Imam Sahib fan. In the latter, an inactive meander belt over 12 km in width can be seen; it
likely formed in backwater conditions during flood events (Figure 24).
(iii) Geomorphic Surfaces

195. Introduction. Several distinct geomorphic surfaces, distinguished by differences in
height, age, and origin, can be identified in the fans. By convention, surfaces are numbered
from topographically lowest and presumed youngest to highest. Each is designated “T” for
terrace (Figure 25 and 26). Imagery and topographic maps dating back to 1959 (the 1960
topographic maps are based on 1959 aerial photography) were analyzed to identify these
surfaces. The University of Nebraska-Omaha also has a 1930s map but were not inspected
during this preliminary study.
196. Active channels, bars, and alluvial fans (T0). Active channels are found on the
upper fans. These are characterized by braided conditions in which multiple channels pass
through shifting sand and gravel bars. Individual bars and channels were not mapped
separately for this study. Downstream, the braided channels transition to single threaded
61
P. G7-8. I. Hogg. 2007 (January). Initial Environmental Examination of the Pyanj River in Hamadoni,
Tajikistan. Report of the Khatlon Flood Management Project, ADB TA 4811-TAJ. Mott MacDonald.
45
meandering channels. On the upper Imam Sahib fan, flow passes through a single braided
channel network.
197. Darqad channel networks (T0a, T0b, T0c). During flood events on the upper
Darqad fan, flow is distributed in three separate braided channel networks. At times each of
these three channel networks has been the predominant flow path, with the switching having
a timescale of a few years to a decade or so. Currently, the middle channel (T0a) conveys
the greatest proportion of flow; the northwest channel (T0b) conveys a smaller proportion;
and the channel on the southeastern fan margin (T0c) is abandoned. Darqad Island is
between the northern (T0b) and central channel systems (T0c).
198. Darqad southeastern Yangi Qala channel network (T0c). As determined from
satellite imagery and topographic maps, this currently abandoned channel system was the
primary channel between 1959 and 1975 at least; in confirmation, local residents recount
severe flood damage in 1974 to parts of Yangi Qala town adjacent to T0c. T0c was then
abandoned sometime before 1984. Currently this abandoned system retains much channel
morphology, with banks and bars still visible despite some re-vegetation. At the fan head it
is dry for most of the year. Farther downstream, it conveys minimal flow deriving from
irrigation drainage canals and tributary inputs.
199. Darqad northwestern channel network (T0b). Starting in 1975, this system
handled an increasing proportion of flow, which tended to follow the Tajikistan
embankments. Satellite images during this period suggest that at the same time as these
embankments progressively deteriorated from lack of maintenance after the end of the
Soviet era and during the Tajikistan civil war, the river was shifting laterally northward and
attacking and destroying significant embankment sections. In satellite images from the
years immediately preceding the 2005 flood, various river channels are seen flowing along
and over significant sections of the old embankment alignment, suggesting that in these
areas the embankment had been completely washed away. After the post-2005
embankment repairs, spurs were added in an attempt to deflect flow away from the
embankment. This may have worked, in effect, a little too well and influenced flow to shift
from the northwest channel system (T0b) to the middle channel network (T0a) such that T0z
became and remains the most active.
200. Darqad middle channel network (T0a). Currently the most active system is T0a,
which has conveyed significant flow since at least 1959. Recently it seems to have been
widening in response to recent increases in discharge. The 2005 flood widened the
upstream end of the T0a system by several hundreds of meters, creating a series of
meander loops along the channel margin. At low discharges, some meander loops continue
to convey flow while others are dry. At high discharges, all meander loops are active and
continue to erode their banks, causing the loss of adjacent agricultural fields. Over time as
the channel system adjusts to the increased discharge, the rate of widening and bank
erosion should decrease overall, but localized widening and erosion will continue as
individual braids migrate to different locations along the channel margins.
201. Small tributary alluvial fans (T0af). These are found at the margins of the Darqad
and Imam Sahib fans where tributaries fall into the Pyanj.
46
(iv) Active Floodplain (T1)

202. Much of the Hamadoni/Darqad and Imam Sahib fan areas is low relief floodplain that
is frequently inundated during floods (T1). Floodplain elevation above the channels is
generally low, especially at the head of Darqad fan where extensive gravelly floodplain
surfaces (T1g) are less than 1m above the low flow channel. Surface relief elsewhere is
generally 1m or less but locally can be up to 3m. Accretion of fine sediments on top of sand
and gravel bars, a process enhanced by vegetation-induced sediment trapping on the bars,
contributes to the development of floodplain surfaces.
203. Over 100 years ago these floodplain surfaces would have been heavily forested;
today only remnant forest areas remain. On the Afghan side, much of the floodplain is now
occupied by small irrigated family farm plots. On the Tajik side, much larger irrigated fields
are present (T1p) behind the flood embankments. Flood-protected floodplain areas have
rarely been inundated despite portions of the floodplain surface being lower than the active
channels (T0a, T0b, and T0c).
204. Visible remnant meander scars on floodplain surfaces are lower in relief and younger
in age; these were not mapped separately from the floodplain surfaces. Meander scars in
irrigated fields demonstrate clearly that river channels occupied these areas in the recent
past and that such areas of channel bottomland and bars were transformed rapidly into
irrigated farmlands (T1i). At the Hamadoni/Darqad fan head, importation of significant
amounts of fine sediment from lake deposits in the adjacent hills to improve arability has
likely obscured the underlying gravelly surfaces.
(v) Fan Terraces (T2)

205. Hamadoni/Darqad fan terrace. Small isolated patches of fan terrace (T2) are
scattered across the vast Hamadoni/Darqad alluvial fan, having elevations up to 7m above
the floodplain surface. These patches are probably remnants of what was once a single
continuous surface at a slightly higher level than the modern floodplain surface. Possibly
this terrace was formed by lake deposition during a time when the constriction downstream
of Hamadoni/Darqad fan was blocked creating a shallow lake across the fan area. Fine
sediments below the terrace surface are consistent with lake deposition, but further study
would be needed to confirm or disprove this hypothesis. T2 surfaces are the only areas on
the fan not inundated during floods. The relief between the fan terrace and floodplain
increases downstream: the terrace surface has a higher base level downstream and less
slope than the modern floodplain. Lack of soil development (i.e. no B horizon development
or coloration) on the terrace indicates an age of perhaps only several hundred to a few
thousand years despite the significant relief downstream. At the fan head, the terrace, as
indicated by fine lake sediments, is elevated only 1m above the floodplain, as indicated by
gravel.
206. Imam Sahib channels and fan terrace. At the head of the Imam Sahib fan, the
active channel (T0) is incised about 4m below a former alluvial fan or floodplain surface (T2).
The relief and absence of soil development are similar to that of the Hamadoni/Darqad fan,
but whether the age and origin of the two terrace surfaces are similar is unknown. The
Imam Sahib fan terrace is continuous on both sides of the river, covers nearly the entire
upper half of the fan, and is heavily irrigated on both sides of the river, with major irrigation
intakes on both the Afghan and Tajik sides. The canals nearest the intakes have high banks
47
and the high relief means the surface is flood free. The incised active channel (T0) is a
braided channel network that reaches a width of 3 km approximately 18 km downstream of
the Afghan intake at Sharawan.
(vi) High Lake Terraces (T3)

207. Both fans are bounded by an expansive high lake terrace (T3) that is more than 30 m
above the floodplain. The terrace is extremely flat except for active sand dunes near the
Imam Sahib fan downstream end in Afghanistan. This terrace was the bottom of a lake that
once occupied the area. The fine-grained sediments in thin continuous beds below the
terrace surface indicate lake deposition. The lake probably existed less than 10,000 years
ago based on the lack of soil development beneath the terrace. The terrace surface is
largely barren with limited rain-fed agriculture as it is too high for gravity irrigation.
c. Surface Water
208. The Pyanj River is the source and primary tributary of the Amu Darya River. The
Pyanj catchment area comprises 107,000 km2 of mountainous terrain that extends into a
lowland flood plain of 6500 km2. The Pyanj travels about 1000 km before becoming the Amu
Darya after the confluence of the Vahksh and Pamir rivers. More than 2,400 km long, with a
basin of more than 530,000 km2, the Amu Darya is the largest river in Central Asia. The
Amu Darya has annual flows of about 75 billion cubic meters (Bm3), of which 13-18 Bm3
originates from Afghanistan, with the vast majority of the rest coming from Tajikistan.
209. As it enters the study area from the east, the Pyanj carries a high sediment load,
particularly in the spring and early summer. It has reliable flows round the year and is the
primary source of irrigation water to the studied area. As discussed above, the Pyanj
channel system through the studied reach is unstable and laterally mobile. Frequent (years
or decades) sudden avulsions occur in which the active channel network is abandoned, and
a new network is created, or an old one reoccupied. Lateral river movement away from
irrigation intakes (such as those at Chubek in Tajikistan and Yetim Tapa and Sharawan in
Afghanistan) sometimes seriously restricts irrigation water supplies (p. G-5, footnote 5).
210. The flooding caused by the Pyanj in Afghanistan and Tajikistan is significant. On the
Afghanistan site, few formal flood protection works exist and the river erodes and overspills
its banks regularly, especially during the spring and summer flood season, washing away
settlements, traditional irrigation systems, and irrigated agricultural land. On the Tajikistan
side, the Soviet Union created an extensive system of flood embankments which was put in
place to protect intensive irrigated agriculture, but in the post-Soviet era, these defenses
have deteriorated and Pyanj floods erode and sometimes breach the embankments,
damaging the irrigated agriculture and settlements that have developed behind their
protection. 62
211. In the upstream catchment, Lake Sarez, a reservoir behind a very large natural rock
fall dam with a volume of 17 km3, poses a risk of catastrophic flash flooding along the Pyanj
in the event of dam failure; the risk of such an event is deemed to be extremely low. Risk
62
P. 1. ADB. 2008 (March). Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Republic of Tajikistan: Pyanj River Basin Flood
Management Project. Regional Technical Assistance Report, Project No. 41601.
48
mitigation options are limited. A monitoring and early flood warning system has been put in
place. 63
212. Nitrates, sulfates, and residual pesticides coming from cotton fields of southern
Tajikistan pollute the Pyanj River downstream 64 , but this is not thought to be the case further
upstream where the component interventions are located.
d. Groundwater
213. There are significant reserves of groundwater within the Pyanj basin. The water
quality in this region is reasonably high (Section 3.3, footnote 5).
e. Geology/Seismology
214. According to the Global Seismic Hazard Assessment Programme, Takhar and
Kunduz provinces fall under the highest seismic hazard zone, with an estimated maximum
Peak Ground Acceleration ranging from 0.24g to 0.48g, and seismic probability of more than
7.3M (in Richter Scale). Eleven cases of earthquakes ranging from 4.7 to 7.4 M have
occurred since 1900. According to the United States Geological Survey, one earthquake per
year with a magnitude of 5.0 or higher has been estimated for the studied area. Normally,
these are shallow earthquakes with an epicenter and source depth down to 70 km. Peak
ground accelerations of 3.2 m/s² are probable, with a ten per cent probability of exceedance
in 50 years. Corresponding to this value, seismic loads of minimum 0.30 g would be
experienced by earth and/or artificial structures in the area. 65
a. Landscapes
215. Five main landscapes are present in the studied area:
(i) River areas of open water and gravel banks, with few if any plant species, on
the Hamadoni/Darqad alluvial fan;
(ii) Seasonally-flooded and flood-damaged land within the active river system
covered with gravel, colonized by a low sward of grasses, mosses and
sedges (including Carex pachystylis, Euphrasia turkestanika, Arabis laxa, and
Bromus sp.) sometimes used for cattle grazing;
(iii) Tugai riverine forest vegetation, on the drier parts of the fan;
(iv) Agricultural land on either side of the river; the stony farmland adjacent to the
main rivers is appropriate for vines, fruit trees, and vegetable, especially
onions. Cattle also graze within the taller tugai vegetation (footnote 5,
p. G-11).
(v) Areas occupied by settlements, roads, and other dedicated-use areas.
63
P. Droz and L. Spacic-Gril. 2002. Lake Sarez Risk Mitigation Project: A Global Risk Analysis. International
Association of Hydraulic Engineering and Research (IAHR), St Petersburg. Available: http://lmswww.epfl.ch/
Common_Documents/Amis_LMS+R/Article_P.droz_IAHR-Sarez%20Article2.pdf
64
Tajikistan 2002. State of the Environment Report.
65
P. 4-4. Fitchner Consulting Engineers. 2008 (January). Environmental Impact Assessment Report, Lower
Kokcha Irrigation and Hydropower Project. Emergency Irrigation Rehabilitation Project (EIRP) (Cr 3845-AF).
49
216. Of these, tugai riverine forest vegetation is considered to be nationally and regionally
under threat. 66
b. Tugai Riverine Forest

217. Tugai is an important and characteristic wetland ecosystem type in the dry lands of
central Asia. Along the Amu Darya, it provides habitat to Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra, Wild
Boar Sus scrofa and Bactrian Red Deer Cervus elaphus bactrianus, as well as waterbirds
and birds of prey. Tugai vegetation species recently reported in this area range from tall
grasses, reeds, and herbs such as Erianthus ravennae, Epilobium turkestanika, Imperata
cylindrica, Saccharum spontaneum, Phragmites communis, Arundo donax, and Artemesia
sp. to low trees and scrub including Populus pruinosa, Lonicera parviflora, Eleagnos
angustifolia, Tamarix hispida, Lycium dasystemon and Salix sp. (p. G-9, footnote 5). In
1981, Myricaria spp., Berberis spp., Crataegus spp. and Hippophaea spp. were also
recorded. 67
218. The Hamadoni/Darqad tugai may be one of the most important deltaic wetland
biodiversity repositories in Central Asia. It appears to be the most significant and possibly
the largest surviving tugai wetland system along the Pyanj/Amu between Chubek and
Termez. The next largest tugai area is likely to be Tajikistan’s Tigrovaya Balka Reserve and
Ramsar site on the Vahksh River near its confluence with the Pyanj.
219. Until the Tajikistan embankments were built, tugai covered the northern part of the
fan on the Tajikistan side, including the low-lying area around the north of Sayod Hill and
extending north-west from Turdiev Jamoat. During the crisis years of World War II in the
1940s, major tree clearance in the tugai ecosystem took place all along the Pyanj/Amu
system. In 1950 a deputation went to Moscow seeking funds to convert this area to
agricultural use and soon after Moscovskie (Little Moscow, now Hamadoni) and other
villages were established. In the post-war decades, the tugai recovered naturally, or was
perhaps restored by the Soviet administration. According to local people, the last substantial
riverside tugai was destroyed in 1985 to extend farmland and orchards almost right up to the
river. Tugai destruction during the Tajikistan Civil War of 1991-1992 is also mentioned. In
the 2005 flood, many tugai willows and poplars survived, as these species easily tolerate
regular deep flooding. In June 2006, 1.1 per cent (573 ha) of bush land was thought to
remain in Hamadoni District; likely this area has decreased since then. 68
220. On the Afghanistan side, a 2002 UNEP mission attempted to visit and assess
conditions at the two tugai forest sites recommended in 1981 by the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) for protected area status, Darqad island and the Imam Sahib island
chain (footnote 10). Additional information on these two sites is provided in Section C.4.g,
Protected Areas.
66
World Wildlife Fund. 2001. Central Asian Riparian Woodlands. Available:
http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/ profiles/terrestrial/pa/pa1311_full.html
67
J. A. Sayer and A.P.M. van Der Zon. 1981. National Parks and Wildlife Management Afghanistan - A
Contribution to a Conservation Strategy, Vol. 1 - Text. United Nations Development Programme / Food and
Agriculture Organization FO:DP/AFG/78/007, Technical Report, Vol. 1. Available: ftp://ftp.fao.org/country/
afghanistan/fao_archives_385.pdf
68
Japan International Cooperation Agency and Tajikistan Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense.
2007 (December). The Study On Natural Disaster Prevention In Pyanj River - Supporting Report, Sector 7 Socio-
Environment and Institution.
50
221. The UNEP mission managed to reach the riverbank adjacent to the Imam Sahib
islands, but none of the islands themselves. Officials noted that, prior to the Taliban period
and the drought in the early 2000s, local residents mostly respected restrictions related to
the islands’ status as a hunting reserve, and generally did not engage in prohibited land-use
activities. The UNEP mission was told that in the five years prior to their visit (i.e. 1997-
2002) approximately 300 families settled on Imam Sahib islands after fleeing Taliban rule.
At the time of the UNEP visit, only 100 of these families remained, reportedly engaged in
cutting the forests for fuel wood and clearing land for agriculture.
222. The Imam Sahib island chain was estimated by the local administrator to be 100 km
long with widths varying from 1 to 10 km. From the riverbank, UNEP was able to observe
intact forests of popular, willow and tamarisk. Local residents reported that while some
forests have been cut by the new residents, the overall vegetation cover remained in good
condition. Local administrators reported that Imam Sahib contains populations of wild boar,
fox, hare, Bactrian deer, porcupine, eagle, falcon, and pheasant, but UNEP could not
confirm nor collect supporting evidence such as tracks, dung, feathers, or fur. 69
223. Local residents reported that the Government built some embankments during the
1960s to early 1990s to provide limited flood protection, and the Department of Forestry and
Rangelands managed Darqad District as a wildlife preserve, engaging in conservation efforts
to protect vegetation cover and stabilize dunes. At that time, Darqad is said to have had
tigers, deer, boar, bears, and pheasants. During the three conflict decades that followed,
vegetation clearance and hunting intensified. It is doubtful that many (or any) of the larger
tugai mammals survive (footnote 5, p. G-9).
c. Fisheries
224. The False Shovelnose Sturgeon / Large Amu-dar Shovelnose Sturgeon
Pseudoscaphirhynchus kaufmanni occurs throughout this section of the Pyanj. In addition,
numerous other fish including various species of barbel and pike-asp are resident or migrate
through the river. The Aral salmon Salmo trutta aralensis is now either very scarce or
extinct. Fishing in the river does not appear to be extensively practiced. Other riverine and
farmed fish species include sazan, carp, grass carp, trout, and marinka.
d. Birds
225. Within the agricultural areas, the typical farm birds of Tajikistan and northern
Afghanistan are seen. These include Hoopoe Upupa epops, Common Quail Coturnix
coturnix, Corn Crake Crex crex, Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio, Golden Oriole Oriolus
oriolus, rollers Coracias spp., bee-eaters Merops spp., doves Streptopelia spp., lapwings
Vanellus spp., larks, and most commonly large flocks of Common Myna Acridotheres tristis.
226. On the Hamadoni/Darqad fan, bird life is very rich, notwithstanding the extensive
hunting including duck shooting that takes place on both sides of the border. Considering its
large scale, relative inaccessibility, and range of habitats from gravel spits to dense tugai
vegetation, this is not surprising.
69
United Nations Environment Programme. 2003. Afghanistan Post-Conflict Environmental Assessment. Gland,
Switzerland.
51
227. The fan supports many species of birds that utilize different fan habitats for a variety
of purposes throughout the year:
(i) Specialists of the shingle banks and eroding cliffs - Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucos, Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius, Sand Martin
Riparia riparia, White-Throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus, White Wagtail
Motacilla alba, Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola and large numbers of
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
(ii) Breeding residents of the reed beds and scrub - Osprey Pandion haliaetus,
Harriers, 70 Short-Toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus, Pied Avocet
Recurvirostra avosetta, Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus, White-
Crowned Penduline Tit Remiz coronatus, Common Nightingale Luscinia
megarhynchos, and many species of warbler, and unspecified pheasant,
heron, egret, bittern, ibis, spoonbill, and cormorant.
(iii) Regular winter wildfowl - Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea, Eurasian

Wigeon Anas penelope, Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, Northern Pintail Anas
acuta, Red-Crested Pochard Netta rufina and Marbled Teal Marmaronetta
angustirostris.
(iv) Regular spring and autumn migrants - Caspian Tern Sterna caspia, Black-
shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus, White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla,
Saker Falcon Falco cherrug, Black Stork Ciconia nigra, White Stork Ciconia
ciconia, Bluethroat Luscinia svecica, White-tailed Rubythroat Luscinia
pectoralis, Common Crane Grus grus, Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo,
and a very large variety and number of waders. Satellite tracking of
Demoiselle Crane in 1995 showed passage directly over the site and the area
provides classic habitat for the birds to rest and feed on migration.
228. In March 2007, Alikhon Latifi of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia
identified the following species: Crimson-Winged Finch Rhodopechys sanguine, Great Egret
Ardea alba, Little Egret Egretta garzetta, Grey Heron Ardea cinerea, Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flava, White Wagtail Motacilla alba, Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos, Green
Sandpiper Tringa ochropus, Common Tern Sterna hirundo, Greylag Goose Anser anser,
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, Red-Crested Pochard, Common Pochard Aythya ferina,
Garganey Anas querquedula, Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris, Black Kite Milvus
migrans, Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus, Saker Falcon Falco cherrug, Egyptian Vulture
Neophron percnopterus, Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus, Common Crane Grus grus,
and Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo. In January 2007, raptors and abundant duck
were seen (footnote 5, p. G-10).
e. Other Wildlife
229. Wild Boar Sus scrofa, Fox Vulpes sp., Tolai Hare Lepus tolai, Indian Crested
Porcupine Hystrix Indica, Central Asian Cobra Naja oxiana and toads are thought to be
present. Other possible species include Jungle Cat Felis chaus and Golden Jackal Canis
aureus. Before intensive hunting dominated the Hamadoni alluvial fan, it would have
70
Unknown whether this refers to the Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus, the Northern Harrier/Hen
Harrier Circus cyaneus, or the near-Threatened Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus.
52
supported other larger mammal species including the Bactrian deer Cervus elaphus
bactrianus, also called the Bukhara or Bokhara deer and Bactrian wapiti, a lowland Red
Deer subspecies native to central Asia (footnote 5, p. G-11).
f. Rare or Endangered Species

230. Of the species known or thought to be present (see above), Marbled Teal
Marmaronetta angustirostris is classified as Vulnerable and the False Shovelnose Sturgeon /
Large Amu-dar Shovelnose Sturgeon Pseudoscaphirhynchus kaufmannii is classified as
Endangered. 71
g. Protected Areas
protected areas. GOA is in favor of protecting nine additional sites including Darqad Island
and the Imam Sahib islands, but is not seeking to develop these areas currently due to local
security concerns (Figure 27). 72 Local people reported to UNEP that both Imam Sahib and
Darqad were declared as Royal Hunting Reserves in the 1900s with restrictions placed on
settlements, hunting, cultivation, and fuel wood collection. They said that Imam Sahib was
designated as an official government reserve in the mid-1990s but no documentation has
survived (p. 83, footnote 12).
232. In Tajikistan, Tigrovaya Balka Strict Nature Reserve lies 80 km downstream of the
studied area at the confluence of the Vakhsh River with the Pyanj. Tigrovaya Balka was set
up in 1938 to protect a remnant population of Turan tigers which became extinct in the
1950s. It supports snow leopard and brown bear and has what is regarded as the best
preserved tugai ecosystem in Tajikistan. Degradation from poaching, fires, agricultural
encroachment and water pollution is occurring. The Lower Pyanj River Ramsar site
(Wetlands International Site 2T J003), a wetland area of value for its birdlife and tugai
vegetation, is located within Tigrovaya Balka at its southeast corner (footnote 5, p. G-11).
These areas are relevant here as potential sources of biological materials and information to
support community afforestation as a mitigation option for bank erosion in the studied area.
5. Economic Development
a. In Tajikistan
233. Figure 28 shows the Khatlon Province district boundaries in the studied area
(Hamadoni, Farkhor, Panj, and Qumsangir Districts). Figure 29 shows embankment
alignments, settled areas, roads, irrigation canals, etc., in Hamadoni District; this is however
based on the now-dated 1986 Soviet-era map and should be interpreted accordingly.
234. The Hamadoni flood embankment (22 km), originally built during the Soviet era and
recently rebuilt with ADB assistance, divides the Hamadoni/Darqad fan into an inactive
section in Tajikistan and an active part in Afghanistan (Figure 30). The inactive Tajikistan
71
(i) International Union for the Conservation of Nature. 2008. Marmaronetta angustirostris - The IUCN List of
Threatened Species. Available: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/141535. (ii) International Union for the
Conservation of Nature. 2008. Pseudoscaphirhynchus kaufmanni - The IUCN List of Threatened Species.
Available: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/18601
72
M. Zahir. 2008 (February). Application for Funding to United Nations Development Programme - Supporting
Country Action on the Convention on Biological Diversity Programme of Work on Protected Areas. National
Environmental Protection Agency. Available: http://www.protectedareas.org/files/download/233
53
part is now heavily developed with settlements, infrastructure, and both irrigated and rain-fed
agriculture. After the end of the Soviet era, the flood control and irrigation infrastructure was
inadequately maintained, and the embankments and irrigation infrastructure gradually
deteriorated, leading to decreases in command areas, loss of cultivable land to bank and
overland erosion, and ultimately the catastrophic flooding of 2005. The rebuilt embankment
follows the Soviet embankment alignment to within a few hundred meters. During the 2005
floods, this alignment was within the main flow channel, and subsequently the rebuilt
embankment has been under sustained river attack, necessitating investment in hard
defenses (spurs) costing in the order of $2M per km. Some of this protection work has
already failed. The 2005 embankment reconstruction included closure of an active channel
network that the river had opened up through Hamadoni past Metintugai Village and onward
to the northwest (Figure 30).
235. The decision to follow the old alignment appears to be a missed opportunity to
incorporate lessons learned over the decades since the original Soviet design about river
responses to channelization and the high recurrent costs and technical difficulties of
defending embankments in attack-prone locations. 73 Though embankment retirement in this
location would have been socially/politically difficult and costly, the decision to follow the old
alignment is having and will continue to have significant adverse consequences of its own.
Recurrent defense costs will likely remain high and could eventually prove unsustainable,
ultimately leading to another embankment failure. In turn, this arguably sets the stage for a
future scenario in which Afghanistan river training works developed under the MFF –
however conservative in design – are assessed post facto as having adversely impacted the
Tajikistan embankment or indeed having ‘caused’ it to fail, when in reality this will be entirely
or primarily a delayed adverse impact of the post-2005 decision on the Tajikistan
embankment siting.
236. It is evident from the reports of advisors to Tajikistan that they were aware of the
problems at the Soviet-era alignment. For example:
Breaching of flood embankments is the main flood risk on the Pyanj River
at Hamadoni. Once breaches occur, strong currents flow parallel to the
flood embankment on its inside. The high velocity flow can scour out
significant lengths of flood embankment from behind…. Embankment
failure [in Tajikistan] appears strongly linked to the approach in recent
years of a deep channel of the Pyanj towards the embankment and in
some places attacking the embankment at an angle. This causes
significant erosion of material at the toe of the embankment. This leads
to undermining and collapse of embankment protection at the toe. Slips
result, further exposing embankment fill which is readily eroded.
Progressive erosion of the body of the embankment follows and then
breaching. A secondary effect is seepage through the embankment as
the fill is generally permeable and loose. This may lead to more rapid
73
As documented in e.g. United States Army Corps of Engineers. 1994. Channel Stability Assessment For Flood
Control Projects. Engineer Manual 1110-2-1418. Available: http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=
ADA402439&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf
54
failure of the embankment as material is washed through the

embankment. 74
237. In addition, advisors to Tajikistan were aware that the alignment chosen would
adversely impact Afghanistan. A representative passage states:
…the constructed alignment of the new dike…diverts the flow direction to

the Afghanistan side as a result of the bulging of the dike towards the
Afghanistan side compared to the past alignment before the 2005 flood.
In sum, the present amount of flow discharge to be diverted toward the
Afghanistan side is increasing compared with that in past condition of the
main dike. 75
238. Eleven months prior to publication of these findings, public consultations on the
Tajikistan embankment reconstruction were undertaken in Takhar Province, in which the
Afghan representatives signed an agreement “accepting that the proposed project works in
Tajikistan have no adverse environment impact on Afghanistan side.” Apparently it did not
occur to anyone involved (and no institutional mechanisms were created) to apprise the
Afghan signatories of technical findings to the contrary when they became available. 76
239. Agriculture is the main economic activity in the region. The main crops and
agricultural products are cotton, cereals, oilseed, potatoes, carrots, onions, cucumbers,
cabbage, melons, vines, milk, wool, honey, and eggs. In addition orchards or fruit trees
grown in yards are an important part of the economy. These include apples, peaches,
apricots, almonds, pears, pomegranates, mulberries, and walnuts. Cotton though a
profitable cash crop is also controversial as it requires a high level of irrigation and
agrochemical input, and most of the profit accrues to middlemen and dealers rather than
local farmers (footnote 5, p. G-13).
240. Some fish farming takes place, including a private fish farm at Panjob just south of
Chubek (now re-named Sairob). Farmed species include common carp, white amur, catfish,
and snakehead. Two fish farms in the area suspended activities after the 2005 floods, and
remained closed through mid-2007. Farming of American rainbow trout has been tried
unsuccessfully on the Pyanj (footnote 5, p. G-10).
b. In Afghanistan
241. Afghanistan districts in the studied area are Imam Sahib District in Kunduz Province
and three new districts formed from most of old Yangi Qala District, Takhar Province
(Figure 31). 77 Figures 32 and 33 show the road network, secondary town locations, and
74
p. 2.14, Mott Macdonald. 2007 (May). Final Report. Khatlon Flood Management Project, ADB TA 4811-TAJ
75
p. 11-3: Japan International Cooperation Agency and Tajikistan Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil
Defense. 2007 (December). The Study On Natural Disaster Prevention In Pyanj River. Main Report Vols. 1-4 +
Sectors 1-11.
76
M. Babadzhanova. 2007. Practices on Methodologies of the Trans-Boundary EIA. 21 May 2007. Geneva:
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Available: http://www.unece.org/env/eia/activities/
activityEIAexchange_old.html
77
Prior to the 2003-4 reorganization of provincial and administrative boundaries, Yangi Qala District was larger
and composed of the post-2003/4 Yangi Qala, Dasht-e-Quala, and Khuwaj Bahawuddin Districts, plus part of
post-2003/4 Rustaq Province to the southeast. The new boundaries are not available online and their location is
sometimes not consistent with local informants’ understandings. For example, the governor of Yangi Qala
55
(pre-2003/4) administrative boundaries in these districts. Table 9 provides information for

Takhar and Kunduz Provinces regarding water supply and sanitation, roads, electrification,
irrigated and rainfed agriculture including horticulture/garden crops; district level information
on these topics is not available.
242. As of January 2009, Takhar and Kunduz Provinces were, and were expected to
remain, free of opium poppy cultivation. Trafficking through Takhar en route to Tajikistan
occurs via Chah Ab, Yangi Qala, and Darqad districts. 78 Imam Sahib District in Kunduz is
reportedly a key hub for the cross-border drug trade. 79
243. Access to Darqad Island is from the southeast by small motorized boat and by the
new one-lane pedestrian/auto Kolabad Bridge. During lower flows, larger vehicles are able
to ford the channel transporting freight including automobiles.
244. Sher Khan Bandar, at the downstream end of the studied reach, is the northern
frontier post closest to Kabul (394 km), 63 km north of Konduz, and a port on the Amu
Darya. Prior to the 1982 opening of the Pol-e Dosti Bridge at Hayratan, across from the
large port of Termed 183 km downstream, Sher Khan Bandar was the main crossing point
between the Soviet Union and Afghanistan; it however suffered from the absence of railway
service or harbor infrastructure on the north shore of the river, having to rely instead on river
barges and small cargo boats for transshipment to Termez. In August 2007, a new bridge
was opened between Sher Khan Bandar and Nizhny Panj in Tajikistan.
6. Social and Cultural Resources

a. In Tajikistan
245. Khatlon Province has most of the low lying land in Tajikistan and a relatively high
population density that remains predominantly rural. The irrigated valley of the Pyanj is
littered with villages and small towns (jamoat centres). Kulyab is the nearest large town.
Some central and regional departments have offices here, making it a sort of second capital
of Khatlon Region after Kurgan Tube. The valley bottoms have many long-established
smaller villages and towns, but there are also relatively new settlements dating only to the
Soviet era, in particular Hamadoni (formerly Moscovskie). In some areas, uncontrolled
expansion of housing and other urban development into flood-prone areas is occurring.
Villages close to the rivers tend to expand because of the ready availability of good grazing
and potential cropland.
246. Hamadoni District has a total area of 51,000 ha and total population of 115,000 for a
population density of about 2.3 persons ha-1. Hamadoni district is divided into eight jamoat
(sub-districts), each comprised of several rural settlements (villages) varying in size from a
District informed PPTA experts that Yetim Tapa town is in his district, whereas the post-2003/4 boundaries
obtained by the PPTA from the Afghanistan Geodesy and Cartography Head Office, the official source, show it to
be in Chah Ab district. (New) Dasht-e-Qala District has been included in the study area due to the erosion
problems occurring at Arab Kakol town on the Pyanj, even though these are not addressed by Component 3
interventions and the area will likely not be impacted by Component 3.
78
P. 26. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. 2009 (January). Afghanistan Opium Winter Assessment.
Available: http://www.unodc.org/documents/crop-monitoring/ORA_report_2009.pdf
79
P. 8. C. Schetter, R. Glassner and M. Karokhail. 2006 (May). Understanding Local Violence Security
Arrangements in Kandahar, Kunduz and Paktia (Afghanistan). ZEF-Project “Local Governance and Statehood in
the Amu Darya Borderlands“ publication.
56
few households to many. Hukumat (local government) governs the district with the support
of a jamoat administrative office. The hukumat chairman is selected by the provincial
administration, and in turn the chairman selects the head of each jamoat office. Official
tenure is usually five years, and administrators are apparently selected based on capability
and efficiency without restriction related to sex, ethnicity, tribal affiliation, or sexual
orientation. Almost all inhabitants are Tajik Muslims. About 20 per cent of the workforce is
employed, mainly in the agricultural sector. Approximately 75 per cent of the population is
rural. The average monthly income in 2007 was US$15 (TJS53) per month.
247. A flood forecasting system exists for the Pyanj River at Hamadoni based on the rate
of rise of river level at Khirmanjo, approximately 100 km upstream. During the 2005 flood,
the communication system between Khirmanjo and the Agency for Hydrometeorology’s main
offices in Dushanbe failed, and consequently no official flood warnings were issued prior to
the flood. The observer at Khirmanjo did succeed in alerting Hamadoni District authorities
directly, allowing as many as 10000 people to be evacuated before and during the flood and
preventing loss of life. Hamadoni also has a local flood warning system which was
introduced in 2003 during the Lake Sarez Risk Mitigation Project. 80,81
248. The only known archeological site in the studied area on the Tajikistan side
anywhere near the proposed works on the Pyanj is a fort at the upstream end of the
Hamadoni/Darqad fan that commands the obvious river crossing where the river emerges
from the gorge at Chubek. Likely there is buried archaeology in the vicinity.
b. In Afghanistan
249. The rural and urban population of the (new) districts in the studied area is shown in
Table 10.
250. Imam Sahib District has between 175 and 180 villages. Approximately 75 per cent of
the district area is irrigated from Sharawan intake. (Old) Yangi Qala District has 60-64
villages and Darqad District has 34 villages. At baseline, recent bank erosion and flooding
had affected 34 of the villages in (old) Yangi Qala and all of those in Darqad. Approximately
five of these villages had lost a total of 1000 houses as well as mosques, schools, and
cemeteries. Erosion has also made cultivation extremely difficult or impossible in some
agricultural areas. Some affected families have lost both houses and farm land. A few of
the workers from these families are now sharecroppers but most work as laborers or cut
forest wood and sell it in the local market.
251. Information on family size, sex ratio, sources of household income, education, and
health facilities, much of it disaggregated for rural and urban populations and by sex, is
shown in Table 9 for Takhar and Kunduz Provinces. Information of this type is not available
for smaller units (districts or villages).
80
P. 3-4, ADB. 2007 (May). Republic of Tajikistan: Khatlon Province Flood Management Project. Technical
Assistance Consultant’s Report. Project Number: 40046 (TA 4811).
81 D. Alford and R. Schuster. Usoi Landslide Dam and Lake Sarez - An Assessment of Hazard and Risk in the
Pamir Mountains, Tajikistan. City: Report of a Risk Assessment Mission Organized by the United Nations
Secretariat for the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction. Available: http://www.preventionweb.net/
files/696_USOI.pdf
57
252. The non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in Takhar province as the

National Solidarity Program (NSP) facilitating partners are Agency for Technical Cooperation
and Development (ACTED), Concern, and Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).
ACTED is the partner in Yangi Qala and Darqad Districts. 82
253. There is one known archeological site in the studied area that is potentially
vulnerable from flood protection and bank erosion interventions. Near Dasht-e Qal’eh on the
Kokcha lie ruins of the ancient city of Ai Khanum, excavated by a French team under P
Bernard in 1965-1978. Ai Khanum (‘Lady Moon’ in Uzbek, referring to the Greek moon deity
worshipped by the Bactrians) has been plausibly identified with Alexandria in Oxiana, a city
founded by Alexander the Great.
7. Transboundary and International Border Considerations

254. Afghanistan’s recent border treaties in the studied area have been based on the main
river channel at the time of signing. Since the most recent treaty, however, the river has
moved significantly, for example on the Hamadoni/Darqad fan where the main channel has
migrated north to run nearly adjacent to the first 12 km of Tajikistan’s flood embankments
downstream from the Chubek irrigation intake. In practice, Afghanistan is accustomed to
occupying all of the territory to the south of this channel, and Tajikistan all of the territory to
the north, meaning Afghans at times may be living on Tajik side of the border and vice versa.
While the two countries have talked amicably to address this issue, further dialogue is
needed (footnote 5, p. 2).
255. Stakeholders in Afghanistan have expressed differing perspectives on the

relationship between the boundary location and the river channel(s) and river embankments;
on the history of the border and of the relevant international border agreements; and, as a
result, on the implications (beyond water management per se) of infrastructure development.
Review papers on international law as it applies to international boundary rivers 83 and on the
history of the international boundary agreements involving the Pyanj/Amu Darya and similar
situations internationally 84 would be useful background documents for future stakeholder
education and consultation within Afghanistan, Tajikistan (and Uzbekistan and
Turkmenistan), and between / among the countries.
256. Operationally, there is a safety issue for surveyors and others working in the border
zone. Prior notification of border guards is necessary to avoid incidents.
82
P. 18. S. Alam and E. Kramer. 2007 (May). Community Development and Participation Consultant Report.
ADB Community Based Flood Management and Livelihood Improvement Project, Takhar Province.
83
An excellent overview is provided by: O. A. Bakhashab, 1996. The Legal Concept of International Boundary.
Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Economics and Administration. 9 29-66.
84
“Several international agreements between Afghanistan and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics have been
signed … [T]he most notable are the 1921, 1946, and 1958 agreements, focusing primarily on the issues related
to the border between the two countries…. These above agreements, based on international law principles, are
still applicable” (p.4, M. Ahmad and M. Wasiq. 2004. Water Resource Development in Northern Afghanistan and
Its Implications for Amu Darya Basin. World Bank Working Paper No. 36. Available: http://waterwiki.net/images/5/
5d/WB-workin_papre_2004_Amu_Darya_Water_Resources.pdf). See also: D. Balland. 1990. Boundaries iii.
Boundaries of Afghanistan. In: Encyclopaedia Iranica Online. Available: http://www.iranica.com/newsite/
index.isc?Article=http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/unicode/v4f4/v4f4a058.html; and Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics and Afghanistan. 1958. Treaty (With Annexes and Protocols) Concerning the Regime of the
Soviet-Afghan State Frontier - Signed at Moscow, on 18 January 1958. United Nations Treaty Series, Vol. 321, p.
176, 182. Available: http://untreaty.un.org/unts/1_60000/9/28/00017356.pdf
58
257. It is not known what if any formal or informal cross-border arrangements exist to
share flood warning information between local authorities in Takhar and Hamadoni.
I. C1 Northern Basins Development Potential Environmental Impacts
258. This section summarizes the predicted adverse impacts that must be mitigated.
a. Site-Related Impacts
259. Due to the nature of the intervention, essentially all of the potential impacts are site
related. They are discussed below under the appropriate project phase.
b. Construction Phase Impacts

260. Dust, noise, and liquid / solid waste from infrastructure construction activities
(movement/presence of construction workers, material, and equipment; equipment
operation; and excavation) could adversely impact ambient air and water quality. Bangala
Weir is being constructed off channel so no disturbance of riverbed sediment will occur
there; there may be some disturbance during excavation for the associated works. In dry
season when water is relatively clear this may cause localized increased muddiness. Bed
sediment here does not pose any environmental or health risks (there is no concern here
about e.g. sequestered toxic pollutants from industrial waste).
261. Given the area’s long and illustrious history as a centre of civilization, the inability to
conduct archeological research during the recent decades of conflict, and the presence of
nearby sites of high significance, there is a possibility that construction activities could
inadvertently damage or destroy as yet undiscovered sites and artifacts unless due care is
taken.
c. Operational Phase
(i) Potential Adverse Impacts Due to Social Resistance to
New Operational Arrangements
262. Infrastructure could be damaged or system operation otherwise compromised as a
result of human action due to a lack of understanding of the new operational arrangements,
or due to frustration with or distrust of system managers and operators. The studied area is
a large Central Asian oasis organized around a traditional spate irrigation scheme that has
been operating for centuries, indeed millennia. The Component aims to realize benefits by
converting this scheme to a modern engineered system with gated structures whose
operation is driven by near-real-time data acquisition and analysis and numerical modeling,
undertaken at a central control unit.
263. The great longevity of the traditional scheme encourages a curious, respectful
approach to the process of understanding and transforming the operation of the system.
The disruptions of recent decades and the apparent inefficiencies of the system
notwithstanding, the water management traditions of the communities living here are of very
long standing, and their understandings and expectations will not change in an irrigation
season or two. Failure to address this during the transition to the new operational system
risks its failure due to incompatibilities with people’s understandings and expectations, that
could in turn lead to intentional or unintentional damage to the system or other resistance to
59
new operational arrangements that impede or disrupt intended operation, possibly to the
point that the system functions less well than in the future-without-project scenario (FWO).
264. The knock-on impacts of social resistance processes are difficult to predict, but
adverse impacts relative to FWO on e.g. agriculture and domestic water supply, in specific
communities, are possible.
(ii) Potential Adverse Impacts Due to Capture of Engineered

Infrastructure Operation by Empowered Groups
265. In recent decades, the area experienced high levels of conflict between multiple and
shifting armed groups that undermined non-violent state and community social controls, and
compromised the stability and productivity of traditional livelihood systems including irrigation
water distribution and in turn agriculture. The planned transition to modern operational
arrangements will mean both a shift from traditional management to technological,
bureaucratic management (however participatory it may be), and also a shift from decision-
making based to a considerable degree on power and coercion to decision-making based on
rules and dialogue. For this transition to be successful, institutional strengthening and
capacity building will have to address conflict monitoring, grievance procedures, and non-
violent conflict resolution mechanisms and skills. If the transition fails or remains incomplete,
operation of the modern gated infrastructure will to some degree be controlled through a
process of confrontation and coercion among empowered groups.
266. The knock-on impacts of this mode of operation of the gated infrastructure is, as for
the preceding impact, difficult to predict, but adverse impacts relative to FWO on e.g.
agriculture and domestic water supply in specific communities, are possible. Clearly
empowered groups will tend to operate the infrastructure to maximize benefits to themselves
with limited regard for the needs of others.
(iii) Potential Adverse Impacts Due to Defects of New

Operational Arrangements
267. There is no guarantee that RBA operation of the system, even in the absence of
social resistance and interference from empowered groups, will not have adverse impacts
relative to FWO. RBA operational rules and procedures could be poorly formulated, or not
followed by structure operators. To the extent that RBA operation is data-driven, in real-time
or otherwise, data or data analysis could be incorrect.
268. Characterizing the potential adverse impacts of defects in RBA operation requires a
detailed understanding of the differences between the adverse impacts of current, traditional
operation and those of future RBA operation incorporating its potential operational defects.
One example is suggested by recent experience in the early flooding of 2009. Weir gates
are meant to be fully or partially open during flooding, but in May 2009 this did not happen at
Samarkadian Weir, possibly increasing downstream flooding relative to pre-Samarkandian
conditions in which the offtakes now linked to Samarkandian were unregulated. Another
example would be operational bias due to biased data. Operational decision-making based
on field data collection and analysis that is skewed to particular (accessible, nearby, or
upstream) areas will naturally tend towards optimizing performance in these areas,
potentially to the detriment of less-well-sampled areas.
60
d. Abandonment / End of Useful Life

269. No adverse impacts are expected to occur related to abandonment or end of useful
life of project interventions.
e. EOP Impacts
(i) Damage to Infrastructure
270. Infrastructure is vulnerable to damage from environmental processes under normal
operation but particularly if operated incorrectly. Flood damage to structures can occur if
gates are kept closed at inappropriate times. Sedimentation upstream of structures can
occur if sediment sluices are not operated correctly, leading to structure damage.
(ii) No Adverse Climate Change Impacts Expected

271. Climate change is not thought to create a potential for adverse impact by the project.
Larger and more frequent severe floods could damage project infrastructure, but the
consensus global climate change prediction (wetter/drier, warmer/cooler) for this region is
not significantly different from zero change. More frequent droughts would cause no
adverse impact FWO compared to the future-with-project scenario (FW), other than a
reduction in incremental project benefits.
J. C2 Nangarhar Valley Development Authority Improvement Potential

Environmental Impacts
272. This section identifies and describes the potential adverse impacts of the
Component.
273. None.
b. Construction Phase
274. Infrastructure construction activities (presence and movement of construction
workers, material, and equipment; equipment operation; and excavation) are expected to
produce dust, noise, and liquid/solid waste that could adversely impact ambient air and
water quality.
275. Main canal desilting will disturb canal bed sediment potential impacting water quality
on lower canal reaches. Canal bed sediment does not contain sequestered toxic pollutants
from industrial waste as the canal alignment is entirely through rural areas.
c. Operational Phase
276. Impacts of inadequate local stakeholder involvement in small-scale water
infrastructure development. A key lesson learned from predecessor small-scale water
resources projects in Afghanistan and elsewhere in developing Asia is that interventions
designed by engineers without significant local stakeholder involvement tend to be less
successful than those developed in a participatory manner. One dimension of this poor
performance is the occurrence of adverse impacts of various kinds. These can include
worsened domestic and irrigation water provision, under- and over-drainage, flooding, and
social conflict as a consequence of inadequate maintenance, unintentional breakage,
61
sabotage, interference with water distribution, and appropriation of operational control by

powerful individuals or groups.
277. Agrochemical impacts. Effective irrigation improvement implies agricultural

intensification and in turn increased use of fertilizers and pesticides, with potential adverse
impacts on surfacewater and groundwater quality and public health. Nangarhar is an area
with excellent transport and access to credit and markets, which suggests that agrochemical
pollution could well become a significant concern in the medium term.
278. Impacts of gated structure operation on domestic and irrigation water supply,
especially of vulnerable groups. The provision of gated structures affords the opportunity
for increased control of water distribution, which may reduce domestic and irrigation water
access and quality in some areas. In addition, if more powerful families and individuals
appropriate this control, less-powerful users whose access to resources may already be
tenuous may be further marginalized. In this context, vulnerable user groups include the
poorest, tail-enders, kuchi, and women, particularly women-headed families.
279. Impacts related to NVDA reform. Project-led changes in the NVDA incentive
environment (e.g. privatization) could lead to adverse impacts. These impacts are however
difficult to characterize without reference to specific reform proposals.
280. Cumulative impacts with other irrigation R&U projects. Impacts of the
Component will be similar and additive with those of other irrigation R&U projects. A
considerable amount of post-conflict irrigation R&U has been carried out in the area (see
paras. 162-164) and a few more years’ work appears to be in the pipeline. Irrigation R&U by
these other projects causes adverse impacts similar in type to those described above for the
Component’s R&U activities. By definition, these are cumulative impacts. Simply put, the
more irrigation R&U that is done, the greater the potential for cumulative adverse impacts.
281. Cumulative impacts with rapid demographic and economic change. Impacts of
the Component will occur in the context of very rapid demographic and economic change in
the studied area. Component impacts on bulk domestic water supply and quality, and in turn
public health, will occur at the same time that demand for domestic water supply is growing
rapidly due to growth in population numbers and growth in per capita demand with
urbanization. Concurrently, water supply and public health infrastructure availability and
quality could deteriorate if they do not expand quickly enough to keep pace with population
growth.
d. Abandonment / End of Useful Life

282. No adverse impacts are expected to occur related to abandonment or end of useful
life of project interventions.
K. C3 Flood Management Program Potential Environmental Impacts
283. This section summarizes the predicted adverse impacts that must be mitigated.
284. The proposed Yetim Tapa headworks and Pyanj embankment are located on an
active alluvial fan, characterized by multiple braided channel networks that frequently shift
62
and avulse. The Sharawan erosion protection works are located in an area of active
meandering. Both settings imply a significant EOP impact in the form of river attack of
project infrastructure.
b. Construction Phase
285. The Pyanj embankment, Yetim Tapa headworks, Sharawan erosion control works,
and the emergency works will all involve construction. Infrastructure construction activities
include the movement/presence of construction workers, material, and equipment;
equipment operation; and excavation. These activities are expected to produce dust, noise,
and liquid / solid waste that could adversely impact ambient air and water quality. There is
also a risk of damaging or destroying cultural or archeological artifacts and sites. In addition,
the construction of the western end of the embankment, the Sharawan erosion protection,
and/or some of the emergency works may take place ‘in the wet’ in river channels or flooded
area. This will involve local disturbance of bed sediment. In dry season when water is
relatively clear this may cause localized increased muddiness. Bed sediment here does not
pose any environmental or health risks (there is no concern here about e.g. sequestered
toxic pollutants from industrial waste).
c. Operational Phase, Yetim Tapa Headworks

286. The intended effect of the provision of a gated structure at this location is to afford
the ability to regulate or stop flows through Yetim Tapa, to avoid catastrophic flood damage
to Yetim Tapa town and downstream irrigated fields and villages. However, this means that
one of the Pyanj’s alternative channel networks will be nearly closed to flood flows (the
intake size will handle irrigation flows, which are on the order of three per cent of flood flows
– e.g. 30 m s-1 irrigation vs. 1000 m s-1 flood). Closure of a channel network, whether it is
currently active or not, during years when this network would have been active FWO, directly
displaces flow to other networks. It also contributes significantly to the channelization of the
Pyanj on the Hamadoni/Darqad fan. Over medium time scales (decades), channelization
leads to increased flow, water levels, and bank erosion on the remaining channel network(s),
both directly due to displaced flow and indirectly due to accelerated downstream channel
bed aggradation / slope reduction on the remaining networks. In turn, the level of investment
required to maintain existing flood protection works increases in tandem with rising flow rates
and water levels, and the consequences of failure become increasingly catastrophic. The
rate at which these processes occur depends on river morphology and in particular on
sediment loads, which in the Pyanj are very high.
287. In the future-without-project scenario (FWO), the Yetim Tapa network would certainly
become active again over the short- to medium-term (years to decades) given that it was
active very recently (1975-1980) and there is already concern that the 2009 flood may
reactivate it. FWO longer term (decades to centuries), the Yetim Tapa network would likely
be active at times and inactive at others in random rotation with the other channel networks
on the Hamadoni/Darqad fan, both those currently available and any others that the river
might open up in future. FWO the river could create a new network through Hamadoni
District (as it attempted to do in 2005). Further channelization of the Pyanj will tend to
increase the risk of this occurring.
288. Justification under the circumstances for the closure derives from the reduction in
flood damage summed over all the channel networks, given that the (apparently) imminent
63
avulsion to Yetim Tapa would cause considerable destruction, whereas the flow displaced
from Yetim Tapa to other active channel networks will be passing through unprotected areas
in the floodway that have already lost their most vulnerable fields and infrastructure. The
Yetim Tapa headworks near-closure amounts to flood zoning by infrastructure, where the
choice is being made to protect ongoing undamaged Yetim Tapa agriculture and
infrastructure and to route flood water through the network east of Darqad where little
agriculture and infrastructure is left after the 2005 and other floods.
d. Operational Phase, Pyanj Embankment

289. Channelization of the Pyanj between (i) the proposed new embankment from Yangi
Qala intake west toward Darqad and (ii) the existing Tajik embankment along this reach, is
expected to lead to accretion of transported sediment in and below the channelized reach
over the long term (decades or centuries). This corresponds to higher channel bed levels
and in turn higher water levels (in effect, a small alluvial fan forms at the bottom of the
embanked reach and the bed of the embanked reach aggrades to match the height at the
top of this new small fan). The new embankment has been set back to widen the
channelized reach, but impacts are still a concern over longer time scales.
e. Abandonment / End of Useful Life: Gabions and Porcupines

290. Short life span (2-10 year) gabions and porcupines are proposed to be used near
major infrastructure and in emergency works near actively eroding banks to provide erosion
protection. Gabions are designed to be fabricated out of steel cages around stone, and
porcupines of concrete reinforced with steel. Once past their useful life, these structures will
be in a semi-disintegrated state for some years and eventually disintegrate / corrode entirely.
In this setting and the amounts proposed, it seems unlikely that the semi- or fully
disintegrated remnants pose any environmental, occupational, health, or safety hazard to
navigators, fishers, or local residents, but confirmatory monitoring is advisable.
L. Environmental Management Plan
291. ADB requires that an EMP be included as part of all EIAs and IEEs, including those
prepared at this early stage of the project cycle. Early EMPs are then revised and finalized
at the beginning of the implementation stage when specific construction and operational
activities are completely defined and all the details required for an effective EMP can be
provided. 85
292. A key element of the EMP is the Contractor’s Environmental Management Plan
(CEMP) which will be provided by contractors to the PIOs (or PMO for NVDA) for approval
before construction works begin. The CEMP will include standard measures implemented by
contractors for the mitigation of dust, noise, and liquid / solid waste emissions during
construction. Standard measures include watering roads, washing tires, covering loads to
keep dust down; constructing temporary screens or covers to protect any adjacent
residences or businesses from dust; restricting noisy activities to daytime / weekday hours;
provision of sanitary facilities for work crews; proper design of site drainage; proper handling
and disposal of waste, etc.
85
Para. 145-155. ADB. 2003. Environmental Assessment Guidelines. Manila.
64
1. Summary of Impacts
a. C1 Northern Basins Development Program
293. The identified potential adverse impacts are:
(i) On air and water quality of construction activities;
(ii) Damage or destruction of archeological material by construction activities;
(iii) On domestic water supply or irrigated agriculture or other valued

environmental components, due to social resistance to modernized irrigation
system operation e.g. local people damaging infrastructure or otherwise
compromising system operation due to lack of understanding, distrust, or
frustration;
(iv) On domestic water supply or irrigated agriculture or other valued

environmental components belonging to less powerful and marginalized
communities and individuals, due to operation of the modern gated
infrastructure by empowered groups rather than the RBA;
(v) On domestic water supply or irrigated agriculture or other valued

environmental components, due to defects in RBA operation e.g. failure to
operate in conformity to agreed operational plans, defects in agreed plans, or
biased data collection or analysis;
(vi) EOP structure damage, aggravated by certain inappropriate-operation events.
b. C2 Nangarhar Valley Development Authority Improvement

294. The potential adverse impacts are:
• On air and water quality of construction activities;

• Of inadequate local stakeholder involvement leading to a range of adverse impacts
such as worsened domestic and irrigation water provision, under- and over-drainage,
flooding, and social conflict as a consequence of inadequate maintenance,
unintentional breakage, sabotage, interference with water distribution, and
appropriation of operational control by powerful individuals or groups;
• Worsened surfacewater and groundwater quality and public health of increased
agrochemical use during the operational phase;
• Of gated structure operation on domestic and irrigation water supplies, especially of
vulnerable groups;
• Of NVDA reforms such as privatization that change the incentive environment; and
• Potential cumulative impacts
(a) Component impacts will be similar and additive with those of other
irrigation R&U projects
(b) Component impacts on domestic water supply, water quality, and

public health will occur concurrently with rapid growth in demand
for domestic water and public health services.
65
c. C3 Flood Management Program

295. The identified potential impacts are:
(i) Site-related impacts: The proposed Yetim Tapa headworks, Pyanj

embankment, and Sharawan erosion protection works are all located where
significant EOP impact in the form of river attack of project infrastructure is
expected;
(ii) Air and water quality impacts of construction activities;
(iii) Potential for disturbance of archeological materials by excavation or other

construction activities;
(iv) Closure of one of the Pyanj’s remaining channel networks during spate by the
proposed Yetim Tapa headworks will – relative to FWO, in an unknown
proportion of future years’ floods – directly displace flow to one or more of the
other channel networks thereby increasing their water levels and bank
erosion. In addition, over the medium term (decades) in the other channel
networks, (i) channel bed levels will increase, (ii) bed slopes decrease, and in
turn (iii) water levels increase.
(v) The proposed embankment on the Pyanj running west 5 km from Yetim Tapa
may cause, over the long term (decades or centuries), in and below the
channelized reach, (i) increased channel bed levels, (ii) decreased bed slope,
and in turn (iii) raised water levels.
(vi) Semi- or fully disintegrated remnants of defunct gabions and porcupines are
not expected to pose any hazard but confirmatory monitoring is advised.
2. Description of Proposed Mitigation Measures

296. Each proposed measure is briefly described in relation to the impact
and conditions under which it is required, including information on measure design,
establishment activities, equipment, operating procedures, implementation
responsibilities, and targets and quantitative indicators of the level of mitigation
required. A summary of mitigation measures is provided in Table 11.

(i) Mitigation of Site-Related Impacts
297. Mitigation of site-related impacts is documented below under the project phase in
which they occur.
(ii) Mitigation of Construction Phase Impacts

298. Mitigation of dust, noise, and liquid / solid waste emissions during construction will be
accomplished through standard measures implemented by contractors as per their
Contractor’s Environmental Management Plans (CEMP). Standard measures include
watering roads, washing tires, covering loads to keep dust down; constructing temporary
screens or covers to protect any adjacent residences or businesses from dust; restricting
noisy activities to daytime / weekday hours; provision of sanitary facilities for work crews;
proper design of site drainage; proper handling and disposal of waste, etc.
66
299. Mitigation of the risk of damage to cultural or archeological artifacts and sites will be
addressed by the Implementation Consultant who will screen the locations (through
discussions with the local populace, the Institute of Archaeology and the Department for
Protection and Rehabilitation of Historical Monuments) of all Tranche 1 construction sites
prior to groundbreaking. Construction at or near sites of potential archeologically interest will
either be dropped (the most likely outcome) or, in rare cases, additional studies will be
undertaken by the PIO.
300. Localized muddiness near construction undertaken in wet conditions will be minor
and does not require mitigation.
(iii) Mitigation of Potential Operation Phase Impacts –

Overview
301. Along with benefit realization, mitigation of potential adverse operation-phase
impacts is the primary objective of the Component’s (RBA) strengthening subcomponent and
its support for institutionalization of water users’ associations (WUAs). Key to both of these
efforts will be an emphasis on active stakeholder participation and public consultation.
302. The RBA strengthening subcomponent will focus on (i) developing and implementing
irrigation operation systems and procedures to achieve benefits and mitigate adverse
impacts, based on integrated water resources management principles and involvement of
stakeholders and Government agencies with water-related responsibilities; (ii) undertaking
baseline studies of the irrigation system, including (a) the surface water and ground water
resource and their exploitation, (b) domestic water supply including rural and urban water
demand, (c) gender aspects of water use, (d) the needs of kuchi and other vulnerable
groups; (e) soil including salinity, sodicity, and saline marsh areas; (f) subsistence fishery;
and (g) any other aspect the RBA with the advice and assistance of the Implementation
Consultant may find it appropriate to survey.
303. Support to WUA formation envisages them as the key mechanism for involving
stakeholders in O&M, mitigation, monitoring, and conflict resolution, and for communication
between water users and the RBA. WUA support will follow a multi-stage process of
informing stakeholders, WUA formation including elections, drafting of charters, and legal
registration, followed by training and other support to new WUAs to assist them in becoming
fully functional.
(iv) Mitigation of Impacts of Social Resistance

304. Mitigation of the impacts of social resistance to modernized operation is through the
formation and strengthening of WUAs, and operation-phase public consultation conducted
under RBA authority.
(v) Mitigation of Impacts of Empowered Groups’

Appropriation of Structure Operation
305. Mitigation of this impact is through prompt effective action to enforce the provisions of
the water law governing licit control of infrastructure and flows. An escalating continuum of
responses would occur, beginning with e.g. the RBA providing information and attempting
dialogue and mediation, to interventions by law enforcement agencies on behalf of the GOA
executive.
67
(vi) Mitigation of Impacts of Defects in RBA Operation

306. Mitigation of this impact is through technical advice and assistance provided to the
RBA by the Implementation Consultant leading to institutionalization of adequate operational
assets and skills within the RBA.
(vii) Mitigation of EOP Structure Damage

307. Mitigation of EOP structure damage involved design-stage increases to the design
flood to avoid damage from flood events intermediate in size between the old and new
design floods; and inclusion of conventional design elements to manage erosion,
sedimentation, etc. During the operation phase, mitigation will involve proper training of
structure operators and prompt maintenance or upgrading in the event of minor damage.
(viii) Interim Ambient Standards

308. GOA has not yet established national ambient noise, or air / water quality standards.
For the purposes of WRDIP environmental management (i.e. construction-phase air and
water quality and RBA environmental monitoring and management), the World Bank’s
Pollution Prevention and Abatement Handbook (para 25, OM F1/OP) will be used for
reference to standards and approaches.

(i) Mitigation of Construction Phase Impacts
309. Mitigation of dust, noise, liquid / solid waste emissions, and sediment disturbance
during construction will be accomplished through standard measures implemented by
contractors as per their Contractor’s Environmental Management Plans. Standard measures
include watering roads, washing tires, covering loads to keep dust down; constructing
temporary screens or covers to protect any adjacent residences or businesses from dust;
restricting noisy activities to daytime / weekday hours; provision of sanitary facilities for work
crews; proper design of site drainage; proper handling and disposal of waste, notifying
downstream water users in advance of sediment disturbance to suspend water withdrawals
temporarily, etc.
(ii) Mitigation of Potential Operation Phase Impacts

310. Small-scale irrigation infrastructure development. Mitigation is through
participatory site identification, design, construction including construction supervision,
operation, and maintenance. This will be achieved through public consultation and WUA
formation and support.
311. Agrochemicals. Mitigation of potential surfacewater and groundwater quality and

public health impacts of increased agrochemical use during the operational phase will
involve (i) development of national agrochemical policies to protect occupational health and
agricultural product consumers in respect of permitted chemicals and application practices;
(ii) farmer education in agrochemical use that addresses ground and surfacewater
protection, occupational safety, and food safety; (iii) policing of agrochemical imports and
markets to exclude illicit chemicals and enforce environmental, occupational, and public
health protection regulations; and (iv) inclusion in medical training of the diagnosis and
treatment of acute and chronic agrochemical poisoning including intentional ingestion. Of the
above only (ii) can be potentially be undertaken within the Project (through on-farm
68
demonstrations) while other mitigation measures are outside the Project scope. However,
these other mitigation activities can be recommended to the Government for action.
312. Domestic and irrigation water supply especially of vulnerable groups.

Mitigation of adverse impacts on domestic and irrigation water supply generally will be
through formation and strengthening of WUAs to operate and maintain their infrastructure in
a manner that mitigates adverse impacts. Mitigation of adverse impacts on vulnerable water
user groups specifically (poorest, tail-enders, kuchi, women) will be addressed through
inclusion of vulnerable group members in relevant Component activities (surveys, public
consultation, WUAs).
313. NVDA reform impacts. Mitigation of adverse impacts flowing from project-led
changes in the incentive environment (e.g. privatization) will be through environmental
screening and assessment of proposed incentive changes and, if necessary, preparation of
environmental management plans.
314. Cumulative impacts. Mitigation of cumulative impacts with past and future irrigation
R&U under other projects, and with the very rapid changes occurring in the studied area
related to urbanization, population growth, and general economic development, will be
through Project and RBA participation in the Provincial Development Council process,
including attending PDC meetings as appropriate, and support to its technical committees,
with the objective of developing coordinated avoidance and mitigation strategies.
(iii) Interim Ambient Standards


(i) Mitigation of Site-Related Impacts
316. River attack of project infrastructure will be mitigated in the design stage through
careful siting, conventional protection measures, and trials of alternative protection
measures. Detailed siting will take into account degree of exposure to future attack and
structures will be placed away from direct flow by setback or other strategies. In addition to
conventional engineering protection methods, gabions, porcupines, and community riverine
forestry will be trialed in appropriate locations. Another mitigation measure is prompt repair
and protection upgrading of any minor damage that does occur, before it can lead to major
problems or structural failure.
(ii) Mitigation of Construction Phase Impacts

317. Mitigation of dust, noise, and liquid / solid waste emissions during construction will be
accomplished through standard measures implemented by contractors as per their
Contractor’s Environmental Management Plans. Standard measures include watering
roads, washing tires, covering loads to keep dust down; constructing temporary screens or
covers to protect any adjacent residences or businesses from dust; restricting noisy activities
69
to daytime / weekday hours; provision of sanitary facilities for work crews; proper design of
site drainage; proper handling and disposal of waste, etc.
318. Mitigation of the risk of damage to cultural or archeological artifacts and sites will be
addressed by the screening of locations (through discussions with the local populace, the
Institute of Archaeology and the Department for Protection and Rehabilitation of Historical
Monuments) of all Tranche 1 construction sites prior to groundbreaking by the
implementation consultant. Construction at or near sites of potential archeologically interest
will either be dropped (the most likely outcome) or, in rare cases, additional studies and
safeguards will be undertaken. The current locations of tranche 1 construction activities do
not lie on cultural or archeological artifacts and sites.
319. Localized muddiness near construction undertaken in wet conditions will be minor
and does not require mitigation.
(iii) Mitigation of Yetim Tapa Headworks Operation Phase

Impacts
320. Limited mitigation of flood flow displacement to the other channel networks can be
achieved by opening the Yetim Tapa gates during flood flows; the proportion of flow is
however only on the order of three per cent. This is straightforward up to the quantity of flow
(water level) where damage begins to occur downstream of Yetim Tapa. Accepting larger,
damaging flows through Yetim Tapa headworks to mitigate worse flood damage elsewhere
on the Hamadoni/Darqad fan would likely require river basin and/or international
cooperation, potentially including arrangements for compensation of Yetim Tapa affectees
when flood damage is imposed there to avoid worse damage elsewhere.
(iv) Mitigation of Pyanj Embankment Operation Phase Impacts

321. Mitigation of potential long-term accretion (over decades or centuries) of transported
sediment in and below the river reach channelized between the proposed embankment and
the Tajikistan embankment was incorporated in the design phase, by setting back the
proposed embankment to widen the channelized reach; reducing the embankment length;
and by providing several ungated culverts for some cross-embankment flow. Few additional
operation-phase mitigation measures are available. Dredging of the channelized reach is
likely cost-prohibitive. The impact is, in effect, reversible: the new embankment could be
removed and channel/land levels would revert back to future-without-project values in the
long term.
(v) Mitigation of Abandoned / Defunct Gabions and

Porcupines
322. Significant adverse impacts of defunct gabions and porcupines are thought to be
unlikely, however, if found to be necessary, these should be relocated, removed, or
disassembled as appropriate.
(vi) Interim Ambient Standards

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3. Monitoring
324. The general objectives of monitoring are: (i) timely detection of conditions requiring
remedial measures; (ii) provision of information on the progress and results of mitigation and
institutional strengthening measures; and (iii) assessment of compliance with national and
ADB environmental safeguard policies (footnote 85, para. 152). Agreement of ADB and the
Executing Agencies is required prior to implementation of the monitoring program. A
summary of monitoring activities is provided in Table 12.

(i) Monitoring of Construction Phase Impacts
325. Monitoring of construction phase impacts will be appropriate to the particular
construction activities taking place and integrated into the overall construction supervision
system. This will consist of schedules of activities, procedures, checklists, etc., used by the
construction site supervisor to manage and monitor the site, and submitted by him/her to the
supervising engineer for oversight, monitoring, and any needed remedial measures.
(ii) Monitoring of Operation Phase Impacts

326. Monitoring of potential operation phase impacts is a long-term responsibility of the
RBA and as such will be developed under the RBA strengthening subcomponent. Monitored
parameters will likely include: flow rates and water levels; structure operation; flood
damage; cropping patterns and yields; ground and surface water quality; water-related
conflicts including inflicted structure damage and violence; perceptions of farmers, livestock
owners, women, urban dwellers, kuchi, and other groups with specific water needs; and
other parameters identified by the RBA with the advice and assistance of the Implementation
Consultant.
327. Monitoring of purposeful damage to infrastructure or other acts compromising system

operation will be the responsibility of the RBA for larger system elements and WUAs for the
smaller elements, and include supervision of structure operation including visual checks of
gate locations and log books, plus possibly remote sensing, and comparison to intended
operation as per RBA operational plans.
328. Monitoring of RBA operational effectiveness is through informal and formal

independent means, e.g. stakeholder feedback / complaint mechanisms, and formal project
monitoring and evaluation exercises.
329. Monitoring of appropriation of the operation of the gated infrastructure by power

holders is through RBA and WUA supervision of structure operation including visual checks
and possibly remote sensing, followed by comparison of observed operation and conditions
to operational plans.
(iii) Monitoring of EOP Structure Damage

330. Monitoring of EOP structure damage will consist of operator supervision and
structure operation, and regular structure damage checks.
71

(i) Monitoring of Construction Phase Impacts
(ii) Monitoring of Operation Phase Mitigation and Impacts

332. Small-scale irrigation infrastructure. Monitoring of the mitigation and residual
impacts of small-scale irrigation infrastructure development will be defined and carried out in
the first instance by local stakeholders through their WUAs, with Project support. WUA
monitoring will in turn be linked back to the RBA, which will investigate identified concerns
and follow up with appropriate support to WUAs.
333. Agrochemicals. Monitoring of impacts of increased agrochemical use involves

surveillance of public and occupational health indicators and environmental contamination
indicators. Public health indicators include statistics on the occurrence of acute and chronic
pesticide intoxication and treatment outcomes. Occupational health indicators include
surveillance of on-farm application and storage practices, availability of safety gear on the
open market, and of occupational safety training provision through extension services.
Environmental contamination indicators include analysis of surface water, ground water, and
food samples for pesticide residues and fertilizer concentrations (nitrogen, phosphorus).
While such monitoring is recommended it is unlikely that this can be achieved by the Project
but should be recommended for action by the authorities.
334. Domestic and irrigation water supply especially of vulnerable groups.

Monitoring of domestic and irrigation water supply will be defined and carried out in the first
instance by local stakeholders through their WUAs, with Project support, linked back to the
RBA to address identified concerns. This monitoring could involve regular direct observation
and recording of well depths, flow rates, water quality, and access to water by different user
groups, at selected water supply points. Monitoring of impacts on vulnerable groups will also
involve RBA collection of data on their participation in and provision of information to public
consultation, WUAs, and baseline and follow-up surveys.
335. Changes to incentive environment for NVDA assets. Monitoring of adverse

impacts flowing from project-led changes in the incentive environment for NVDA assets will
be as per EMPs of proposed changes to be prepared prior to implementation.
336. Cumulative impacts. Monitoring of cumulative impacts will be considered in the

context of Project participation and support to the Provincial Development Council and its
technical committees. For example, it could be agreed that every year on a set date, the
RBA would provide PDC with a summary review and analysis of its accumulated monitoring
data – which would also contribute to meeting the objectives of the implementation-stage
public consultation.
72

(i) Monitoring of Site-Related Impacts
337. Operation and maintenance procedures for project infrastructure will include regular
inspection for effects of river attack e.g. undermining.
(ii) Monitoring of Construction Phase Impacts

(iii) Monitoring of Yetim Tapa Headworks Operation Phase

Impacts
339. The operation phase impacts of Yetim Tapa headworks relate to regulation of flood
flows. Monitoring should involve measuring and recording structure operation and gate
locations, and water levels and flow rates at the structure, at key locations downstream, and
indeed on all the channel networks; and flood damage assessments both downstream of
Yetim Tapa and on the other channel networks. Understanding the relationships between
flows and levels within the system as a whole, and thus the impact of Yetim Tapa regulation
on other areas, will likely require numerical modeling and satellite image analysis. This will
be the responsibility of the river (sub)basin agency.
(iv) Monitoring of Pyanj Embankment Operation Phase

Impacts
340. As for the operational impacts of the Yetim Tapa headworks, monitoring will be
undertaken of channel bed levels and water levels at key points in the system, tied to
numerical modeling and satellite image analysis. This will be the responsibility of the river
(sub)basin agency.
(v) Monitoring of Gabions and Porcupines

341. Local communities or WUAs where available will be asked to monitor these objects
past the end of their useful life for adverse impacts, for as long as the objects stay in place.
Should they disappear suddenly i.e. be carried off during flooding, local communities will be
asked to report this to water management authorities for follow up.
4. Public Consultation Activities During EMP Finalization and

Implementation
342. Adequate public consultation during EMP implementation is required to achieve two
objectives: (i) to notify local communities when project activities are going to take place and
(ii) to disclose the results of monitoring programs to local communities and other
stakeholders.
343. Public notification and monitoring disclosure will be integrated into Project activities.
Measures will include advance sign boarding of construction sites including
project/contractor contact information and establishment of publicly accessible monitoring
report repositories, at construction sites and at appropriate central/project-level water
73
5. Mitigation and Monitoring Responsibilities

a. WRDIP Management
344. WRDIP as a whole will be managed by MEW and MAIL at central level, working
through the River Basin Agencies (and NVDA) at regional level. An Implementation
Consultant team of international and national experts will support MEW and MAIL in Tranche
1 implementation. An early task of the Implementation Consultant team will be to undertake
a capacity assessment of the RBAs (i.e. the former Regional Water Management Office) and
NVDA, and design and cost a detailed capacity building programme including training.
b. Construction Contractors & MEW Supervising Engineer

345. Construction contractors will be selected to implement infrastructure packages.
Construction specifications will include required environmental mitigation measures and
monitoring to be included in the construction package, including standard measures to
manage construction-phase impacts (Appendix B). Prospective contractors will be required
to include in their bids a Contractors’ Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) setting forth
their methodology, staffing, costs, etc to implement these required activities, and showing
how supervision of the CEMP will be integrated into contractors’ site supervisors’
responsibilities. The MEW Supervising Engineer will be responsible to check and enforce
contractor compliance with CEMPs.
c. Technical Assistance to River Basin Agency

346. A key task for WRDIP will be supporting the institutionalization of the new Water Law,
including strengthening the capacity of responsible entities to implement water resource
project EMPs. In particular, the newly-defined river basin agencies, river basin councils, and
river basin sub-councils have primary responsibility for the operation and maintenance
(O&M) of water resources infrastructure, including establishing and strengthening
participatory O&M through water users associations and irrigation associations.
347. This will include arrangements for necessary capacity building and interagency
communication and coordination among the various institutions with legal responsibilities for
mitigation and monitoring related activities in the sector, to ensure proper implementation of
the EMP. In particular, an early task of the Implementation Consultant team will be to
undertake a capacity assessment of the RBA (i.e. the former Regional Water Management
Office), to design and cost a detailed capacity-building programme including training.
d. Legal Responsibilities of GOA Institutions and Others

348. The legal responsibilities of GOA institutions and others related to environmental
monitoring and mitigation are defined in the legislation referenced in Appendix A. In
particular, the new Water Law sets forth institutional responsibilities related to water,
including mitigation and monitoring responsibilities. The overall responsibilities of GOA
74
agencies and others, and specific details on mitigation and monitoring-related

responsibilities where provided, are documented below.
349. The Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW) has overall responsibility for planning,
management, and development of water resources, in close collaboration with concerned
ministries and agencies. Its specific responsibilities with linkages to mitigation and
monitoring are: (i) collecting, analyzing, and evaluating surface water hydrological data;
(ii) anticipating and publishing early warning on potential occurrence of floods and droughts;
(iii) facilitating technical and financial assistance and capacity building programs for river
basins in cooperation with Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (MAIL), Ministry of
Urban Development (MUD), Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD), and
NEPA; (iv) establishing bodies for river basin study teams and evaluating their activities;
(v) establishing water users’ associations, in particular cooperating in their registration,
recognition, and capacity building; (vi) establishing river basin councils comprised of river
basin stakeholders including representatives of water users, relevant national and local
agencies, and other stakeholder groups; (vii) establishing sub-basin councils comprised of
representative of water users, relevant government agencies, and other stakeholder groups;
and (vii) strengthening river basin agency working capacity and capability through technical
trainings.
350. MoM has overall responsibility for investigation, identification, and research of ground
water storage, groundwater monitoring, protection of groundwater against contamination,
and determining its chemical and bacteriological composition; in collaboration with the
Ministry of Public Health (MPH) and NEPA.
351. NEPA has overall responsibility for environmental clearance, and for protection of
surface water from contamination and surface water quality monitoring; determination of
acceptable water quality standards for various uses in a specific regulation; and
determination of the pollution tolerance limit for water resources, in collaboration with
Ministry and Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL), MEW, MPH, and MoM.
352. MAIL has overall responsibility for identification of irrigation norms and irrigation and
drainage system research in collaboration with MEW, MPH, and NEPA. Its specific
responsibilities with linkages to mitigation and monitoring are (i) to protect the environment
through agricultural measures and (ii) to determine the agriculture water quality standard, in
line with international standards.
353. MUD has overall responsibility for drinking and domestic water supply, waste water
disposal and sewerage infrastructure and provision of all related services in urban centers as
per approved standards, and determination of industrial waste water discharge standards
developed in line with the international standards, in collaboration with MEW, MAIL, MoM,
MPH, and NEPA.
354. MRRD has overall responsibility for rural water supply and sanitation based on
acceptable national health standards, and construction of village-level small water
infrastructure; in close collaboration with MEW, MAIL, MoM, MPH, and NEPA.
355. MPH has overall responsibility to determine drinking and domestic water quality
standards in line with international standards.
75
356. Water supply and waste water disposal service providers has overall responsibility to
maintain records of the amount of water consumption, waste water discharge and physical,
chemical and bacterial quality of water and provide necessary information to government
agencies when required.
357. River basin agencies have overall responsibility to facilitate integrated planning in
water resources management and development, taking into account environmental
protection, water allocation, and fair distribution of water rights and other water related
issues, through a participatory decision-making process involving water users and other
social and cultural institutions. Its specific responsibilities with linkages to mitigation and
monitoring are: (i) develop plans and manage water resources in accordance with National
Water Policy and basin needs and conditions; (ii) consult with river basin councils on
relevant issues; (iii) develop local programs for development, use, conservation, and
management of water resources with due regard for water right allocation; (iv) implement
river basin council decisions; (v) design short-, mid- and long-term measures to minimize
flood, drought, and other water-related disaster impacts; (vi) coordinate with sub-basin
agencies; (vii) monitor sub basins agency performance; (viii) provide secretarial and
administrative services to the river basin council.
358. River basin councils and sub-basin councils are responsible to (i) prepare a water
resources management strategy for its (sub) basin, in accordance with national water policy
and considering (sub) basin conditions and needs; (ii) determine water allocation rights
considering (sub) basin conditions and needs; (iii) manage and monitor (sub) basin water
rights usage; (iv) solve water distribution and use disputes; and (v) impose and collect fines;
(vi) request data from river basin agencies to support decision-making; and (vii) carry out
routine supervision of water law compliance.
359. Water User’s Associations have terms of reference, scope of activities, powers etc.
as set forth in their charters or constitutions.
360. In addition to assigning these specific responsibilities to specific entities, with regard
to water quality the Water Law also states:
• MEW and the River Basin Agencies control and supervise water quality according
to regulations, in close collaboration with concerned river basin councils and
other stakeholders (Article 31).
• Industrial companies must submit monthly waste water treatment reports to the
agencies responsible for water quality control (Article 31).
361. The Institute of Archaeology and the Department for Protection and Rehabilitation of
Historical Monuments are responsible to survey, register, and specify the area limits of all
historical monuments and sites.
6. National Flood Management Unit, MEW Kabul

362. Component 3 will help establish and develop a National Flood Management Unit
within MEW Kabul. Activities to be supported include (i) production of a five-year capacity
building plan, (ii) initial capacity building activities, (iii) developing (a) a flood management
policy; (b) database on flood-threatened and flood-affected areas throughout Afghanistan;
76
(d) flood management and bank erosion monitoring system; (e) flood warning and
emergency response enhancement plan; and (f) a portfolio of priority flood management
projects for preparation and financing. Staff of the new unit will be trained in flood risk
assessment, flood mapping, design of flood management structures, and other flood-related
topics.
7. Tajikistan Participation in Mitigation, Monitoring, and EMP Public

Consultation
363. None of the proposed Component 3 mitigation measures requires or involves action
by institutions in Tajikistan. With regard to EMP public consultation, public notification of
project activities is not required because none occur in Tajikistan, but courtesy notification of
local administration and border posts is nevertheless recommended.
364. Arrangements for Tajikistan involvement in monitoring; sharing or exchange of

monitoring data and analysis between Afghanistan and Tajikistan; and monitoring disclosure
to Tajikistan stakeholders, will be institutionalized within the broader framework of
cooperation between the two countries on water and environment issues. 86
8. Environmentally Responsible Procurement

365. Environmentally-sound project implementation endeavors to use products and
services that are environmentally responsible. In Afghanistan, addressing this concern will
involve qualitative ad hoc assessments of the relative merits of different supply options,
given that environmental permitting e.g. of vehicles and quarries, is not yet in place.
366. Potential areas of environmentally responsible procurement for this project could
include: (i) requiring that equipment and vehicles used in project activities by contractors
and others maintain acceptable emission levels; and (ii) ensuring that quarried materials do
not come from environmentally sensitive areas nor from quarries that having significant
adverse impacts on local communities or the resources on which they depend.
9. Preliminary Cost Estimates

367. To ensure funding for miscellaneous mitigation measures and monitoring costs, a
line item amount of USD 60,000 ($25,000 for Component 1; $10,000 for Component 2; and
$25,000 for Component 3) has been set aside to cover mitigation and monitoring costs
(exclusive of personnel, equipment, and office support) e.g. laboratory water quality
analyses, field survey logistics costs, and purchase of satellite images or other data.
M. Public Consultation and Information Disclosure
368. Public consultation during Tranche 1 / MFF preparation involved a process of

prolonged engagement of the PPTA team with a broad range of stakeholders of each of the
three components. This ongoing exchange of information, ideas, and concerns occurred in
several forms: formal and informal consultations, meetings, structured surveys, interviews,
and observations for the duration of the PPTA. The process of conceptualization and design
86
An agreement on cooperation in the water sector has been signed between representatives of the two
countries’ water ministries: Joint Meeting Protocol. 2007. [Final Translation of Protocol Between Tajikistan and
Afghanistan on Water Sector]. Delegation of Ministry of Energy and Water, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and
Ministry of Melioration and Water Resources and Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Republic of Tajikistan.
3 August, Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
77
of the physical and non-physical elements of each of the components was carried out in the
context of this ongoing dialogue with stakeholders. The incorporation of stakeholder ideas
and concerns into the project design was an incremental, continuous process.
369. Key elements of the consultation process included:
(vii) Identification of areas in Takhar and Kunduz provinces affected by Pyanj

flooding and bank erosion and discussion of protection options and potential
impacts
(viii) Estimating Balkh historic flood flows, in the absence of historic records of
flows or stages, in consultation older local informants
(ix) Resolution of Bangala weir siting and land acquisition issues through a multi-
day meeting between PPTA staff and canal representatives
(x) Discussions with NVDA staff about current problems and potential future
options for institutional reform
N. Findings and Recommendation
1. Impacts and Mitigation

370. The IEE screening process identified the following potential adverse impacts and
associated mitigation measures.

(i) Air and water quality impacts of construction activities, mitigated through project-
supervised contractor environmental management using standard measures;
(ii) Potential disturbance of archeological material by excavation and other

construction activities, mitigated through site pre-clearance and discovery protocols
prepared by the Implementation Consultant;
(iii) Overall operation-phase impacts (detailed in the following points) will be mitigated
through the Component’s (RBA) strengthening subcomponent and its support for
institutionalization of water users’ associations (WUAs);
(iv) On domestic water supply or irrigated agriculture or other valued environmental

components, due to social resistance to modernized irrigation system operation,
mitigated through the formation and strengthening of WUAs, and public
consultations conducted under RBA authority;
(v) On domestic water supply or irrigated agriculture or other valued environmental

components belonging to less powerful and marginalized communities and
individuals, due to operation of the modern gated infrastructure by empowered
groups rather than the RBA, mitigated through prompt effective action to enforce
legal restrictions on infrastructure operation and flow diversion through an
escalating continuum of responses culminating in law enforcement action;
(vi) On domestic water supply or irrigated agriculture or other valued environmental

components, due to defects in RBA operation, mitigated through capacity building
78
efforts leading to institutionalization of adequate operational assets and skills within

the RBA;
(vii) EOP structure damage, mitigated through design measures to strengthen ad

protect structures, operator training and supervision, and prompt maintenance and
upgrading in the event of minor damage.

(i) Air and water quality impacts of construction activities on, mitigated by mitigated
through project-supervised contractor environmental management using standard
measures;
(ii) Impacts of inadequate local stakeholder involvement in small-scale infrastructure

development, leading to inadequate maintenance, unintentional breakage,
sabotage, interference with water distribution, appropriation of operational control
by powerful individuals or groups, changes in domestic and irrigation water
provision, under- and over-drainage, flooding, and social conflict; mitigated by
public consultation, participatory infrastructure design, construction, operation, and
maintenance, and development of WUAs
(iii) Worsened surfacewater and groundwater quality and public health due to
increased agrochemical use during the operational phase, mitigated through
national agrochemical policies; farmer education in agrochemical use; policing of
agrochemical imports and markets; and medical training in agrochemical poisoning
diagnosis and treatment
(iv) Worsened quantity and quality of domestic and irrigation water supplies, especially
to vulnerable groups, due to gated structure operation; mitigated by support to
WUAs to undertake O&M that mitigates adverse impacts, and inclusion of
vulnerable group members in surveys, public consultation, and WUAs
(v) Of NVDA reforms such as privatization that change the incentive environment,
mitigated by environmental assessment of proposed incentive changes and
preparation of EMPs if necessary
(vi) Cumulative impacts with other irrigation R&U projects having similar impacts to C3
NVDA, mitigated through Project and RBA participation in the Provincial
Development Council process leading to a strategy and plan to avoid, mitigate, and
monitor cumulative impacts
(vii) Cumulative impacts on domestic water supply, water quality, and public health with
rapid growth in demand for domestic water and public health services occurring
concurrently with C2 NVDA and its impacts, mitigated as for the previous
cumulative impact

(i) EOP impact in the form of river attack of project infrastructure, mitigated by siting,
design, and O&M measures;
79
(ii) Air and water quality impacts of construction activities, mitigated through project-
supervised contractor environmental management using standard measures;
(iii) Potential disturbance of archeological material by excavation and other

construction activities, mitigated through site pre-clearance and discovery protocols
prepared by the implementation consultant;
(iv) Operational closure of the Yetim Tapa channel network to flood flows in years
when it would otherwise be an active flood channel thereby displacing flow and
sediment to other channel networks, mitigated by developing operational
procedures and rules to apportion flood flows and damage on all channel networks
including Yetim Tapa;
(v) Impacts on channel bed and water levels of Pyanj channelization by the proposed
5 km long embankment, mitigated by siting the embankment with adequate set
back, shortening the embankment relative to the original proposed alignment, and
providing ungated culverts to allow some cross flow;
(vi) No hazard is expected to be posed by the semi- or fully disintegrated remnants of

defunct gabions and porcupines but confirmatory monitoring is advised; and
(vii) No adverse impact on the tugai riverine forest habitat is expected; a community
forestry / bioengineered embankment protection pilot project has been included
near the Pyanj embankment.
2. EMP Status and Finalization

371. The EMP presented here is preliminary and at a level of detail appropriate to the
stage of Component and MFF development. An early implementation task will be to review
the EMP and finalize it to an implementation-ready level of detail, and provision has been
made in the Implementation Consultant team work plan and staffing for adequate resources
to advise and assist MEW in this process.
3. EMP Costs
372. EMP implementation costs have been mainstreamed into other budgets, including
those for Project infrastructure construction, Implementation Consultant personnel, MEW
operation and maintenance, and other items. A line amount of USD 60,000 has been set
aside to cover miscellaneous mitigation and monitoring costs.
O. Conclusions
373. There are no significant environmental impacts that require further detailed study or
EIA. With the finalization of an implementation-ready EMP early in Tranche 1, this IEE will
become the completed environmental assessment for Tranche 1.
80
Component 1 location
81
Figure 2: Layout, Bangala Weir and Associated Infrastructure

82
Figure 3a: Component 2 Location
Component 2 area
83
Figure 3b: NVDA Irrigation Network

84
Figure 4: Location Map, Component 3 Major Infrastructure
Shahrawan intake (AFG) Darqad Island Chubek intake (TAJ)

Yetim Tapa intake (AFG)
85
Figure 5: Soil Regions, Lower Balkh Irrigation Systems
Source: Eswaran, Hari (2001). Natural Resources Conservation Service, US Department of Agriculture.
86
87
Figure 6: Geologic and Mineral Resources, Studied Area
87
Afghan Geological Survey. 2006. Geologic and Mineral Resource Map of Afghanistan. AGS Open F ile Report
2006-0138, Version 2. Available: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1038/
87
Figure 7: LandSat Mosaic, Balkh Irrigation Systems and

Surrounding Areas. [Natural-color rendition created from 1999-2002
LandSat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus imagery. Cultural data
from Afghanistan Information Management Service (AIMS) files (Error!
Hyperlink reference not valid.) and originally derived from
Afghanistan Geodesy and Cartography Head Office (AGCHO) maps
(Davis, P. and K.J. Turner, 2007. Natural-Color-Image Maps of
Quadrangles 3666 and 3766, Balkh (219), Mazar-I-Sharif (220), Qarqin
(213), and Hazara Toghai (214) Quadrangles, Afghanistan. USGS.
Available: Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. )]
88
Figure 8: Balkh Basin

89
Figure 9: Land Cover, Lower Balkh Irrigation Systems

Created from screenshots of AIMS (2002) Balkh and Jawzjan provincial landcover maps.
Available: http://www.aims.org.af/services/sectoral/agriculture/landcover/Balkh.pdf and /Jawzjan.pdf
90
Figure 10: Salinity Sample Locations & Values Map, Lower Balkh Irrigated Area
Source: P. 82. SMEC. 2006 (December). Balkh River Basin Management Plan, Annex B, Physical Setting.
Report of Balkh River Integrated Water Resources Management Project (ADB TA JFPR 9060-AFG).
91
Figure 11: Administrative Boundaries, Roads, Rivers, Settlements,

Lower Balkh Irrigation Systems
Created from screenshots of AIMS (2003) Balkh and Jawzjan maps, retrieved10 Apr 09 from http://www.aims.org.af/maps/provincial/balkh.pdf and
92
Figure 12: Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS) and Hospital Sector
93
Figure 13: Archeological Site on the Lower Balkh: Pul-i Imambukri

From: http://spach.info/ephotosbalkhpuliimanbukri.htm
SPACH Photo Catalogue of Major Priority Sites and Monuments:
PUL-I IMAMBUKRI
LOCATION: Balkh Province. On the Balkhab, 14 km south of Balkh.
DATES: Timurid, 15th-16th C. (Ceramic).
DESCRIPTION: Many mounds and baked brick remain -though

nothing standing- stretching westwards along the river banks for
several kilometers."
From Ball, W. Archaeological Gazetteer of Afghanistan, Paris, 1982,

p. 202
CONDITION: Attention urgently needed

94
Figure 14: Lower Balkh Irrigation System, Schematic View

95
Figure 15: Excess/Deficit of Withdrawals, 2 Dec 2003

(Department of Irrigation / BCEOM assessment. Flow measurements were taken over a 48 hour period of
average river flow. At the time of this measurement, Nahre Shahi weir was the only permanent headwork,
diverting about 10 per cent of river flow.)
11. Aqcha L&RB
10. Faizabad RB
9. Char Bolak RB
8. Dawalatabad RB
7. Abdullah RB
6. Chimtal LB
Authorised
5. Mushtaque RB
Actual
4. Balkh RB
Excess or deficit
3. Siagerd RB
2. Nahri Shahi RB
1. Emam LB
‐10 ‐5 0 5 10 15
Water shares are expressed in paikal, a unit of intake width. Land area corresponding to
one paikal varies slightly down-canal, from 360 jerib at canal head to 400 jerib at the tail.
Traditional ungated intake dividers deliver quasi-constant proportions of flow to canals,
independent of flow rate ((i) SMEC. 2007 (March). Rapid Assessment of Irrigated Area and
Cropping Pattern for Six Canal Systems in Lower Balkh Area. Balkh River Integrated Water
Resources Management Project ADB TA JFPR 9060-AFG. (ii) SMEC. 2007 (March). Rapid
Assessment of Irrigated Area and Cropping Pattern for Six Canal Systems in Lower Balkh
Area. Report of Balkh River Integrated Water Resources Management Project ADB TA
JFPR 9060-AFG).
96
Figure 16: Location of Studied Area Districts, Nangarhar Province

97
Figure 17: Topography

98
Figure 18: Soils

99
Figure 19: Land Cover

100
Figure 20: Seismicity, Studied Area and Environs
Source: R. L. Wheeler and K. S. Rukstales. 2007. Seismotectonic Map of Afghanistan

and Adjacent Areas. Available: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1104/downloads/pdf/ of
2007-1104.pdf
101
Figure 21: Road Network

102
Figure 22: Afghanistan Immediate Needs Program Subproject Sites,

Nangarhar Province
103
Figure 23: Topography, Hamadoni/Darqad Fan

104
Figures 24: Topography, Imam Sahib Fan

105
25
6a
106
Figures 26: Geomorphic Surfaces, Imam Sahib Fan

107
Figure 27: Proposed Protected Areas of Afghanistan

108
Figure 28: Khatlon Province, Tajikistan – District Boundaries in the Studied Area
Adapted from: UNHCR. 2003 (July). Tajikistan District Map. Available: http://www.envsec.org/centasia/maps/opendoc.pdf
109
Figure 29: Embankments, Settled Areas, Roads, and Irrigation Canals in Hamadoni
District Along the Pyanj River
Based on 1986 Soviet-era map (1:50,000).

110
Figure 30: Hamadoni/Darqad Flooding, July 2005

111
Figure 31: New District Boundaries, Takhar Province
Official GIS shape files obtained from the Afghanistan Geodesy and Cartography Head Office.
112
Figure 32: Darqad and (Old) Yangi Qala Districts

113
Figure 33: Imam Sahib District, Kunduz Province

114
Table 1: Population in Lower Balkh Irrigation System Districts, 2004
Population, SP districts ('000s)

Balkh Province Total SP
District Rural Urban Total Rural Urban Total
Mazar-i-Sharif (provincial centre) 0.0 187.7 187.7 0.0 187.7 187.7
Nahr-e-Shahi 36.8 0.0 36.8 36.8 0.0 36.8
Kaldar 15.8 0.0 15.8
Shortepa 36.4 0.0 36.4
Dawlatabad 86.3 9.5 95.8 86.3 9.5 95.8
Balkh 91.3 11.3 102.6 91.3 11.3 102.6
Charbolak 66.3 0.0 66.3 66.3 0.0 66.3
Chimtal 72.7 0.0 72.7 72.7 0.0 72.7
Sholgra 96.4 9.1 105.5
Koshendah 32.7 0.0 32.7
Charkent 42.9 0.0 42.9
Dehdadi 47.4 0.0 47.4 47.4 0.0 47.4
Marmol 9.8 0.0 9.8
Kholam 22.1 43.7 65.8
Zaree 31.4 0.0 31.4
TOTAL Balkh 688.3 261.3 949.6 400.8 208.5 609.3
SP proportion of Balkh total,
per cent 58 80 64
Jozjan Province
Sheerghan (provincial center) 119.2 29.5 148.7
Faizabad 36.0 0.0 36.0 36.0 0.0 36.0
Aqchah 77.8 13.8 91.6 77.8 13.8 91.6
Mardyan 38.9 0.0 38.9 38.9 0.0 38.9
Mangajak 41.0 0.0 41.0 41.0 0.0 41.0
Qarqin 15.2 5.6 20.8
Khamyab 10.7 0.0 10.7
Darzab 43.7 1.8 45.5
Qoshtepa 14.3 0.0 14.3
Khwaja dukoh 0.0 0.0 0.0
TOTAL Jozjan 396.8 50.7 447.5 193.7 13.8 207.5
SP proportion of Jozjan total,
per cent 49 27 46
TOTAL Balkh + Jozjan 1,085.1 312.0 1,397.1 594.5 222.3 816.8
SP proportion of Balkh+Jozjan
total, per cent 55 71 58
Central Statistics Office. 2004. CSO 2003-2004 population statistics : 388 districts. Available:
http://www.aims.org.af/maps/national/population/cso_03_04_stat_388_dist.xls
115
Table 2 - Baseline Socioeconomic Environment, Balkh & Jawzjan Provinces

Significant differences between the two provinces are highlighted in grey.
Balkh Jawzjan
Demographics
Population: 1,123,948 Population: 426,987
Households: 119,378 Households: 50,900
Average household size: 8.4 Average household size: 8.4
Sex ratio: 96.7 Sex ratio: 98.2
Ethnic groups
The major ethnic groups living in Balkh The major ethnic groups living in Jawzjan
province are Tajiks and Pashtuns followed province are Uzbek and Turkmen followed
by Uzbek, Hazaras, Turkmen, Arab and by Tajik, Pashtun and Arab. Uzbek is
Baluch. Dari is spoken by 50 per cent of the spoken by 40 per cent of the population and
population and 60 per cent of the villages; Turkmani by 30 per cent. Pashtu and Dari
Pashtu is the majority language in 266 are spoken respectively by 20 per cent and
villages representing 30 per cent of the 10 per cent of the total population.
population, followed by Turkmani (10 per
cent) and Uzbeki (10 per cent).
Kuchis
Balkh province has a population of Kuchis or Jawzjan province has a population of Kuchis
nomads whose numbers vary by season. or nomads whose numbers vary by season.
In winter 53,000 individuals, or 2 per cent of In winter 77,000 individuals, or 3 per cent of
the national Kuchi population, stay in Balkh, the national Kuchi population, stay in
living in 80 communities. Half of these are Jawzjan living in 20 communities which are
short-range partially migratory, another third all settled.
are long-range partially migratory, and 20 per
cent are settled. Overall, for-long and short-
range migratory categories, less than half of
the community migrates. In the winter, both
groups stay mostly in one area.
In the summer, some 120 long-range

migratory Kuchi households come from Some 170 households move into Jawzjan in
Saripul province to Balkh province. The the summer. The Kuchi population in the
Kuchi population in the summer rises to summer is 81,000 individuals.
60,000 individuals.
3000 Kuchi households live in Internally

Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
Water supply and sanitation
Safe drinking water is used by 70 per cent Safe drinking water is used by 60 per cent
of urban households and 10 per cent of rural of urban households, and 6 per cent of rural
households. Direct access to their main households. Direct access to their main
source of drinking water within their source of drinking water within their
community is had by 80 per cent of community is had by 90 per cent of
households, 20 per cent must travel up to an households, 10 per cent have to travel for up
hour to access drinking water, and for 1 per to an hour to access drinking water, and 3
cent travel to access drinking water can take per cent travel to access drinking water can
up to six hours. take up to six hours.
Safe toilets are present in 15 per cent of Safe toilets are present in 33 per cent of
urban households and 10 per cent of rural urban households and 10 per cent of rural
116

Balkh Jawzjan
households. households.
Electricity
Electricity is available in 95 per cent of Electricity is available in 99 per cent of
urban households and 30 per cent of rural urban households and 30 per cent of rural
households, half from public and half from households.
private electricity supplies.
Transport
Roads - 40 per cent of roads are able to take Roads - 50 per cent of roads are able to take
car traffic in all seasons, and 30 per cent car traffic in all seasons, and 40 per cent
able to take car traffic in some seasons. able to take car traffic in some seasons.
There are no roads in 30 per cent of the There are no roads in about 10 per cent of
province. the province.
Telecommunications
Mobile phone coverage is available in Mobile phone coverage is available in
Hairatan, Chimtal, Balkh, Dehdadi, Khulam, Sheberghan town.
Charbolak, Nahre Shahi, and Dawlatabad
districts of Balkh province have.
Household income sources
Agriculture is the major source of revenue Agriculture is a major source of revenue for
for 40 per cent of households, including 60 50 per cent of households, including 70 per
per cent of rural households and 7 per cent cent of rural households and 10 per cent of
of urban households. Agricultural land or urban households. Agricultural land or
garden plots are owned or managed by 70 garden plots are owned or managed by 40
per cent of rural households and 6 per cent per cent of rural households and 10 per cent
of urban households. of urban households.
Trade and services are a source of income Trade and services are a source of income
for 60 per cent of urban households and 20 for 70 per cent of urban households and 30
per cent of rural households. per cent of rural households.
Non-farm labor is a source of income for 40 Non-farm labor is a source of income for 30
per cent of urban households and 30 per per cent of urban households and 40 per
cent of rural households. cent of rural households.
Livestock provides income to 30 per cent of Livestock provides income for 20 per cent of
rural households. rural households.
Cooperatives: In 2005, there were 21 Cooperatives: In 2005 there were 12 active
active agricultural cooperatives with 1,617 agricultural cooperatives with 597 members,
members, three times more members than in four times more people than in 2003.
2003. Cooperatives controlled 12,000 ha of Cooperatives controlled a total of 4000 ha of
land and sold 90,000 tons of agricultural land and sold 5000 tons of agricultural
products. As a result of this, each member’s products. As a result of this, each member’s
cooperative share value is AFG700,000 cooperative share value is AFG500,000
(USD14,000). (USD10,000).
Small industries, dominated by karakul Small industries are scarce in Jawzjan.
skin, are found in 70 per cent of villages of Karakul skin is produced in Darzab, Mingajik,
Dawlatabad, Balkh, Chimtal, and Sholgara Qush Tepa and Kwajah Dukoh. Silk is
districts. mostly produced in Mingajik.
Handicrafts include rugs, produced in 400 Handicrafts include carpets, rugs, jewelry
villages (40 per cent). Carpets, jewelry, and and shawls. Sheberghan, Faizabad, and
shawls are also produced in somewhat fewer Khanaqa are major producers of these
villages. Rug making is concentrated in handicrafts. Carpets are produced in
Chahar Kint, Sholgara, and Dawlatabad Mardyan, Mingajik, Darzab, and Qush Peta.
districts; carpets in Dawlatabad, Dehdadi, The last three districts also produce jewelry
117

Balkh Jawzjan
Balkh, and Chahar Bolak; jewelry in Dehdadi and shawls.
and Chahar Kint; and shawls in Dawlat
Abad, Chimtal, Chahar Kint, and Sholgara.
Loans were taken out by 30 per cent of Loans were taken out by 50 per cent of
households in 2005. Of these loans, 20 per households in Jawzjan in 2005. Of these, 3
cent were invested in economic activity such per cent were invested in economic activity
as business (10 per cent), agricultural inputs such as business (2 per cent) and
(10 per cent) and buying land (1 per cent). agricultural inputs (1 per cent).
Agriculture
Industrial crops are produced in many Industrial crops are produced in some
villages. Of the province’s 1140 villages, 430 villages. Sesame is produced in 180
(40 per cent) produce sesame, 420 produce villages, cotton is produced in 79 villages,
cotton, 150 produce tobacco, and 120 and tobacco is produced in 58 villages. Qush
produce sugar extracts. Tepa and Darzab are major producers of all
three crops.
Field crops in order of importance are Field crops in order of importance are
wheat, barley, maize, flax, melon, and water wheat, barley, melon, water melon and
melon. maize.
Garden crops are fruit and nut trees (70 per Garden crops are grapes (73 per cent) and
cent), grapes (10 per cent), vegetables (4 vegetables (23 per cent).
per cent), melon/water melons (6 per cent),
and cotton (2 per cent).
Fertilizer is used on fields by 80 per cent of Fertilizer is used on fields by 97 per cent of
households with access to it, and on gardens households with access to it; 2 per cent of
by 8 per cent of households; 10 per cent of households use it on garden plots.
households fertilize both field and garden.
Irrigated land is accessible to 70 per cent of Irrigated land is accessible to 80 per cent of
urban households and 70 per cent of urban urban households and 70 per cent of rural
Rain-fed land is accessible to 30 per cent Rain-fed land is accessible to 30 per cent of
of rural households and 10 per cent of urban rural households and 40 per cent of urban
Livestock and/or poultry are owned by 60 Livestock and/or poultry are owed by 60
per cent of rural households, 90 per cent of per cent of rural households, essentially 100
Kuchi households and 10 per cent of urban per cent of Kuchi households and 20 per
households. Most common are cattle, cent of households in urban areas. Most
donkeys, poultry, sheep and goats. common are donkeys, goats, sheep, and
cattle.
Education and literacy
Literacy is 40 per cent overall; 50 per cent of Literacy is 30 per cent overall; 40 per cent of
men and 30 per cent of women. In the 15-24 men and 20 per cent of women. In the 15-24
age group, 60 per cent of men and 35 per age group, 50 per cent of men and 22 per
cent of women are literate. Literacy in the cent of women are literate. Literacy in the
Kuchi population is lower, with 6 per cent of Kuchi population is lower, with 2 per cent of
men and 0 per cent of women able to read or men and 0 per cent of women able to read or
write. write.
School enrollment is 60 per cent for School enrollment is 40 per cent for
children aged 6-13; 70 per cent for boys and children aged 6-13; 50 per cent for boys and
50 per cent for girls. In the Kuchi population, 30 per cent for girls. In the Kuchi population,
50 per cent of boys and 20 per cent of girls 2 per cent of boys and 0 per cent of girls
118

Balkh Jawzjan
attend school in winter; 30 per cent of boys attend school in winter; 30 per cent of boys
and 10 per cent of girls attend in summer. and 10 per cent of girls attend in summer.
Schools - 344 primary and secondary Schools - 203 primary and secondary
schools in the province are attended by schools in the province are attended by
306,000 students and employ 8,000 105,000 students and employ 3300 teachers
teachers. Boys account for 60 per cent of of whom 40 per cent are women. Boys
students, and 90 per cent of schools are account for 60 per cent of students, and 80
boys’ schools. Teachers are 50 per cent per cent of schools are boys’ schools.
men and 50 per cent women.
University and technical education - The University and technical education – The
University of Balkh has faculties of Medicine, Jawzjan higher education institute has
Engineering, Law, Literature, Economics, faculties of science, social science, geology
Agriculture, Religious Law, and Education. and mining, and chemical technology. In
In 2005, enrollment was 5000 students; 2005, enrollment was 1000 students
3,300 men (66 per cent) and 1,700 women enrolled, 600 men (66 per cent) and 400
(34 per cent). Of these, 770 were first-year women (34 per cent). Of these, 400 were
students of which 84 per cent were men and first-year students of which 80 per cent were
16 per cent women. University dormitories men and 20 per cent
accommodated 1,100 male and 100 female University dormitories accommodated 75
students. An agricultural vocational high male students. A vocational high school in is
school is attended by 110 students, all men, attended by 70 students, all male. A
and employs 12 teachers, including seven Vocational High School of Gasoline and Oil
females. A chemical technology school is is attended by 170 male students, and
attended by 60 male students and employs employs 16 teachers, of which 5 are female.
with 46 staff, including 16 females. In 2005, A teacher training institute is attended by 444
23 agriculture and 12 chemical technology students, 60 per cent women and 40 per
schools graduated. cent men. In 2005, 15 students graduated
from the vocational high school and 23
students from the Vocational High School of
Gasoline and Oil.
Health
Health infrastructure - In 2005 there were Health infrastructure - In 2005 there were
39 health centers and 7 hospitals with a total 10 health centers and 6 hospitals with a total
of 477 beds employing 280 doctors and 270 of 264 beds employing 178 doctors and 299
nurses. This was an increase over 2003 of nurses. This was an increase over 2003 of
18 per cent of doctors and 9 per cent of 50 per cent of doctors and 69 per cent in
nurses. nurses.
Pharmacies – The province has 243 private Pharmacies – The province has 95 private
and 9 government pharmacies. and 3 government pharmacies.
Health workers – Most communities have a Health workers – Most communities do not
health worker on permanent staff, but 30 per have a health worker on permanent staff; 70
cent of men’s shura and 40 per cent of per cent of men’s shura and 70 per cent of
women’s shura reported no community women’s shura reported no community
health worker present. In both groups, most health worker present. A health center is
said that a hospital was their closest health present in the villages of 4 per cent of the
facility. population, and a dispensary in the villages
of 4 per cent. Around half the population
must travel more than ten kilometers for
medical attention (of which 50 per cent to
health centers and 40 per cent to
dispensaries).
119

Balkh Jawzjan
Use of loans to cover emergency health Use of loans to cover emergency health
expenses - Of the 30 per cent of households expenses - Of the 50 per cent of households
who reported taking out loans, 10 per cent who reported taking out loans, 10 per cent
said that the main use of their largest loan said that the main use of their largest loan
was to cover was to cover expenses for health
expenses for health emergencies. emergencies.
Food and nutrition
Hunger - Problems satisfying food needs are Hunger - Problems satisfying food are
experienced 1-3 times per year by 20 per experienced 1-3 times per year by 30 per
cent of households; 3-6 times per year by 20 cent of households; 3-6 times per year by 40
per cent; a few times per month by 2 per per cent; a few times per month by 7 per
cent; and more frequently by 1 per cent. cent; and more frequently by 2 per cent.
Daily caloric intake - Less than the Daily caloric intake - Less than the
minimum daily caloric intake necessary to minimum daily caloric intake necessary to
maintain good health is received by 50 per maintain good health is received by 30 per
cent of the urban population and 20 per cent cent of the urban population and 20 per cent
of the rural population. of the rural population.
Food aid - In 2005, 20 per cent of the Food aid - In 2005, 20 per cent of the
population received allocations of food aid. population received allocations of food aid.
Use of loans to buy food - Of the 30 per Use of loans to buy food - Of the 50 per
cent of households who reported taking out cent of households who reported taking out
loans, 60 per cent said that the main use of loans, 60 per cent said that the main use of
their largest loan was to buy food. their largest loan was to buy food.
Household perceptions of economic trends and shocks
Trends – Household perceptions of their Trends - Household perceptions of their
overall economic situation compared to a overall economic situation compared to a
year ago were 8 per cent much worse; 20 year ago were 20 per cent much worse; 20
per cent worse; 40 per cent same; 20 per per cent worse; 10 per cent same; 40 per
cent slightly better; and 3 per cent much cent slightly better; and 6 per cent much
better. better.
Shocks - Negative effects from an Shocks - Negative effects from an
unexpected event beyond their control in the unexpected event beyond their control in the
last year were reported by many households. last year were reported by many households.
Among rural households, agriculture (60 per Among rural households, agriculture (60 per
cent), drinking water (40 per cent), natural cent), natural disaster (40 per cent), drinking
disaster (20 per cent), and finances (10 per water (30 per cent), finances (6 per cent),
cent) were most problematic. Among urban and health/epidemics (5 per cent) were most
households, natural disaster (20 per cent), problematic. Among urban households,
drinking water (20 per cent), insecurity (10 drinking water (20 per cent) and finances (20
per cent) and finances (8 per cent) were per cent) were most problematic. Insecurity
most problematic. Insecurity and was problematic for a smaller proportion (<5
health/epidemics were problematic for a per cent) of households.
smaller proportion (<5 per cent) of
households.
Security
Illegally armed groups (IAGs) exist within IAGs: Every ex-commander still has his own
every ethnic community in the province. armed group and can be considered as a
88
Subsequently prior to the 2007 growing season, Balkh poppy cultivation was eradicated and has remained
through the 2008 and 2009 growing seasons (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. 2009 (January).
120

Balkh Jawzjan
Anti-government elements (AGEs): No leader of an IAG.
AGE activity was observed for the 6 months AGEs: A few incidents have occurred but
prior to reporting. may or may not be AGE-perpetrated. AGEs
Criminality and organized crime: The have some local support but no clear
level of crime is high in the province and evidence of actual activity.
crimes such as road robbery are increasing. Criminality and organized crime: The
Narcotics: Poppy and hashish cultivation is level of crime rate is moderate. Over the
significant. 88 Government destroyed 40 per past few months there have been several
cent of poppy cultivation; the remaining 60 incidents related to criminal activity.
per cent is under the control of influential Narcotics: Poppy and hashish areas have
local commanders or owned by individuals declined compared with the previous year.
who have paid to ensure their crops are not Most local commanders are involved in the
destroyed. Tension between Afghan narcotics business.
National Police (ANP) and local commanders
who control poppy cultivation persists,
contributing to insecurity.
Sources:
National Area-Based Development Programme. 2007. Balkh Provincial Profile. Ministry of Rural
Rehabilitation and Development. Available: http://www.mrrd.gov.af/nabdp/Provincial%20Profiles/
Balkh%20PDP%20Provincial%20profile.pdf
(xi) National Area-Based Development Programme. 2007. Jawzjan Provincial Profile. Available: http://
www.mrrd.gov.af/nabdp/Provincial%20Profiles/Jawjan%20PDP%20Provincial%20profile.pdf
Afghanistan Opium Winter Assessment. Available: http://www.unodc.org/documents/crop-

monitoring/ORA_report_2009.pdf)
121
Table 3: Kuchi and ADB Indigenous People Considerations

Considerations Kuchi
(i) Descent from population groups present in a given area, most often
before modem states or territories were created and before modem Yes
borders were defined
(ii) Maintenance of cultural and social identities, and social, economic,
cultural, and political institutions separate from mainstream or dominant Yes
societies and cultures.
(iii) Self-identification and identification by others as being part of a distinct
indigenous cultural group, and the display of a desire to preserve that Yes
cultural identity,
(iv) Linguistic identity different from that of the dominant society, No
(v) Social, cultural, economic, and political traditions and institutions
No
distinct from the dominant culture
(vi) Economic systems oriented more toward traditional systems of
Yes
production than mainstream systems,
(vii) Unique ties and attachments to traditional habitats and ancestral
Yes
territories and natural resources in these habitats and territories
(viii) Live in separated communities or cultural or ethnic groupings Somewhat
(ix) Located in areas geographically distant from urban centers and often
function at the periphery of the political, social, cultural, and economic
systems of the dominant or mainstream society, or on the fringes of Yes
urban areas, comprising indigenous peoples who have migrated but
remain distinct from the mainstream.
(x) National legislation of the country in which the development intervention
is taking place provides a basis for defining indigenous peoples
including constitutional, statutory, and customary law, as well as No
international law, including any international conventions to which the
country is a party.
122
Table 4: Cropping Patterns, Winter/Spring and Summer/Autumn, (i) Head Canal (Imam) and (ii) Tail Canal (Faizabad)
Winter/spring Summer/autumn
Imam Canal
Area irrigated Crops grown (per cent) Area irrigated Crops grown (per cent)
Vegetable
Location Per cent Per cent
Oil seed
Hashish
Tomato
Almond
Secondary
Fodder
Fodder
Cotton
Potato
Wheat
Barley
Poppy
Beans
Maize
Melon
on main Ha of paikal Ha of paikal
Onion
Other
canal
Fruit
canal land land
Sar-e-Asyab Head 600 50 61 2 30 6 8 500 42 33 25 8 3 3 2 8 8
Darakchan Head 300 100 71 20 10 200 67 60 5 5 5 10 5 5 5
Bay Temor Middle 600 75 97 2 1 2 300 38 44 30 3 1 7 4 2 7
Landai Joy Middle 100 100 50 40 10 5 50 50 30 5 10 5 5 5 5 10 10 10
Nawaridi Turki Tail 1000 53 60 40 500 26 40 10 10 10 20 5 5
Bargah Tail 700 35 50 50 500 25 50 5 10 5 5 5 6 10
Total 3300 52 65 26 0 0 6 2 2 2050 33 43 6 13 1 2 5 6 8 5 4 4
Winter/spring Summer/autumn
Faizabad Canal
Area irrigated Crops grown (per cent) Area irrigated Crops grown (per cent)
Vegetable
Location Per cent Per cent
Oil seed
Hashish
Secondary Tomato
Fodder
Fodder
Cotton
Other*
Potato
Wheat
Barley
Poppy
Beans
on main Ha of paikal Ha of paikal
Maize
Melon
Maize
Onion
canal
Fruit
canal land land
Arzankar Head 1200 100 60 20 10 10 8 996 83 10 40 5 5 5 5 10 10 5

Gortipah Head 1600 100 70 20 10 800 50 10 60 5 5 5 5 10 5
Chubah Middle 600 17 70 30 2 0 0
Qipchaq Middle 100 23 70 10 20 5 0 0
Charbagh Tail 500 27 70 30 0 0
Nasrat Abad Tail 600 23 80 20 0 0
Total 4600 44 69 22 0 0 3 7 2 1796 17 55 5 5 0 3 5 3 3 3 10 3
*Fruit in Arzankar, oilseeds elsewhere.
Source: Section 2, SMEC. 2007 (March). Rapid Assessment of Irrigated Area and Cropping Pattern for Six Canal Systems in Lower Balkh Area. Report of Balkh
123
River Integrated Water Resources Management Project (ADB TA JFPR 9060-AFG).

124

Demographics
Population: 1,343,000
Households: 182,400
Average household size: 7.4
Sex ratio: 96.0
Rural: 87 per cent
Ethnic groups
The major ethnic groups living in Nangarhar province are Pashtoons (90per cent) followed
by Pashayee (7 per cent) and other ethnic groups such as Tajiks, and Gujjars (3 per cent).
Pashtu is spoken by 92 per cent of the villages. The remaining eight percent speak
Pashayee (60 villages), Dari (36 villages) and some other unspecified languages.
Kuchis
Nangarhar province has a population of Kuchis or nomads whose numbers vary in different
seasons. In winter 559,000 individuals or 41 per cent of provincial population, representing
23 percent of the national Kuchi population, stay in Nangarhar living in 151 communities.
This makes Nangarhar the province with the highest number of Kuchi in the country in
winter. Out of 151 communities, 85 per cent are long-range migratory, 8 per cent are short-
range migratory and the remaining 7 per cent are settled. Only 2 per cent of long-range
migratory Kuchi change location during the winter, whereas 26 per cent move within their
summer areas; the most important such areas are in Parwan, Kabul, Wardak, Ghor, and
Nuristan provinces. In summer, the Nangarhar Kuchi population is 82,817 individuals.
Nangarhar Kuchi report that 7,900 Kuchi households moved across the border into Pakistan,
and that 850 households are in IDP camps.
Safe drinking water is used by 62 per cent of urban households and 41 per cent of rural
households. Direct access to their main source of drinking water within their community is
had by 93 per cent of households, 7 per cent must travel up to an hour to access drinking
water; none travel further than this to access drinking water.
Safe toilets are present in 33 per cent of urban households and 9 per cent of rural
households (3 per cent from public supplies).
Electricity
Electricity is available in 83 per cent of urban households and 9 per cent of rural
households. Of urban users, 3 per cent access public electricity supplies; no rural users do.
Transport
Roads – 54 per cent of roads are able to take car traffic in all seasons, and 34 per cent are
able to take car traffic in some seasons. There are no roads in 12 per cent of the province.
Telecommunications
Mobile phone coverage is available in many districts and along all main access routes of
the province.
Agriculture is the major source of revenue for 48 per cent of households, including 55 per
cent of rural households and 12 per cent of urban households. Agricultural land or garden
plots are owned or managed by 59 per cent of rural households and 3 per cent of urban
households.
Trade and services are a source of income for 58 per cent of urban households and 28 per
cent of rural households.
Non-farm labour is a source of income for 27 per cent of urban households and 40 per cent
of rural households.
Livestock provides income to 14 per cent of rural households and 0 per cent of urban
households.
Cooperatives: In 2005, there were 61 active agricultural cooperatives with 7220 members,
four times more members than in 2003. Cooperatives controlled 8129 ha of land and sold
125

75,000 tons of agricultural products. As a result of this, each member’s cooperative share
value is AFG 2,330,000 (USD47,000).
Small industries –very scarce, existing in only 71 out of 1400 villages; 45 produce sugar
and 21 honey. Kama District is the main sugar producing area, containing 26 out of the 45
sugar-producing villages. Bati Kot, Rodat, and Pachiwa Agam Districts are the main honey
producing areas.
Handicrafts –produced in 60 villages. Jewellery is produced in 45 villages: Momand Dara
District has 11 handicraft villages, Achin 9, Pachirwa Agam 7, and Bati Kot 7. Rugs are
produced in 9 villages most of which are in Lalpora, Momand Dara, and Khogaini Districts.
Loans were taken out by 51 per cent of households in 2005. Of these loans, a small
proportion were invested in economic activity such as business (6 per cent) and buying land
(1 per cent).
Agriculture
Industrial crops are produced in 526 of the province’s 1400 villages; 68 per cent produce
two commodities, cotton and sugar. Cotton is produced mainly in Behsud, Chaprihar,
Batikot, Khogaini, and Momand Dara Districts. Sugar is produced mainly in Behsud, Kama,
Kuzkunar, Bati Kot and Goshta Districts. In addition, sugar cane is produced in Behsud and
Kuz Kunar, tobacco in Achin, and olives in Shinwari and Bati Kot.
Field crops include wheat, maize, alfalfa, clover or other fodder and rice.
Garden crops include fruit and nut trees (50 per cent) and grapes (50 per cent).
Fertilizer is used on fields by 99 per cent of households with access to it. Very few
households fertilize garden plots.
Irrigated land is accessible to 96 per cent of rural households and 100 per cent of urban
households in the province [sic].
Rain-fed land is accessible to 4 per cent of rural households.
Livestock and/or poultry are owned by 86 per cent of rural households, 91 per cent of
Kuchi households, and 23 per cent of urban households. Most common are cattle, donkey,
goats and sheep.
Literacy is 29 per cent overall; 41 per cent of men and 15 per cent of women. In the 15-24
age group, 48 per cent of men and 16 per cent of women are literate. Literacy in the Kuchi
population is lower, with 2 per cent of men able to read or write; literacy of women Kuchis
was not reported.
School enrollment is 39 per cent for children aged 6-13; 51 per cent for boys and 28 per
cent for girls. In the Kuchi population, 7 per cent of the boys and 1 per cent of the girls
attend school in winter; and none attend in summer.
Schools - 321 primary and secondary schools in the province are attended by 328,023
students and employ 5180 teachers. Boys account for 65 per cent of students, and 93 per
cent of schools are boys’ schools. Teachers are 89 per cent men and 11 per cent women.
University and technical education - University of Nangarhar has nine faculties including
Medicine, Engineering, Agriculture, Law, Economics, Religious Law, Literature, Veterinary
Science, and Training and Education. In 2005, enrollment was 4330 students; 3980 men
(92 per cent) and 349 women (8 per cent). Of these, 1130 were first-year students of which
97 per cent were men and 3 per cent women. University dormitories accommodated 2557
male and 32 female students. Sahid Abdul Haq Agriculture Vocational High School
enrollment was 97 males, of which 39 graduated in 2005; it employed 15 teachers.
Mechanics Vocational High School enrollment was 129 males, of which 14 graduated in
2005; it employed eight male and two female staff. A teacher training institute enrollment
was 275 students, 95 per cent men.
Health
Health infrastructure - In 2005 there were 29 health centers and 7 hospitals with a total of
817 beds employing 343 doctors and 443 nurses. This was an increase over 2003 of a
factor of two of in the number doctors but a slight decrease in the number of nurses.
126

Pharmacies – The province has 393 pharmacies.
Health workers – About two-thirds of communities do not have a health worker on
permanent staff; 61 per cent of men’s shura and 67 per cent of women’s shura reported no
community health worker present. In both groups, most said that a clinic without beds or a
basic health centerwas their closest health facility.
Use of loans to cover emergency health expenses – Of the 51 per cent of households
who reported taking out loans, 10 per cent said that the main use of their largest loan was to
cover expenses for health emergencies.
Food and nutrition
Hunger - Problems satisfying food needs are experienced 1-3 times per year by 34 per cent
of households; 3-6 times per year by 35 per cent; a few times per month by 9 per cent; and
more frequently by 5 per cent.
Daily caloric intake - Less than the minimum daily caloric intake necessary to maintain
good health is received by 7 per cent of the urban population and 25 per cent of the rural
population.
Food aid - In 2005, 30 per cent of the population received allocations of food aid.
Use of loans to buy food - Of the 51 per cent of households who reported taking out loans,
56 per cent said that the main use of their largest loan was to buy food.
Trends – Household perceptions of their overall economic situation compared to a year ago
were 12 per cent much worse; 49 per cent worse; 30 per cent same; 7 per cent slightly
better; and 1 per cent much better.
Shocks - Negative effects from an unexpected event beyond their control in the last year
were reported by 86 per cent of rural households and 46 per cent of urban households. Of
households reporting shocks, the most common cause was agriculture (74 and 19 per cent
rural and urban respectively); then natural disaster (38 and 2 per cent respectively); then
financial (23 and 5), health (11 and 5), drinking water (6 and 25), and insecurity (0 and 4).
Security
Illegally armed groups (IAGs) – There are still a number of illegally armed groups in the
province. Tribes continue to maintain substantial amounts of weapons and ammunition.
Anti-government elements (AGEs): Anti government elements are present.
Criminality and organized crime: The illicit drug trade has led to a well-established
organized crime scene. Most Jalalabad city crime involves firearms; armed robbery is
frequent.
Narcotics: Opium and cannabis cultivation and hashish and heroin production are
prevalent in many districts. These activities are present in all districts but the major
production areas are Achin, Shinwar, Khogyani and Nazyan.
Source: National Area-Based Development Programme. 2007. Nangarhar Provincial Profile. Available:
http://www.mrrd.gov.af/nabdp/Provincial%20Profiles/Nangarhar%20PDP%20 Provincial%20profile.pdf
127
Table 6: Villages and Other Water Users Served by NVDA canals

District Canal (jui) Village supplied Other water users Remarks
1 Omer Khil Nangarhar University
2 Nzar Abad
Jalalabad University (10 per
3 Sabz Abad (90 per cent)
cent)
NVDA main office (1 per
4 Zulm Abad (99 per cent)
cent) 20 per cent of district
5 Bagrami (100 per cent) agricultural area irrigated
Surkhrod Mogam Khan (100 per by canal water; 80 per
6 cent by springs and/or
cent)
7 Jalalabad City (100 per cent) floods
Jalalaba City & military (100
8 Hada (0 per cent)
per cent)
Spring Chashmai
Run
Shila Surkhroad
off/flood
Khush Gunbad / Qalai
9
Rigi (100 per cent)
10 Navaqil (100 per cent)
NVDA Farm # 1, 7 blocks
11 Navagil (70 per cent)
(30 per cent) 30 per cent of district
NVDA Farm # 1 (10 per irrigated by canal; 70 per
Beshood 12 Saracha (90 per cent) cent rainfed and/or
cent)
Arbhai Saracha (100 per irrigated from Kabul and
13 & 14 Kunar rivers
cent)
NVDA Farm 1, 100 ha.
15/1 Samar Khel
Nursery Hada area
Nagh Low (100 per
15
cent)
NVDA Farm # 2 (60 per
Nagh Low & Lachapor
16 cent)
(40 per cent)
Private 40 per cent
17 Farm # 2
cent)
18 Barik Aab (50 per cent)
cent)
19 Block #2 Farm 4
cent)
20 Barik Aab (50 per cent)
cent)
Bati Kot Qaryai Dag (30 per NVDA Farm # 3 (70 per
21
cent) cent)
Saz Khil & Aibat Khil (50 NVDA Farm # 3 (50 per
22
per cent) cent)
Batikot(100 per cent)
22/1
455 ha
23 Navaqil (100 per cent)
24
cent)
Shinwar, Hazar Naw,
25 – 31 Basawal & Kochina (100
per cent)
30 per cent of district
agricultural area irrigated
Mohman by canal; 70 per cent
30 & 31
Dara irrigated by Kabul River,
flood & kariz (traditional
GW irrigation)
Source: April 2009 WRDIP discussion with NVDA officials, NGO staff, and community leaders.
128
Table 7 – Land Use in NVDA Farms (1980 and 2001)
All figures in hectares.
Arable land Irrigation Farm &

Farms & Olive Citrus Wind breaks
(annual Farm roads network & residential Unarable land Total area
Maintenance orchards orchards (eucalyptus)
crops) drains buildings
area
1980 2001 1980 2001 1980 2001 1980 2001 1980 2001 1980 2001 1980 2001 1980 2001 1980 2001
FARM 1 838 656 824 20 272 272 633 1620 131 131 241 241 158 158 1008 1008 4106 4106
FARM 2 779 571 19 0 190 190 1014 1241 140 140 200 200 76 76 0 0 2418 2418
FARM 3 430 262 1229 50 185 185 816 2164 78 78 56 56 84 84 18 181 3060 3060
FARM 4 788 670 23 1 128 128 400 541 45 45 12 12 38 38 161 161 1597 1597
Direct
maint’ce &
care 10 10 0 0 20 20 0 0 0 0 149 149 0 0 0 0 179 179
Total 2846 2169 2096 71 796 796 2863 5566 394 394 658 658 355 355 1351 1351 11361 11361
Change
2001-1980 -677 -2026 0.00 2703 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
per cent of
total area 25 19 18 1 7 7 25 49 3 3 6 6 3 3 12 12 0 0.00
Source: NVDA.
116
Table 8 - Population, Studies Area Distrivts (‘000s)

Table 10: Population, Studied Area Districts ('000s)
Nangarhar Province Total SP
Provincial Center (Jalalabad) 14.3 97.9 112.2 14.3 97.9 112.2
Surkhrod 111.7 0.0 111.7 111.7 0.0 111.7
Hesarak 23.5 0.0 23.5
Shairzad 48.4 0.0 48.4
Khogyani 104.3 3.8 108.0
Chiperhar 44.2 0.0 44.2 44.2 0.0 44.2
Pachar Wagan 31.7 0.0 31.7
Dahbala 34.5 0.0 34.5
Rodat 53.1 0.0 53.1 53.1 0.0 53.1
Achin 73.2 0.0 73.2
Nazyan 8.1 0.0 8.1
Dur Baba 25.9 0.0 25.9
Shenwar 35.6 0.0 35.6 35.6 0.0 35.6
Muhmand Dara 33.3 0.0 33.3 33.3 0.0 33.3
Lalpoor 15.2 0.0 15.2
Goshta 14.5 0.0 14.5
Bati Kot 56.7 0.0 56.7 56.7 0.0 56.7
Kama 77.4 0.0 77.4
Kooz Konar 50.1 0.0 50.1
Darah Noor 40.2 0.0 40.2
Kot 35.4 0.0 35.4
Behsood 72.8 0.0 72.8 72.8 0.0 72.8
TOTAL 1,004.1 101.7 1,105.7 421.7 97.9 519.6
Component as per cent of Nangarhar total 42 96 47
h //
a i f/ / i l/ l i / 03 04 388 di l
Prior to the 2004-5 reorganization of administrative units:
Kot District was part of Rodot District
Behsood was part of Jalalabad District
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Districts_of_Afghanistan
117
Table 9 - Baseline Socioeconomic Environment, Takhar & Kunduz Provinces

Takhar Kunduz
Demographics
Population: 830,319 Population: 773,387
Households: 121,276 Households: 86,756
Average household size: 6.8 Average household size: 8.9
Sex ratio: 97.1 Sex ratio: 99.4
Rural: 86 per cent Rural: 69 per cent
Ethnic groups
The major ethnic groups living in Takhar The major ethnic groups living in Kunduz
province are Uzbek and Tajiks followed by province are Pashtoon and Tajik, followed by
Pashtoons and Hazaras. Uzbek, Hazara, and Turkmen. Pashtu,
Dari and Uzbeki are spoken by 90 per cent
of the population and 88 per cent of the
villages. A fourth language, Turkmeni, is
spoken by majorities in 10 villages
representing 8 per cent of the population.
Kuchis
Takhar province has a population of Kuchis Kunduz province has a population of Kuchis
or nomads whose numbers vary in different or nomads whose numbers vary by season.
seasons. In winter 172,530 individuals, or
7.1 per cent of the national Kuchi population In winter 88,208 individuals, or 3.6 per cent
stay in Takhar, which makes it the province of the national Kuchi population, stay in
with the second highest Kuchi population in Kunduz living in 60 communities, of which 52
winter after Nangarhar. More than a third of per cent are short-range and 48 are long-
these are short-range partially migratory, and range migratory. All are partially migratory,
the other two-thirds are long-range partially meaning that up to 30 per cent of the
migratory. Overall, for both categories, more community remains behind the move to
than half of the community migrates. In the summer pastures occurs. The most
winter both groups stay mostly in one area important summer areas for the short range
and don’t move around during the season. migratory Kuchi are the Charhar Dara,
In the summer season, some 8,500 long Kunduz, Imam Sahib, Archi Aliabad, and
range migratory Kuchi households come Qala Zal districts of Kunduz province. The
from Badakhshan province to the Baharak most important summer areas for the long
district of Takhar province. The Kuchi range migratory Kuchi are in Badakhshan
population in the summer is 59,430 province (mostly Baharak district, but also
individuals. Yawan and Kohistan districts). The summer
Kuchi population is 45,570.
Safe drinking water is used by 52 per cent Safe drinking water is used by 15 per cent
of urban households and 27 per cent of rural of urban households, and 29 per cent of rural
households. Direct access to their main households. Direct access to their main
source of drinking water within their source of drinking water within their
community is had by 79 per cent of community is had by 88 per cent of
households, 14 per cent must travel up to an households, 9 per cent have to travel for up
hour to access drinking water, and 2 per cent to an hour to access drinking water, and 3
travel up to six hours to access drinking per cent travel to access drinking water can
water. take up to six hours.
Safe toilets are present in 2 per cent of Safe toilets are present in 2 per cent of
urban households and 1 per cent of rural households.
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Takhar Kunduz
households.
Electricity
Electricity is available in 16 per cent of Electricity is available in 64 per cent of
urban households and 2 per cent of rural urban households, and 5 per cent of rural
households. Of urban users, 3 per cent households; public supply is available to 50
access public electricity supplies; no rural and 3 per cent respectively.
users do.
Transport
Roads – 43 per cent of roads are able to Roads – 68 per cent of roads are able to
take car traffic in all seasons, and 29 per take car traffic in all seasons, and 26 per
cent are able to take car traffic in some cent able to take car traffic in some seasons.
seasons. There are no roads in 26 per cent There are no roads in about 4 per cent of the
of the province. province.
Telecommunications
Mobile phone coverage is available in all Mobile phone coverage is available in
districts of the province except Chal, Namak Aliabad, Archi, Chardarah, Khanabad, Imam
Ab, Warsaj, and Hazar Samuch. Sahib, and Kunduz Districts.
Agriculture is the major source of revenue Agriculture is a major source of revenue for
for 60 per cent of households, including 65 66 per cent of households, including 76 per
per cent of rural households and 20 per cent cent of rural households and 34 per cent of
of urban households. Agricultural land or urban households. Agricultural land or
garden plots are owned or managed by 61 garden plots are owned or managed by 70
per cent of rural households and 19 per cent per cent of rural households and 30 per cent
of urban households. of urban households.
Trade and services are a source of income Trade and services are a source of income
for 46 per cent of urban households and 20 for 58 per cent of urban households and 19
per cent of rural households. per cent of rural households.
Non-farm labor is a source of income for 39 Non-farm labor is a source of income for 20
per cent of urban households and 39 per per cent of urban households and 14 per
cent of rural households. cent of rural households.
Livestock provides income to 19 per cent of Livestock provides income for 28per cent of
rural households and 1 per cent of urban rural households and 21 per cent of urban
Cooperatives: In 2005, there were 34 Cooperatives: In 2005 there were 54 active
active agricultural cooperatives with 3428 agricultural cooperatives with 3592
members, eight times more members than in members, nine times more people than in
2003. Cooperatives controlled 29,130 ha of 2003. Cooperatives controlled a total of
land and sold 4000 tons of agricultural 11,720 ha of land and sold 90,000 tons of
products. As a result of this, each member’s agricultural products. As a result of this,
cooperative share value is AFG 2,665,200 each member’s cooperative share value is
(USD53,000). AFG1,373,200 (USD27,500).
Small industries – none reported. Small industries are almost inexistent in
Kunduz province. Some karakul skin is
produced in Hazrat Imam Sahib and Qala-I-
Zal districts
Handicrafts – none reported. Handicrafts are produced to some extent.
Hazrat Imam Sahib is home to one-third of
the villages producing rugs. Carpets are
produced in Hazrati Imam Sahib, Qala-I-Zal,
and Char Dara Districts. Jewelry is
119

Takhar Kunduz
produced in Hazrat Imam Sahib and Char
Dara Districts.
Loans were taken out by 37 per cent of Loans were taken out by 13 per cent of
households in 2005. Of these loans, a small households in Kunduz in 2005. Of these, a
proportion was invested in economic activity significant percentage was invested in
such as business (5 per cent), agricultural economic activity such as agricultural inputs
inputs (5 per cent), and buying land (2 per (27 per cent), business (4 per cent), and land
cent). (1 per cent).
Agriculture
Industrial crops – none reported. Industrial crops are produced in some
villages. Cotton is produced in Kunduz,
Hazrat Imam Saheb and Char Dara districts,
and sesame is produced in Kunduz and
Hazrat Imam Saheb districts.
Field crops include wheat, maize, barley, Field crops include wheat, rice, watermelon,
rice, and flax. melon and maize
Garden crops include fruit and nut trees (53 Garden crops include fruit and nut trees (78
per cent), grapes (12 per cent) and produce per cent) and grapes (6 per cent).
such as vegetables, potatoes, beans
and alfalfa, clover or other fodder. Wheat (12
per cent) is also frequently gown in garden
plots in the province.
Fertilizer is used on fields by 86 per cent of Fertilizer is used on fields by 76 per cent of
households with access to it, and on gardens households with access to it; 1 per cent of
by 10 per cent of households; 5 per cent of households use it on garden plots; 23 per
households fertilize both field and garden. cent of households fertilize both field and
garden.
Irrigated land is accessible to 48 per cent of Irrigated land is accessible to 85 per cent of
Rain-fed land is accessible to 65 per cent of Rain-fed land is accessible to 12 per cent of
rural households and 51 per cent of urban rural households.
households.
Livestock and/or poultry are owned by 74 Livestock and/or poultry are owed by 74
per cent of rural households, 69 per cent of per cent of rural households, 78 per cent of
Kuchi households and 34 per cent of urban Kuchi households, and 44 per cent of
households. Most common are donkey, households in urban areas. Most common
cattle, goats, poultry, and oxen are d sheep, cattle, poultry, donkey and
goats.
Literacy is 16 per cent overall; 21 per cent of Literacy is 33 per cent overall; 40 per cent of
men and 10 per cent of women. In the 15-24 men and 24 per cent of women. In the 15-24
age group, 24 per cent of men and 10 per age group, 45 per cent of men and 21 per
cent of women are literate. Literacy in the cent of women are literate. Literacy in the
Kuchi population is lower, with less than 1 Kuchi population is lower, with 1 per cent of
per cent of men and no women able to read men and 0.1 per cent of women able to read
or write. or write.
School enrollment is 32 per cent for School enrollment is 62 per cent for
children aged 6-13; 36 per cent for boys and children aged 6-13; 69 per cent for boys and
26 per cent for girls. In the Kuchi population, 52 per cent for girls. In the Kuchi population,
almost none of the boys and no girls attend 16 per cent of boys and 5 per cent of girls
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Takhar Kunduz
school in winter; and none attend in summer. attend school in winter. No Kuchi children
attend in summer.
Schools - 269 primary and secondary Schools - 252 primary and secondary
schools in the province are attended by schools in the province are attended by
306,000 students and employ 5000 teachers. 214,793 students and employ 4,970 teachers
Boys account for 62 per cent of students, of whom 25 per cent are women. Boys
and 82 per cent of schools are boys’ schools. account for 63 per cent of students, and 82
Teachers are 81 per cent men and 19 per per cent of schools are boys’ schools.
cent women. School is located within their village for 24
per cent of elementary students, 8 per cent
of secondary students, and 2 per cent of high
school students. Travel of over 10 km to
reach school is necessary for 20 per cent of
elementary students, 31 per cent of
secondary students, and 48 per cent of high
school students.
University and technical education - University and technical education –
University Abdullah abni Masoud Takhar has Higher Education Institute of Kunduz has
faculties of Medicine, Agriculture, Religious faculties of Social Sciences, Science and
Law, Literature, and Training & Education. Training and Education. In 2005, enrollment
In 2005, enrollment was 718 students; 604 was 592 students, of which 354 were men
men (84 per cent) and 114 women (16 per (56 per cent) and 258 women (44 per cent).
cent). Of these, 313 were first-year students Of these, 135 were first-year students of
of which 86 per cent were men and 14 per which 90 were men (67 per cent) and 45
cent women. University dormitories women (33 per cent). University dormitories
accommodated 220 male and no female accommodated 83 male students. An
students. A teacher training institute is agricultural vocational high school is
attended by 714 students, 51 percent men attended by 116 students, all men, and
and 49 per cent women. In 2005, 14 employs six teachers. A Commerce girl’s
teachers graduated, all men. school is attended by 75 female students; in
2005, it graduated 12 students. A teacher
training is attended by 212 students, 67 per
cent men; in 2005 it graduated 600 new
teachers, of which 36 per cent were women.
Health
Health infrastructure - In 2005 there were Health infrastructure - In 2005 there were
33 health centers and 4 hospitals with a total 26 health centers and 3 hospitals with a total
of 169 beds employing 57 doctors and 138 of 82 beds employing 90 doctors and 240
nurses. This was an increase over 2003 of nurses. This was an increase over 2003 of
14 per cent of doctors and 15 per cent of 37 per cent of doctors and nurses.
nurses.
Pharmacies – The province has 70 private Pharmacies – The province has 95 private
and 1 government pharmacies. and no government pharmacies.
Health workers – Most communities do not Health workers – Most communities do not
have a health worker on permanent staff; 67 have a health worker on permanent staff; 83
per cent of men’s shura and 54 per cent of per cent of men’s shura and 77 per cent of
women’s shura reported no community women’s shura reported no community
health worker present. In both groups, most health worker present. Out of 903 villages,
said that a hospital was their closest health only 13 have a health centre within their
facility. boundaries, and only 45 have a dispensary.
Over half (56 per cent) of the population
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Takhar Kunduz
must travel more than ten kilometers for
medical.
Use of loans to cover emergency health Use of loans to cover emergency health
expenses – Of the 37 per cent of expenses - Of the 13 per cent of households
households who reported taking out loans, who reported taking out loans, 11 per cent of
16 per cent said that the main use of their these said that the main use of their largest
largest loan was to cover expenses for loan was to cover expenses for health
health emergencies. emergencies.
Food and nutrition
Hunger - Problems satisfying food needs are Hunger - Problems satisfying food are
experienced 1-3 times per year by 24 per experienced 1-3 times per year by 19 per
cent of households; 3-6 times per year by 41 cent of households; 3-6 times per year by 17
per cent; a few times per month by 6 per per cent; a few times per month by 1 per
cent; and more frequently by 6 per cent. cent; and more frequently by 14 per cent.
Daily caloric intake - Less than the Daily caloric intake - Less than the
minimum daily caloric intake necessary to minimum daily caloric intake necessary to
maintain good health is received by 29 per maintain good health is received by 34 per
cent of the urban population and 27 per cent cent of the urban population and 23 per cent
of the rural population. of the rural population.
Food aid - In 2005, 15 per cent of the Food aid - In 2005, 16 per cent of the
population received allocations of food aid. population received allocations of food aid.
Use of loans to buy food - Of the 37 per Use of loans to buy food - Of the 13 per
cent of households who reported taking out cent of households who reported taking out
loans, 47 per cent said that the main use of loans, 28 per cent said that the main use of
their largest loan was to buy food. their largest loan was to buy food.
Trends – Household perceptions of their Trends - Household perceptions of their
overall economic situation compared to a overall economic situation compared to a
year ago were 13 per cent much worse; 28 year ago were 5 per cent much worse; 12
per cent worse; 38 per cent same; 22 per per cent worse; 36 per cent same; 38 per
cent slightly better; and 1 per cent much cent slightly better; and 10 per cent much
better. better.
Shocks - Negative effects from an Shocks - Negative effects from an
unexpected event beyond their control in the unexpected event beyond their control in the
last year were reported by 49 per cent of last year were reported by 28 per cent of
rural households and 17 of urban households. Of these, rural households
households. Of households reporting reported natural disaster (60 per cent),
shocks, the most common cause was natural drinking water (44 per cent), finances (28 per
disaster (72 and 74 per cent rural and urban cent), agriculture (26 per cent), and
respectively); then drinking water (37 and 31 health/epidemics (2 per cent) were most
per cent respectively; then agriculture (24 problematic. Among urban households,
and 10), insecurity (15 and 10), financial (9 natural disaster (41 per cent), finances (31
and 3), and health (4 and 10). per cent), drinking water (28 per cent),
insecurity (10 per cent), agriculture (7 per
cent), and health/epidemics (4 per cent)
were most problematic. No recovery at all
from shocks experienced in the last 12
months was reported by 71 per cent of
affected households; partial recovery was
reported by 22 per cent.
Security
122

Takhar Kunduz
Illegally armed groups (IAGs) – Takhar is IAGs: Repeated armed robberies in Kunduz
one of the main provinces for the city and Qalai Zal and Imam Sahib districts
Disarmament of Illegally Armed Groups suggest the continued presence of IAGs. It
programme and many weapons have been appears that some warlords retained some
collected here, yet evidence of proper small arms and ammunition after the recent
disbandment of IAGs is still lacking. surrender of a huge number of weapons and
Anti-government elements (AGEs): Some ammunition from former senior military
AGEs are active in the province (Taliban and commanders in the province.
Hezb-e-Islami Gulbudin). Most AGE activities AGEs: In first quarter 2007, attacks against
occur on the Taloqan–Kunduz roadand Afghanistan National Police intensified to
include improvised explosive device (IED) weekly; intensification continued in the
attacks on local authorities and International second quarter.. No single group claims
Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops. responsibility. All movement into Takhar and
Criminality and organized crime: Crime Badhakshan must pass through Kunduz city
rates are rising sharply. making it a preferred point of attack on high
Narcotics: Poppy eradication programs value targets. Though the community does
have never seriously targeted the remote not openly supported AGEs, there has been
districts. Takhar is a main route for drug and continues to be support for AGE in the
traffickers from south to north and into province,
Tajikistan. The northern districts, particularly Criminality and organised crime: Poor
those beyond the Kokcha River, are used by areas such as Khan Abad district seem to
drug traffickers as a secure passage to have more organised crime. Highway
Tajikistan. robbers work in groups, but they are believed
to be individual criminal groups not linked to
any larger organization.
Narcotics: Poppy production is very low
and the population is more oriented to the
production of food (wheat, vegetables, fruits,
etc). The province lies on the Kabul –
Pulikhumri – Kunduz – Tajikistan transit
route.
Sources:
(xii) National Area-Based Development Programme. 2007. Takhar Provincial Profile. Ministry of Rural
Rehabilitation and Development. Available: http://www.mrrd.gov.af/nabdp/Provincial%20
Profiles/Takhar%20PDP%20Provincial%20profile.pdf
(xiii) National Area-Based Development Programme. 2007. Kunduz Provincial Profile. Ministry of Rural
Rehabilitation and Development. Available: http://www.mrrd.gov.af/nabdp/Provincial%20
Profiles/Kunduz%20PDP%20Provincial%20profile.pdf
123
Table 10: Population in Studied Area Districts, 2003-4
Population, SP districts ('000s)

Takhar Province Total SP
Provincial Center (Taluqan) 144.2 31.1 175.3
Bangi 31.0 0.0 31.0
Eshkamesh 47.5 0.0 47.5
Chal 22.6 0.0 22.6
Warsaj 29.9 0.0 29.9
Farkhar 36.1 2.1 38.2
Kalafgan 31.2 0.0 31.2
Rustaq 131.4 10.3 141.7
Chah Ab 48.2 16.8 65.0
Yange Qala 27.5 6.3 33.8 27.5 6.3 33.8
Darqad 18.9 0.0 18.9 18.9 0.0 18.9
Khowaj Ghar 61.9 5.4 67.3
Namak Ab 8.8 0.0 8.8
Hazer Sumuch 13.6 0.0 13.6
Baharak 7.8 0.0 7.8
a
Dasht-e-qala 17.0 0.0 17.0 27.5 6.3 33.8
a
Khuwaj Bahawuddin 11.8 0.0 11.8 27.5 6.3 33.8
TOTAL Takhar 689.4 72.0 761.4 101.4 18.9 120.3
SP proportion of Takhar total, per cent 15 26 16
Kunduz Province
Provincial Center (Kunduzi) 152.3 96.7 249.0
Hazrat-Emam [Imam Sahib/Emam Saheb] 165.7 19.7 185.4 165.7 19.7 185.4
Qala-i-Zal 41.4 18.1 59.5
Char Drah 61.3 0.0 61.3
Ali Abad 40.6 0.0 40.6
Khan Abad 110.1 41.7 151.8
Dasht-Archi 81.2 4.4 85.6
TOTAL Kunduz 652.6 180.6 833.2 165.7 19.7 185.4
SP proportion of Kunduz total, per cent 25 11 22
TOTAL Takhar + Kunduz 1,342.0 252.6 1,594.6 267.1 38.6 305.7
per cent 20 15 19
http://www.aims.org.af/maps/national/population/cso_03_04_stat_388_dist.xls
a
Prior to the 2004-5 reorganization of administrative units Khuwaj Bahawuddin and Dashti Qala Districts were
part of Yangi Qala District. Districts in Kunduz Province were not affected. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Districts_of_Afghanistan
124

Location Timeframe Cost
Project Potential Environmental (i) Proposed Mitigation Measures Institutional
Project Activity Estimates
Stage Impact (ii) Performance Targets Responsibilities
(USD)
Component 1 Northern Basins Development Program
Pre- Project preparation & All (i) Assure all identified mitigation N/A Prior to PPTA Team, MEW Included in
construction detailed design measures are included in designs and tendering of Supervising PPTA,
phase budgets construction Engineer, Implementation
(ii) all measures included activities Implementation Team budgets
Consultant
Construction Construction activities Dust, noise, and liquid / (i) Standard measures per CEMP At and in the Throughout MEW Supervising Included in
solid waste emissions (ii) monitoring benchmarks per CEMP vicinity of the Engineer, infrastructure
during construction construction construction Contractor budgets
sites phase
Operation Phase Overview
Operation Modernization of lower Global impacts on well- (i) Mitigation of potential operation phase Throughout the See below See below See below
Summary Balkh water system being of communities impacts are a key objective of the RBA lower Balk
operation strengthening and WUA strengthening water system,
subcomponents with measures
(ii) Details below directed at the
RBA and
WUAs
Operation-Phase Details
Operation Modernization of Stakeholder frustration with (i) Training and communication provided System wide During set-up Implementation Included in
Detail system operation or incomprehension of new during ongoing RBA stakeholder with measures of the new Consultant, RBA, RBA
operational arrangements consultation and WUA support directed at the RBO, including WUAs strengthening
leads to local people (ii) Acceptable training and RBA and WUA set-up and WUA
damaging infrastructure, communication implementation progress WUAs capacity
compromising system and acceptably decreasing or low building
operation; social conflict operational problems budgets, and
RBA recurrent
O&M budget
Operation Poor operation of Damage to livelihoods and (i) RBA capacity building, including System wide During set-up Implementation Included in
Detail scheme by RBA well-being through adverse technical assistance specifically related with measures and Consultant; RBA
impacts of RBA operation to developing and implementing directed at the institutional Internal RBA strengthening
on surface water or ground technically, socially, and environmentally RBA capacity quality control; and WUA
water availability or quality, sound operational policies, rules, and building stage MEW oversight of capacity
or soil salinization, flooding, procedures; of the new RBA building
etc. (ii) Compliance with operational plans as RBA budgets;
indicated by analysis of monitoring data baseline survey
streams against operational plan, budget; RBA
accompanied by adequate O&M budget;
125

(USD)
characterization of ongoing system MEW
functioning relative to baseline in terms management
of flood damage, cropping patterns and budget
yields, ground and surface water quality,
water-related conflicts including inflicted
structure damage and violence,
perceptions of different water user types
including farmers, livestock owners,
women, urban dwellers kuchi; and
institutional benchmarks such as
indicators of WUA formation progress
such as charters signed, elections held.
Operation Appropriation of Damage to livelihoods and (i) Prompt effective action taken to System wide During set-up RBA, GOA RBA O&M
Detail operational control of well-being through adverse enforce relevant provisions of the Water with measures of the new security, law budget, GOA
structures from RBA / impacts of appropriator’s Law directed at the RBO, including enforcement, and security and
WUAs by powerful operation on surface water (ii) RBA and WUAs operate structures as RBA and WUA set-up justice agencies law
individuals or families or ground water availability per operational rules and procedures WUAs enforcement /
or quality, or soil justice budgets
salinization, flooding, etc.
Operation EOP impact Flood, erosion, (i) Bangala flood safety factor was Structures Design stage RBA, WUAs RBA / WUA
Detail sedimentation damage to increased during design; operator and after O&M budgets
weirs training and supervision, regular checks project
for damage and prompt maintenance completion
and upgrading if found (ii) No damage
from design scale events
Component 2 NVDA Improvement
Pre- Project preparation & All (i) Assure all identified mitigation N/A Prior to PPTA Team, MEW Included in
phase budgets construction Engineer, Implementation
(ii) All mitigation measures included activities Implementation Team budgets
Consultant
Construction Construction activities Dust, noise, and liquid / (i) Standard measures per CEMP At and in the Throughout MEW Supervising Included in
solid waste emissions (ii) Monitoring confirms CEMP objectives vicinity of the Engineer, infrastructure
during construction achieved construction construction Contractor budgets
sites phase
Operation Small-scale Changed domestic and (i) Participatory site identification, design, In specific Before, during MEW Supervising Included in
infrastructure O&M irrigation water availability construction including construction command and after Engineer, infrastructure,
and social conflict supervision, operation, and areas with construction Implementation WUA, O&M,
126

(USD)
maintenance, achieved through public WUAs Consultant, RBA budgets
consultation and WUAs Contractor, RBA
(ii) WUA progress benchmarks achieved
(elections, charters, etc.)
Operation Increased Worsened surfacewater and (i) National agrochemical policies; farmer In on-farm During On-farm Included in on-
agrochemical use groundwater quality and education in agrochemical use; policing demonstration implementatio demonstration farm demo
public health of agrochemical imports and markets; sites n contractor for budgets.
medical training in agrochemical farmer education Included in
poisoning diagnosis and treatment pilot activity. MAIL MAIL and MPH
(ii) National-level agrochemical and MPH for other. budgets
benchmarks achieved
Operation Increased water Adverse impacts on (i) Formation and strengthening of WUAs In specific Before, during MEW, Included in
control afforded by domestic and irrigation in O&M that mitigates adverse impacts. command and after Implementation public
newly gated structures water supplies, especially of Inclusion of vulnerable group members areas with construction Consultant, RBA consultation,
vulnerable groups in relevant Component activities WUAs WUA, survey
(surveys, public consultation, WUAs). budgets
(ii) Field evidence (surveys, public
consultation, WUAs) that water supply in
general, and access of vulnerable
groups in particular, is as good or better
than at baseline
Operation Project-led changes to Impacts contingent on (i) Environmental screening and Throughout Prior to MEW, MAIL, Included in
the incentive specifics of incentive assessment, and if necessary NVDA area implementatio Implementation NVDA reform
environment (e.g. changes preparation of EMPs, of proposed n of the NVDA Consultant, NVDA budget
privatization) for incentive changes prior to their business plan
farmers and others implementation.
currently dependent (ii) Effective screening and EMP
upon state-controlled implementation
land and other assets
Operation Component + other Potential cumulative (i) Project and RBA participation in the Throughout Ongoing MEW, Included in
projects’ past and impacts similar to Provincial Development Council process NVDA area Implementation agency budgets
future R&U of NVDA Component impacts leading to a strategy and plan to avoid, Consultant, RBA,
system mitigate, and monitor key cumulative PDC
impacts
(ii) Key cumulative impacts identified;
strategy and plan developed and
implemented
Operation Component + Component impacts on As above Throughout Ongoing As above As above
127

(USD)
population growth + domestic water supply, NVDA area
urbanization water quality, and public
health will occur
concurrently with rapid
growth in demand for
domestic water and public
health services
Component 3 Flood Management Program
Pre- Project preparation & None (i) Assure all identified mitigation N/A Prior to PPTA Team, MEW Included in
phase budgets; (ii) all measures included construction Engineer, Implementation
activities
Implementation Team budgets
Consultant
Detailed Infrastructure siting River attack of infrastructure (i) Assure proper placement, adequate At construction During design Design Engineer, Included in
design (site-related EOP impact) setback, appropriate engineering design sites MEW Supervising Implementation
for expected conditions, trials of Engineer, Team and
alternative protection measures Implementation infrastructure
(porcupines, afforestation); (ii) Consultant budgets
infrastructure damage/failure within
expected limits
Construction Construction activities Dust, noise, and liquid / (i) Standard measures per CEMP; At and in the Throughout MEW Supervising Included in
solid waste emissions (ii) monitoring benchmarks per CEMP vicinity of the Engineer, infrastructure
during construction construction construction Contractor budgets
sites phase
Construction Construction activities Damage to archaeology (i) Site screening & if needed safeguard At and in the At the MEW Supervising Included in
esp. excavation sites or artifacts plans; (ii) no archeology harmed vicinity of beginning of Engineer, Implementation
construction the Implementation Team staff
sites construction
Consultant budget &
phase
infrastructure
budgets
Operation 97-100 per cent Flood flow displacement (i) Headwork operation to distribute flood Throughout the After RBA, AFG-TAJ Headwork
closure of Yetim Tapa due to Yetim Tapa damage to the extent possible, system construction cooperation body operation NC;
channel network headworks operation compensation for floodway operation (if/when created) affectee
affectees, at RBA or AFG-TAJ option; compensation,
128

(USD)
(ii) FW all-channel flood damage no financing via
worse than FWO all-channel flood mechanism
damage TBD by RBA,
int’l agreement
Operation Pyanj channelization Long-term aggradation (i) At design, reduce length, increase At and Design stage RBA RBA O&M
between existing TAJ at/below channelized reach setback; (ii) aggradation slower than downstream of budget
and proposed AFG increase in countries’ ability to defend the
5 km Pyanj against rising bed & water levels embankment
embankments site
Abandonmen Deterioration, Adverse impacts of defunct (i) Relocation, removal, disassembly; (ii) At and in the After structure RBA RBA O&M
t displacement of gabions and porcupines defunct elements degrade without vicinity of life budget
gabions / porcupines causing harm gabion and
porcupine sites
129

Monitored
Impact Mitigation Location Measurements Frequency Responsibilities Cost
Parameters
All Components
Pre-construction Phase
Assure all identified mitigation As designs, Included in IC
Designs & Implementation
All measures are included in Office Document review budgets budget for
budgets Consultant (IC)
designs and budgets completed detailed design
Construction Phase
Dust, noise, and
MEW
liquid / solid Included in
Supervising
waste emissions Standard measures per CEMP Per CEMP Per CEMP Per CEMP Per CEMP infrastructure
Engineer,
during budgets
Contractor, IC
construction
Included in
MEW
Site screening & if needed Implementation
Damage to Per Per Supervising
safeguard plans, by national Per archeology Per archeology Team staff
archaeology archeology archeology Engineer,
archeology advisor to safeguards safeguards budget &
sites or artifacts safeguards safeguards Implementation
Implementation Consultant infrastructure
Consultant
budgets
Component 1 Northern Basins Program
Operation Phase
Stakeholder
frustration with Solicitation &
or incomprehen- documentation of
Training and
sion of new ope- Stakeholder stakeholder/WUA
communication Included in IC /
rational arrange- consultation, feedback;
Training and communication implementation training /
ments leads to WUA support ongoing system
provided during ongoing RBA progress / Quarterly management
local people activities; performance IC / RBA / SBC
stakeholder consultation and effectiveness; review budget; RBA /
damageing lower Balkh monitoring,
WUA support operational SBC recurrent
infrastructure, system / flagging of
problems / O&M budget
compromising infrastructure occurrence O&M
events
system opera- problems /
tion; social events
conflict
130

Monitored
Parameters
Sampling
Water levels, frequencies
flow rates, for each
RBA capacity building, including Flood damage,
System cropping and parameter as Included in IC /
Damage to technical assistance specifically cropping
operation yields, structure determined training /
livelihoods and related to developing and patterns and
monitoring operational by IC & RBA; management
well-being implementing technically, yields, ground IC / RBA / SBC
sites to be status, selected annual or budget; RBA /
through adverse socially, and environmentally and surface
determined by water quality more frequent SBC recurrent
impacts of RBA sound operational policies, water quantity
IC & RBA parameters, as analysis and O&M budget
rules, and procedures and quality
determined by IC review of
& RBA monitoring
data
Damage to
livelihoods and Included in IC /
Structure
well-being Water levels, training /
Prompt effective action to operation as As per RBA
through mis- Structure flow rates, management
enforce relevant provisions of per RBA operational IC / RBA / SBC
operation of sites operational budget; RBA
the Water Law operational rules
system by status recurrent O&M
rules
empowered budget
groups
Bangala flood safety factor was
increased during design;
Included in IC,
Flood, erosion, operator training and Physical
Engineering RBA/ SBC
sedimentation supervision, regular checks for condition of Weirs Post-flood IC / RBA / SBC
inspection recurrent O&M
damage to weirs damage and prompt weirs
budgets
maintenance and upgrading if
found
Component 2 NVDA Improvement
Construction Phase
Changed Per
Records of
domestic and Participatory site identification, participatory
stakeholder
irrigation water design, construction including Beneficiary / structure Included in IC,
contacts /
availability and construction supervision, stakeholder At small development RBA/ SBC
complaints; WUA IC / RBA / SBC
social conflict operation, and maintenance, input & structure sites protocol recurrent O&M
formation /
related to small achieved through public participation developed by budgets
strengthening
infrastructure consultation and WUAs design
activities
R&U engineers
131

Monitored
Parameters
Operation Phase
Agrochemical
use (type,
National agrochemical policies;
amount,
Worsened farmer education in
application MAIL; MPH
surfacewater agrochemical use; policing of
procedures & Farmer surveys; operations
and groundwater agrochemical imports and
timing); health budget; IC /
quality and markets; medical training in Agricultural Annual MAIL; MPH; IC /
incidence of surveillance; RBA / BC
public health agrochemical poisoning areas review RBA / SBC
acute / chronic records of WUA budgets for
from increased diagnosis and treatment;
poisoning; training delivery O&M, WUA
agrochemical inclusion of integrated pest
provision of support
use management & agrochemical
WUA training
training in WUA programming
on related
topics
Sample sites
(rural, urban,
Adverse impacts
GW, SW)
on domestic and Formation and strengthening of Water levels /
chosen as
irrigation water WUAs in O&M that mitigates flow rates at
Domestic & representative Monthly water IC / RBA / BC
supplies, adverse impacts. Inclusion of water supply
irrigation water of NVDA sampling, IC / RBA / SBC / budgets for
especially of vulnerable group members in points; WQ
supply quality system- annual review WUAs O&M, WUA
vulnerable, from relevant Component activities parameters
& quantity impacted of data support
provision/rehab (surveys, public consultation, suitable for field
area, and
of gated WUAs) testing by WUAs
monitorable
structures
by WUAs
themselves
Impacts
Environmental screening and Including in IC
contingent on As As
assessment, and if necessary As determined budget for
specifics of determined by As determined by determined IC / Project
preparation of EMPs, of by incentive NVDA
changes in incentive incentive EMP by incentive environment staff
proposed incentive changes EMP institutional
incentive (e.g. EMP EMP
prior to their implementation. reform
privatization)
With other
irrigation R&U in Project and RBA participation in Office review Are monitoring
the area - the Provincial Development Overall and collation / data streams IC / Project /
IC / Project /
potential Council process leading to a irrigation R&U analysis of adequate to Annual RBA
RBA / SBC
cumulative strategy and plan to avoid, in the area, projects’ capture review environment
O&M budgets
impacts similar mitigate, and monitor key and its impacts monitoring significant staff, SBC
to Component cumulative impacts data changes?
impacts
132

Monitored
Parameters
With population
growth + Project and RBA participation in Continuing
urbanization - the Provincial Development appropriateness IC / Project /
Demographic IC / Project /
impacts on Council process leading to a of project Annual RBA
and demand Office review RBA / SBC
domestic water strategy and plan to avoid, activities as review environment
data O&M budgets
supply, water mitigate, and monitor key demographic staff, SBC
quality, and cumulative impacts context evolves
public health
Component 3 Flood Management Program
Operation Phase
Proper infrastructure placement,
adequate setback, appropriate Included in IC,
Infrastructure
River attack of engineering design for expected Infrastructure Engineering RBA/ SBC
damage / Post flood IC / RBA / SBC
infrastructure conditions; trials of alternative sites inspection recurrent O&M
failure
protection measures budgets
(porcupines, afforestation)
Partial (3 per cent) mitigation by Channel Remote sensing
Flood flow
Yetim Tapa headwork network Channel with ground- Included in IC,
displacement
operation; performance target is activity by networks, truthing as During IC / RBA / RETA RBA/ SBC
due to Yetim
FW all-channel flood damage remote flood affected designed by flooding / SBC recurrent O&M
Tapa headworks
no worse than FWO all-channel sensing; flood areas RETA/IC river budgets
operation
flood damage damage morphologists
Long-term As
As Included in IC,
aggradation As determined by determined
At design, reduce length, Bed & flood determined by RETA / IC / RBA RBA/ SBC
at/below reach RETA/IC river by RETA/IC
increase setback levels RETA/IC river / SBC recurrent O&M
channelized at morphologists river
morphologists budgets
embankment morphologists
Abandonment Phase
Adverse impacts Condition, WUAs, local Included in IC,
Gabion &
of defunct Relocation, removal, presence of communities with RBA/ SBC
porcupine Visual inspection Post flood
gabions and disassembly as needed gabions & IC / RBA / SBC / recurrent O&M
locations
porcupines porcupines WUAs budgets
APPENDIX A 133
APPENDIX A: REGULATORY, LEGAL, AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK
1. This IEE was conducted on the basis of the following laws, regulations, policies, and
guidelines:
(i) ADB
• 2007 Consultation Draft of the Safeguard Policy Statement
• 2006 Operations Manual Section F1 on Environmental Considerations

in ADB Operations
• 2005 Public Communications Policy
• 2003 Environmental Assessment Guidelines
• 2002 Environmental Policy
(ii) GOA
• 2009 (May) Water Law
• 2008 (March). Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations.

Official Gazette No. 939
• 2007 (January). Environment Law
• 2007 (November). National Environmental Impact Assessment Policy
• 2005 (June). Ministry of Energy and Water Environmental

Assessment Project Manual
• 2004 (May). Law on the Protection of Historical and Cultural

Properties, Issue No. 828
APPENDIX B 134
APPENDIX B: STANDARD CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT

ENVIRONMENTAL SAFEGUARD CLAUSES
A. Environmental Protection and Control of Pollution
1. General
I. The Contractor shall observe and comply with all National Laws, Government
Regulations, Presidential Decrees, and Ministerial Regulations pertaining to environmental
protection, pollution control, waste management and biodiversity protection.
II. In conducting his construction activities the Contractor shall take all necessary
precautions to minimise environmental disturbance to the project area and surroundings and
to prevent the escape of polluting substances into streams, water courses, and groundwater.
The Contractor shall also utilise all necessary practicable methods and devices as are
available to prevent and otherwise minimize atmospheric emissions or discharges of air
contaminants.
III. Except where otherwise agreed or provided for by the Employer or expressly
stipulated in Particular Specifications or Technical Specifications forming part of the Contract
Documents, no separate payment will be made for complying with the provisions of this
Clause and attendant sub-clauses; and all costs shall be deemed to be included in the prices
for the Contractor’s mobilisation for construction, and the various rates and lump sum items
for the works included in the priced Bill of Quantities.
2. Pollution of Water Courses and Streams

IV. The emission of polluting liquids or other waste into drains, water courses, or
groundwater shall not be permitted.
V. No concrete or cement washings from the works or drainage from the

Contractor's concrete batching and mixing areas, asphalt (hot mix) plants, or other
manufacturing or production facilities shall be allowed to discharge into streams or drains
without passing through an adequate system of settling ponds.
VI. Storage of fuels, fuelling and maintenance of plant and vehicles, etc. shall take
place only on sites and under conditions that that do not allow spilt fuels to be discharged to
water bodies. Fuel storage and fuelling areas shall be equipped with adequate protective
measures to confine and retain accidental spillages. No drainage from fuel store and plant
maintenance depots shall be allowed to be discharged without passing through an adequate
arrangement of oil traps and separators.
VII. Washing of vehicles shall not be permitted in streams but only in specially
designated and equipped areas.
VIII. Operations in quarries and borrow areas shall be carried out in such a way as to
minimize any possible pollution from particulate matter entering the streams.
IX. Adequate sanitary waste control facilities shall be provided in site offices and
workers camps, and sewage waste shall be collected regularly and disposed in accordance
with relevant environmental legislation.
APPENDIX B 135
X. The Contractor shall accordingly be responsible for the installation, operation

and maintenance of a comprehensive drainage system to all areas of the Works. The
system shall be constructed such that no discharges of oil, cement, silt or other liquid or solid
waste matter can enter the streams and water courses at the site; and it shall have all
necessary solid waste and sediment traps, settling ponds, oil separators, etc., required to
ensure that pollution of streams watercourses and natural bodies of water does not occur.
The Contractor shall be responsible for maintaining the system to the satisfaction of the
Employer’s Construction Supervisor and all costs of providing the system shall be deemed to
be included in the various rates and lump sum items for the works included in the priced Bill
of Quantities.
3. Air Pollution
XI. The Contractor shall take all necessary steps to minimize air pollution resultant
from his operations.
XII. Except where stipulated in these Specifications for the disposal of natural
vegetation and organic materials from clearing operations, the burning of waste materials for
disposal, particularly oil and petroleum wastes, rubber, plastics and similar materials will not
be permitted.
XIII. During the performance of the work required under the Contract or of any
operations appurtenant thereto, whether on the Project Site or elsewhere, the Contractor
shall take all steps necessary, and shall furnish all labor, equipment, materials and means,
required to reduce dust nuisance from the Works, and to prevent dust originating from his
operations from damaging crops, orchards, cultivated fields, and dwellings; or causing a
nuisance to persons. The Contractor shall be held liable for any damage resulting from dust
originating from his operations including on Government roads, rights-of-way or elsewhere.
XIV. The emission of dust into the atmosphere shall not be permitted during the
manufacture, handling and storage and handling of cement and of concrete aggregates, and
the Contractor shall use such methods and equipment as are necessary for the prevention,
or the collection and disposal, of dust during such operations. All truck loads of loose
materials shall be covered during transportation
XV. Concrete batching and mixing areas, asphalt (hot mix) plants, or other
manufacturing or production facilities shall be sited at least 500m from the nearest
habitation. Emission outlets shall be fitted with pollution control devices in compliance with
relevant current Government of Afghanistan emission control legislation.
XVI. The cost of spraying water on haul roads, access roads, government roads,
aggregate stockpiles, etc.; or of any other methods of reducing the formation of dust; and the
cost of furnishing and applying materials to maintain the works areas, adjacent areas, and
roads, in a dustless condition, shall be deemed to be included in the various rates and lump
sum items for the works included in the priced Bill of Quantities.
4. Noise Pollution
XVII. The Contractor shall take all necessary precautions to minimize the amount of
noise and vibrations coming from construction activities.
APPENDIX B 136
XVIII. The Contractor shall ensure that all plant and equipment is properly maintained
in good operating condition, and that noisy construction activities shall be effectively sound-
reduced by means of silencers, mufflers, acoustic linings or shields, acoustic sheds or
screens or other means, to avoid disturbance to any nearby noise sensitive receivers. All
plant and equipment shall comply with relevant Government of Afghanistan legislation
covering sound emissions.
XIX. Quarry operations and blasting shall be undertaken so as to minimize blasting

and disturbance during the night, and insofar as it is possible, noise, vibration and dust.
Operation of trucks and heavy vehicles and machinery shall be restricted to the hours of
06:30 to 19:00.
XX. All necessary measures shall be undertaken to protect schools, hospitals and
other adjacent noise sensitive receptors, including the use of noise barriers.
5. Damage to Property, Crops and Vegetation

XXI. The Contractor shall limit the movement of his employees and equipment within
the project area and on adjacent land, including access routes approved by the Employer’s
Construction Supervisor, so as to minimize damage to natural vegetation, crops and
property, and shall endeavor to avoid any damage to land.
XXII. The Contractor shall strictly ensure employees and equipment do not enter any
sensitive environmental areas that are demarcated as “no-entry” zones.
XXIII. The Contractor shall preserve existing trees, plants and other vegetation that are
to remain within or adjacent to the Works and shall use every precaution necessary to
prevent damage or injury thereto. Trees or shrubs shall only be felled or removed where
such impinge directly on the permanent works or necessary temporary works areas; and
where such is approved by the Employer’s Construction Supervisor.
XXIV. On completion of the Works all areas disturbed by the Contractor’s construction
activities shall be restored by the Contractor to their original condition, or as may be
acceptable to the Employer.
XXV. The Contractor shall be responsible directly to the Employer for any excessive or
unnecessary damage to crops or lands arising from his operations, whether within the
project area, on lands adjacent thereto, or adjacent to approved access roads: and
deductions will be made from the payment due to the Contractor to cover the cost of such
excessive or unnecessary damage, as determined by the Employer.
B. Reporting
XXVI. The Contractor shall maintain a record of all emissions and spills of liquid, solid
and gaseous matter which occur at the site, whether into water courses, streams, on land, or
into the air. This record shall be compiled daily and shall include details of date, time and
nature of the event, along with details of the remedial and clean-up measures carried out.
Copies of these records shall be given to the Employer monthly.
XXVII. The Contractor shall also maintain a record of any complaints made by any
Governmental or Community Organization or by the public, regarding his operations. This
APPENDIX B 137
record shall contain the date and time of receipt of the complaint, the name and address of
the complainant and the action taken to remedy the situation. Copies of these records shall
be given to the Employer monthly.
C. Environmental Management Plan
XXVIII. The requirements of this clause and attendant sub-clauses on Environmental

Protection and Pollution Control notwithstanding; the Contractor shall observe and comply
with all relevant environmental protection and mitigation, monitoring, and reporting
requirements in the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) as stipulated in the Particular
Specification. In the event of any conflict between the foregoing sub-clauses and the
environmental protection and mitigation measures and pollution control requirements of the
EMP, the EMP shall take precedence.
XXIX. The Contractor shall prepare and submit to the Employer’s Construction
Supervisor a Construction Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan (CEMP)
demonstrating the manner in which the Contractor will comply with the requirements of the
foregoing sub-clauses on Environmental Protection and Pollution Control, the EMP, and any
particular environmental mitigation measures as stipulated in the Particular Specifications or
Technical Specifications forming part of the Contract Documents.
XXX. The CEMP shall be submitted within 15 working days of the Contractor receiving
the Notice to Proceed with the Works, and shall include a waste management plan detailing
procedures for waste management for the site covering all solid, liquid and gaseous waste
materials and emissions. The waste management plan shall include procedures for the
collection and disposal of all waste materials in such a way as to ensure that no damage is
caused to the environment. Training shall be provided to workers about the appropriate
implementation of the CEMP and waste management plan measures.
XXXI. Where stipulated in the Particular Specifications or Technical Specifications

forming part of the Contract Documents, and provision has been made in the Bill of
Quantities; payment for the implementation of the CEMP will be made in accordance with
the Unit Rates, Lump Sum or Provisional Sum Items included in the Priced Bill of Quantities.
APPENDIX C 138
APPENDIX C: PUBLIC CONSULTATION
A. Introduction
1. In the preparation of WRDIP and the components of Tranche 1, the PPTA team has
given due importance to public consultation, and has carried out a number of formal and
informal consultation, meetings, interviews, and observations.
2. Numerous modes of consultations were undertaken to achieve broad awareness of

the project and to incorporate a diversity of perspectives, as indicated by the following list:
(i) Formal meetings with provincial- and district-level local government

representatives and technical staff and local people’s representatives in the
areas of Components 1, 2, and 3
(ii) Public workshop to present the proposed project to stakeholders for comment
(iii) Individual interviews between PPTA experts and stakeholders (in particular
but not limited to Government representatives and technical staff concerned
with agriculture, environment, rural development, etc.)
(iv) Detailed household surveys of the local stakeholders in sample villages in

areas of Components 1, 2, and 3, to collect information related to social
impacts of proposed interventions, including information on resettlement,
indigenous peoples, gender issues, and poverty reduction
(v) Detailed surveys of farmers regarding agricultural practices in areas of

Components 1 and 2
(vi) Detailed surveys of irrigators regarding on-farm water management (OFMW)

in areas of Components 1 and 2
(vii) Discussions among the PPTA national gender specialist and women of the
areas of Components 1, 2, and 3
3. Provided below are accounts of (i) the formal meetings; (ii) the public workshop; and
(iii) a subset of the individual PPTA expert-stakeholder interviews. Appendices to the PPTA
main report present the methodology and results of the (iv) social survey, (v) agriculture
survey, (vi) OFWM survey, and (vii) the gender study.
B. PPTA Workshop
4. A workshop was held by the PPTA from 2 – 6.30pm on Sunday 24 May at the
Serena Hotel in Kabul during the ADB loan fact-finding mission. Invitations were sent to
53 representatives of Government; donors, NGOs, and local stakeholders (Table C-1).
Following opening remarks by the Deputy Minister MEW and ADB, presentations were made
by PPTA experts explaining each of the proposed Tranche 1 components and the
environmental impacts, monitoring, and mitigation. A question and answer period followed
each presentation. Key exchanges are documented below.
APPENDIX C 139
Table C-1: PPTA Workshop Invitees

No Position/ Agency Name No Position/ Agency Name
Deputy Minister Water 29 CIDA Joe Goodings
1 H.E. Ziaie
MEW 30 DFID
Professor 31 Team Leader Waleed Mahdi
2 Deputy Minister MoE
Shahidi 32 Concern Int'l
Deputy Minister 33 Mercy Corp
3 H.E. Sharif
Irrigation MAIL CHA Coordination of
H.E. Wais 34 Humanitarian Saeeda Safa
4 Deputy Minister MRRD
Barmak Assistance
Deputy Minister H.E. Mustafa 35 AKF
5
Finance MoF Mastoor Eng. S.S.
Director National 36 Consultant
6 Dr. Edrak Shobair
Encounter Disaster M. Qaseem
H.E. Dad 37 Consultant
Naimi
7 Deputy (NEPA) Mohammad Eng. Mohd
Baheer 38 Director
Akhtar
Thomas 39 Director Eng Farooq
8 ADB
Panella 40 Director Eng. Tamim
9 ADB Allan Kelly Eng. Shabaz
10 ADB Ryutaro Takaku 41 Director
Wafa
11 ADB M. Hanif Ayubi 42 Director Eng. Farhad
12 ADB Ted Patterson 43 Director Eng. Fazel Haq
13 ADB Peter Mawson Eng.
14 Director Planning MEW Eng. Ziagul 44 Director
Rostazada
Director Water Affairs Eng.Sultan District Governor -
15 45 Abdul Dayan
Management MEW Mahmood Yangi Qala
Governor's Office - Haji Mahmoud
16 46 Water user (Balkh)
Balkh bai
Governor's Office – Samim Haji Shah
17 47 Water user (Balkh)
Nangarhar Karimzai Mohammad
Governor's Office - Abul Fatah 48 Water user NVDA Yakshanba
18
Kunduz Hakim 49 Water user NVDA Yakshanba
Abdul Qader Afghan Takhar Gov. 50 Water user Takhar Abdul Ghafoor
19
Execuitve Director Office 51 Water user Kunduz Abdul Saboor
Director Water Eng. Zarif
20 Management - En. Esmatullah 52 PIU Representative
Zaher
Balkh(MoEW) Eng. Naeem
Deputy Director Water 53 PIU Representative
Rahimzai
21 Management - Eng. Amanullah Team
Nangarhar(MoEW) 54 Leader/Consultant R. Mohammed
Deputy Director Water (WRDIP)
Eng.
22 Management - 55 Consultant (WRDIP) M. I. Sultani
Nezamudin
Kunduz(MoEW) 56 Consultant (WRDIP) J. Ratsey
Deputy Director Water 57 Consultant (WRDIP) S. Husaini
23 Management - En. Rehmat 58 Consultant (WRDIP) J. Priest
Takhar(MoEW) 59 Consultant (WRDIP) E. Naimi
24 President NVDA(MAIL) Eng. Hakim 60 Consultant (WRDIP) S. Bennett
Technical Vice Abdul Ahmad 61 Consultant (WRDIP) W. Ostwald
25
President NVDA (MAIL) Loqmani 62 Support Staff (WRDIP) Dr. Gh Rasoul
26 EC Ben Hell 63 Support Staff (WRDIP) F. Mohibi
27 WB Usman Qamar 64 Support Staff (WRDIP) H. Abdullah
28 USAID Loren Stoddard
APPENDIX C 140
5. Component 1 – Northern Basins Development. Question: Engineer Sultan

Mahmood asked if it is possible to upgrade the survey program for the Basin Rivers to a
Master Plan and prepare a Master Plan instead of the surveys? PPTA answer: Preparing a
Master Plan is essential and important and shall be prepared but will require a longer time.
The surveys are for rehabilitation works to identify urgent need and will assist in preparation
of a Master Plan. Question: Engineer Sharif Shobair asked if construction of weirs in the
river may cause more flood to downstream areas like Aqcha and cause damages there, as
upstream people will close their intakes and all water will flow down; and what can be done
to address this issue. PPTA answer: Normal flow in the Balkh River can only irrigate 30 per
cent of the total command area. A vision for future is to use flood water in all eleven canals
of the lower Balkh and supply irrigation to mid- and tail portions of all canals, as normally
only small quantities of water reach the middle and tail portions of the canals. This program
will not only help tail and middle farmers to have at least one crop, but will also minimize
flood risks on the downstream areas of the river.
6. Component 2 - NVDA. Question: How is it possible that a service fee can be

charged by the proposed Water Utility if it is not implemented for all water users in the entire
country? PPTA answer: The Water Law provides for the collection of fees and the
procedure will be implemented in accord with the law. Question: How was the
reconstruction of the destroyed 4000 ha tail portion of the NVDA Canal System
implemented? PPTA answer: During 2005 and 2006, USAID financed the reconstruction of
the key siphon on the Grand Canal and provided flood protection works, including walls and
a low diversion dam for villages and the irrigation area, and secondary canal 33 and sub-
canals and roads were rebuilt.
7. Component 3 – Flood Management. Comment: A number of attendees reacted

strongly against flood protection embankment not extending across the channel network
east of Darqad. They expressed their concern that this intervention had been agreed
previously and that many stakeholders, both in the area and those at higher levels in the
GOA, had understood that the channel closure would be implemented in Tranche 1. PPTA
response: The PPTA team recognized this concern and explained that this intervention
presented significant challenges in terms of river morphology and flood levels and would
require further study to determine how best to design an intervention so that it did not
adversely impact Afghanistan in future. There was discussion regarding the Tajikistan
embankment and the pre-construction consultation with Afghanistan, with concern being
expressed that Afghanistan’s embankment development should not be constrained by
possible adverse effects on Tajikistan when Tajikistan was able to go ahead with its
construction. The PPTA team explained that adverse effects of an embankment on the
Afghanistan side would affect both Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
8. Environmental Impacts, Monitoring, and Mitigation: Comment: Consultation with

local stakeholders during development of interventions is very important to their success as
we learned on EIRP and I strongly support this. PPTA response: Agreed. Question: have
you considered the issue of water quality? PPTA response: Water quality impacts are a
possibility whenever surface or ground water distribution or use changes, and such impacts
need to be assessed, monitored, and managed appropriately to the circumstances.
APPENDIX C 141
C. Component 1 Public Consultations
March 2009 Public Consultation on

Proposed Bangala Weir Siting and Land Acquisition
Title: Public Consultation on Proposed Bangala Weir Siting and Land Acquisition
Location: Balkh Province Water Management Department Office
Date: 15, 17, and 25 March 2009
Notification: Ten days prior to the first meeting, Balkh Province Water Management
Department drew up a list and sent invitations to officially recognized
representatives of the three canals affected by the siting.
Participants: Officially recognized local stakeholders of the three concerned canals; Balkh
Province Water Management Department; and PPTA technical experts.
Number of participants: 39 (see below for list)

APPENDIX C 142
Date: 15-Mar-2009
Water Management Department Balkh
A- Aqcha Canal Representatives
1. Morad Bai, General Merab Bashi of Aqcha
2. Sherban Mama
3. Abdul Rahman
4. Hait Morad
5. Nazir Bai
6. Aamir Baba
7. Haji Abraham
8. Haji Ghulam
9. Rostam
10. Hassan Khan
11. Manan
B- Faizabad Canal Representatives:

1. Allah Beran, General Merab Bashi of Faizabad
2. Asadullah
3. Kabir Bai
4. Rais Qodos
5. Ghulam Qadir
6. Ajin Khan
7. Gul Ahmad
8. Hazrat Qol
9. Naim Bai
10. Morad Khan
C- Charbolac Canal Representatives:

1. Haji Baba Qol
2. Haji Allah Berdi
3. Gul Wali
Date: 17-Mar-2009
Water Management Department Balkh
Charbolak Canal Representatives:
1. Taza Gul, Merab Bashi of Sharsharak
2. Haji Allah Berdi
3. Mama Rajab Bai, General Merab Bashi of Charbolak
4. Noorudin
5. Haji Asadullah
6. Abdul Samad
7. Haji Baba Qol
8. Qandom
9. Amir Jan
10. Mohammad Ayub
11. Abdul Salam
12. Niyaz Mohammad
13. Alhaj Sobhan Berdi
APPENDIX C 143
April 6, 2009, Aqcha District, Balkh Province – Discussions with local residents
Issues discussed: Siting of infrastructure of this importance and magnitude requires full,
documented agreement of all the stakeholders involved. The purpose of these meetings
was to secure the understanding and agreement of local leaders, landowners, and irrigators
to the siting of the weir and the connecting canal structures and river works, and to the
requisite land acquisition.
Summary of discussions: On 15 March, Faizabad and Aqcha canals representatives agreed

to the proposed layout but the Charbolak Canal representatives did not, as only three people
from Charbolak were present. Another meeting was arranged for 17 March 2009 so they
could discuss the issue with their full number of representatives. At the 17 March meeting, it
was agreed that distribution structure of Charbolak and Faizabad canal will be shifted closer
to the main weir within 400 m. Following this adjustment, unanimous agreement to the plan
was reached and and all land acquisition issues were resolved. On 25 March, a registered
water user agreement to the weir and feeder canal location was executed and subsequently
registered at the provincial level. The text of the agreement and the names of the signors, in
English and in Dari, and the signatures/thumbprints, appear below.
APPENDIX C 144
Date: 25-Mar-2009
The agreement of the Charbolac, Faizabad and Aqcha Canals:
It is supposed that government wants to build a divider structure for Charbolac Canal,
Faizabad Canal and Aqcha Canal.
If the structure itself or the direction of Canal comes on Faizabad Canal, we representatives
and farmers are agreed to give our lands according to their Pekaly prices and we are honest
on our sayings.
APPENDIX C 145
APPENDIX C 146
Participants
Name Organization & Location Position
1) Eng Ibrahim Sultani WRDIP PPTA Landell Mills, Kabul Deputy Team Leader
2) Syed Hussaini WRDIP PPTA Landell Mills, Kabul Economist
3) Team Balkh Province Water Management Various
Department
4) Morad Bai Aqcha Canal Mirab bashi
5) Sherban Mama Aqcha Canal Canal representative
6) Abdul Rahman Aqcha Canal Canal representative
7) Hait Morad Aqcha Canal Canal representative
8) Nazir Bai Aqcha Canal Canal representative
9) Aamir Baba Aqcha Canal Canal representative
10) Haji Abraham Aqcha Canal Canal representative
11) Haji Ghulam Aqcha Canal Canal representative
12) Rostam Aqcha Canal Canal representative
13) Hassan Khan Aqcha Canal Canal representative
14) Manan Aqcha Canal Canal representative
15) Allah Beran Faizabad Canal Mirab bashi
16) Asadullah Faizabad Canal Canal representative
17) Kabir Bai Faizabad Canal Canal representative
18) Rais Qodos Faizabad Canal Canal representative
19) Ghulam Qadir Faizabad Canal Canal representative
20) Ajin Khan Faizabad Canal Canal representative
21) Gul Ahmad Faizabad Canal Canal representative
22) Hazrat Qol Faizabad Canal Canal representative
23) Naim Bai Faizabad Canal Canal representative
24) Morad Khan Faizabad Canal Canal representative
25) Haji Baba Qol Charbolac Canal Canal representative
26) Haji Allah Berdi Charbolac Canal Canal representative
27) Gul Wali Charbolac Canal Canal representative
28) Taza Gul Charbolac Canal Mirab bashi, Sharsharak
29) Haji Allah Berdi Charbolac Canal Mirab bashi, Charbolak
30) Mama Rajab Bai Charbolac Canal Canal representative
31) Noorudin Charbolac Canal Canal representative
32) Haji Asadullah Charbolac Canal Canal representative
33) Abdul Samad Charbolac Canal Canal representative
34) Haji Baba Qol Charbolac Canal Canal representative
35) Qandom Charbolac Canal Canal representative
36) Amir Jan Charbolac Canal Canal representative
37) Mohammad Ayub Charbolac Canal Canal representative
38) Abdul Salam Charbolac Canal Canal representative
39) Niyaz Mohammad Charbolac Canal Canal representative
40) Alhaj Sobhan Berdi Charbolac Canal Canal representative
APPENDIX C 147
Flood History Interview
D. Component 3 First Public Consultation Meeting
9. The objectives of this first public consultation meeting were to (i) give a brief
explanation of the proposed project and timescale; (ii) learn from stakeholders about river-
related problems and their effects; (iii) seek their views about local conditions and possible
interventions.
Title: First Public Consultation on Flood Protection and Bank Erosion Prevention in
Darqad, Dashti Qala, Khwaja Bahawodin, and Yangi Qala Districts of Takhar
Province
Location: District Governor’s Office, Khwaja Bahawodin
Date: Wednesday 28 January 2009
Notification: Two weeks prior to the meeting date, the WRDIP PPTA requested to the
concerned district governments to invite concerned local government (LG)
representatives and technical staff, and people’s representatives from each of
the four concerned districts
Participants: LG representatives and technical staff from each of the four concerned
districts
People’s representatives from each of the four concerned districts
APPENDIX C 148
MEW Kabul staff

PPTA technical experts
Issues discussed and speakers: The meeting opened with a presentation by the WRDIP
team. They explained that a project proposed for ADB funding would include work to protect
against river bank erosion and flooding in their area. Implementation would start after one
year or more, and then only with small works. Any large works would be begun several
years later. All works would have to be economically viable to be implemented.
Question 1: The WRDIP team asked stakeholders for their general observations on flooding
and erosion problems in the area.
Answers:
• There are many problems in this area but regarding water, river erosion and flooding
problem. We can say that the greatest problems are in the following districts of
Takhar: Dashte Qala, Darqad, Khwaja Bahawodin and Yangi Qala.
• For a long time, there has been a loss of very productive agriculture land, houses,
and forests. These problems cause food restrictions for us in this area.
• Erosion of land and villages creates the social problem of resettling the affected
people.
• In the last seven or eight years, many foreigners and government people have come
to this area talking to local people but are not doing any effective work.
• Some organizations have come, filled sand bags, and put them in the river, but after
six months the water washes them out and the work is destroyed. For example, this
kind of work was done on Jega Qeshlaq, Darqad, and Arab Kakol, and the result was
zero. This is not the way to protect the river.
• Protection work needs to be constructed when the river water level is low. Funding, if
it arrives at all, usually comes when the water level is rising, so the quality of work is
poor and the money is wasted.
• Overall, this entire river needs huge money and more time to protect it. There is a
need for a long-term solution. Government and other international companies should
help in this issue and solve the problem.
Question 2: The WRDIP team asked stakeholders for their observations problems in their
specific locations.
Answers:
In Dashte Qala District:
• Arab Kakol village has lost 400 ha of agriculture land and many houses due to
river erosion by the Panj River. Also, there is a bank erosion problem in the
Kokcha River between the Hyat bridge and the Panj River.
APPENDIX C 149
• Darqad Island: In 1880 at the time of King Abul Rahman Khan, Darqad district
belonged to Russia and Panjde belonged to Afghanistan. At that time the GOA
exchanged Panjde for Darqad island (comment of Mr. Dashti from Dashte Qala
District).
• There have been problems in the Darqad area from a long time ago, but not as
much as now. Darqad was an island previously, but the ferry used to ply only
when the water was high from April to August. Now it is used year round
because the water flow is more and the river bed is bigger.
• The most affected area of Darqad is Jeda Qeshlaq where the bank protection is
by sand bags that are quickly damaged by sunlight.
• Darqad island is surrounded by water, so it is attacked by the river on four sides.

Some low-lying land is subject to inundation flooding.
• One village has been lost in Islamabad.
In Khwaja Bahawodin District:
• The district is downstream of Yangi Qala and at risk of flooding from Yatim Tepa.
In 1974 Yangi Qala town was completely washed out by flood. If some protection
is not done upstream, there is the risk of experiencing such a big flood again
(comment of Mr. Anwari, District Governor).
In Yangi Qala District:
• The bank of Amu River in the area of Yatim Tapa and Anjirak is very vulnerable.
The movement of the river channel affects agriculture land, natural jungle, and
villages.
• The river bank has been strengthened on the Tajikistan side and all water is
coming to Afghanistan side.
Question 3: The WRDIP team asked stakeholders for information about agriculture in their
areas.
Answers:
• Wheat and rice are the main crops in this area. Some other crops and vegetation
are also cultivated. For example: 35 kg wheat is seeded in one jerib (2000 m²),
and with some use of fertilizer yields 700-1000 kg. Rice yield is the same. No
agricultural extension advice is received in the area.
• A few farmers practice triple cropping including vegetables.
• Household consumption of food grains was reported as about 0.5kg of wheat

flour plus 0.5kg of rice per person per day.
• Participants provided information for a local crop calendar as shown in Table C-2.
APPENDIX C 150
Table C-2 – Local Crop Calendar

Crop Planting Time Harvesting Time
Winter wheat November May
Spring wheat February May
Corn (maize) May Oct
Sesame May Oct
Paddy (rice) May Oct
Watermelon April July
Cotton April October
Question 4: The WRDIP team asked stakeholders what they felt the priorities were for their
area.
Answers:
• It was agreed that Darqad district had the most problems and should receive
priority. It is also the main production area but has few resources for combating
the river.
• The Dashti Qala representatives expressed concern that improvements upstream

would worsen the problem of river erosion at Arab Kakol since there may be less
attenuation of flows.
Question 5: The WRDIP team asked stakeholders to describe the flood characteristics.
Answer: The April to June flood season has a risk of short-term increases in flow due to
rainfall in the catchment. The floods during the former period are difficult to predict and often
cause damage to the irrigation canals. During the June to August water rise season the
water level in the river rises gradually.
Question 6: The WRDIP team asked stakeholders if the tugai habitat (jungle) helped protect
the land from river erosion.
Answer: The consensus was that the jungle is beneficial. It was also agreed that clearance
of jungle to create farmland could be a factor in the enlargement of river channels on the
east side of Darqad island and therefore re-establishment of jungle, where space permits,
may be beneficial.
Question 7: The WRDIP team asked stakeholders if it would be effective to provide an

embankment between Yetim Tapa and Shaftalo Boz to control the river and force most of
the water to pass to the west of Darqad island, rather than providing localized bank
erosion/flood protection in many locations. It was emphasized that flow through the existing
river and flood channels would be reduced but not stopped and irrigation canals would not
be blocked.
Answer: The consensus was that a major intervention would be very beneficial to reduce the
erosion and flooding problems elsewhere, with the exception of Arab Kakol.
Close of meeting: Lunch was served and the meeting ended at about 1:30pm.
APPENDIX C 151
Participants
1) John Ratsey WRDIP PPTA Landell Mills, Kabul River Training Specialist
2) John Field WRDIP PPTA Landell Mills, Kabul Geomorphologist
Water Resources
3)Ebadullah Naimi WRDIP PPTA Landell Mills, Kabul
Engineer
4) Eng. Zarif Zahir MEW PIU (Water) Kabul PIU staff
5) M. Akram Anwari Khwaja Bahawodin District District Governor
Teacher, people’s
6) Saheb Nazar Dashti Dashti Qala District
representative
Elder man, people’s
7) Haji Peer Mohammad Arab Kakol, Darqad District
representative
Takhar District Water Management
8) Eng. Habibullah Agriculture Engineer
Department (WMD)
9) Khal M. Dashti Qala District WMD Administrator
Dashti Qala District Agriculture
10) Imamudin Agriculture Administrator
Department
11) Sayed Sarwar Dashti Qala District Deputy District Governor
12) Abdul Hakim Khwaja Bahawodin District Agriculture Administrator
13) Azizullah Khwaja Bahawodin District WMD Engineer
14) Haji Jamshed Khwaja Bahawodin District
representative
15) Haji Mohammad Khwaja Bahawodin District
representative
16) Najibullah Darqad District Deputy Mayor, Darqad
17) Israil Darqad District
representative
18) Abdul Baseer Darqad District
representative
19) Haji Abdul Ghafor Khwaja Bahawodin District
representative
20) Haji Mahkam Bay Khwaja Bahawodin District
representative
21) Abdul Khabir Khawaja Bahawodin District Financial Administrator
Mayor, Kwawaja
22) Haji Azizullah Khawaja Bahawodin District
Bahowodin
23) Kamaludin Khwaja Bahawodin District
representative
24) Molawi Khal M. Darqad District
representative
25) Abdul Wahid Darqad Shora, Darqad District Head
26) Gholam Darwish Yangi Qala District Agriculture Administrator
27) Naseerullah Yangi Qala District Executive Officer
28) Abdul Baseer Yangi Qala District People’s representative
APPENDIX C 152
Meeting at Khwaja Bahawodin, 28 Jan 2009
E. Component 3 Second Public Consultation Meeting
10. The objectives of the second public consultation meeting were to (i) give a brief
explanation of the proposed project and timescale; (ii) learn from stakeholders about river-
related problems and their effects; (iii) seek their views about local conditions and possible
interventions.
Title: Second Public Consultation on Flood Protection and Bank Erosion Prevention
in Darqad, Dashti Qala, Khwaja Bahawodin, and Yangi Qala Districts of
Takhar Province
Location: Imam Sahib District Office
Date: 1 February 2009
Notification: Two weeks prior to the meeting date, the WRDIP PPTA requested to the Imam
Saheb district government to invite concerned province and local government
(LG) representatives and technical staff, and people’s representatives
Participants: LG representatives and technical staff from the province and district
People’s representatives
MEW Kabul staff
PPTA technical experts

APPENDIX C 153
Issues discussed and speakers: The meeting opened with an introduction of the WRDIP
team and project by Mr. Mahbobullah, Deputy District Governor. This was followed by a
brief presentation from the WRDIP team. They explained that a project proposed for ADB
funding would include work to protect against river bank erosion and flooding in their area.
Implementation would start after one year or more, and then only with small works. Any
large works would be begun several years later. All works would have to be economically
viable to be implemented.
Question 1: The WRDIP team asked stakeholders for their general observations on flooding
and erosion problems in the area.
Answers: Hon. Alhaj Abdul Rawoof Ibrahimi, Member of Parliament, noted that the
Department of Amu River Protection in Imam Sahib is responsible for river embankment and
protection. He pointed out that the river has always had problems, but since the end of the
Pres. Dauod Khan era there has not been any major work done to address these problems,
such that now the erosion and flooding are uncontrolled. The Amu River is eroded from
Yatem Tepa to Kham Ab putting all the people and agriculture land along the river at risk.
Over the last three decades within Imam Sahib District, approximately 54,000 jerib (10,800
ha) of land has been lost.
Responding to repeated requests from residents, the Minister responsible for water visited
the Barzangi area, where the river has eroded large areas, near the Sher Khan border
crossing. He was surprised by the damage and said, “I come today with empty pockets;
please let me go and come back with full pockets to fight with this river.” Soon after $82,000
was provided to implement the Barzangi project [cutoff of a meander loop] and there has
been no further problems in that area. However, similar work at Bota Kashan costing
$48,000 was less effective.
Stakeholders identified the following river locations as having problems in Imam Sahib
District:
• Shahrawan
• Qalam Gozar Payen
• Qezel Takhte Yakatoot
• Kote Qara
• Isky Bala
• Isky Bayen
• Qadam Jai
• Bota Kashan
The main problems at these locations are river bank erosion caused by river channel
movement. River channel movement also causes other problems, in particular leaving canal
intakes without water supplies.
Some inundation flooding occurs when the river is very high (e.g. 2005) in the north-east part
of the area near the river. The worst bank erosion occurs when the river water level is
dropping. Work at Qadam Jai is considered very urgent because houses are currently being
washed away.
APPENDIX C 154
It was pointed out that MEW has 3 ha of land in Imam Sahib town which could be used as
the base for an organization responsible for managing the river within the district.
Question 2: The WRDIP team asked stakeholders for information about agriculture in their
areas.
Answer: Rice and wheat are the main crops in this area. Other crops are also grown such
as cotton, corn, melon, watermelon, and vegetables.
Question 3: The WRDIP team asked stakeholders for their suggestions.
Answers: Hon. Alhaj Abdul Rawoof Ibrahimi, Member of Parliament, stated that the need
for intervention is urgent; without action, in two or three years the whole area and people will
be washed out by flood and river erosion.
Qadam Jai has lots of problem and needs emergency assistance if WRDIP wants to have
support from local people.
Khalilullah Amini, previous water management director of Konduz noted that there are four
issues at Shahrawan intake that should be considered by the WRDIP project:
• Protection of the river bank upstream of the intake and reconstruction of the
intake channel
• Protection of the intake structure itself
• Reconstruction and protection of the sluiceway channel downstream of the intake
• Enlargement of the first 1km of main canal to increase its capacity.

APPENDIX C 155
Gul Mohammad, Head of Water Management Department Imam Sahib noted that at Qezel
Takhte Yakatoot, MEW did 420 m of gabion work to change the river to another channel, but
a further 380m is needed to protect 25 km downstream from flooding. This 25 km will be
protected not just along the river, but also 9050 ha of agriculture land, 2262 families, and
18,100 people will be protected as well.
Other stakeholders were asked if they had further comments but indicated that the main
issues had all been raised.
Participants
1) John Ratsey WRDIP PPTA Landell Mills, Kabul River Training Specialist
2) John Field WRDIP PPTA Landell Mills, Kabul Geomorphologist
3) Ebadullah Naimi WRDIP PPTA Landell Mills, Kabul Water Resources Engineer
4) Eng. Zarif Zahir MEW PIU (Water) Kabul PIU staff
5) Alhaj Abdul Rawoof Ibrahimi Parliament, Kabul Member for Imam Sahib
6) Alhaj Meher Joma Bawari District Governor, Imam Saheb District Governor
7) Mahbubullah District Governor, Imam Saheb Deputy istrict governor
Water Management Dept. (WMD)
8) Khalilullah Amini Konduz Previous Director
9) Gul Mohammad WMD Imam Sahib Head of Department
10) Dagarwal Ameer Mohammad Border Police Head of Border Police
11) Ustad Mohammad Ayub Imam Saheb Mayor
12) Alhaj Wakil Qurban Turkmen group Head
13) Eng. Saleh M. WMD Konduz Engineer
14) Haji Esmatullah Environment Dept., Imam Saheb Staff member
Ministry of Rural Rehabilittation
15) Arbab Joma Morad Development (MRRD), Konduz Engineer
Village Administrator,
16) Gulzar Wahdat Imam Saheb people’s representative
Elder Man, people’s
17) Haji Abdul Jamil Imam Saheb representative
18) Jan Ali Imam Saheb representative
19) Sayed Faqeer Imam Saheb representative
Farmer, people’s
20) Mohammad Gul Imam Saheb representative
21) Abdul Saboor WMD, Imam Saheb Water Master
22) Mohammad Anwar WMD, Imam Saheb Water Master
23) Moqeem Paikar WMD, Imam Saheb Staff member
24) Sakhi Ahmad WMD, Imam Saheb Staff member
Question 4: The WRDIP team stated that providing an overall solution to manage the river
in the Imam Sahib area would be expensive and the cost would need to be justified by the
benefits. Stakeholders were asked what actions they felt would have significant benefits at
reasonable cost.
APPENDIX C 156
Answer: Stakeholders proposed (i) prompt action to address problems as they arose
including bank protection, channel closures, and loop cutting; and (ii) re-establishment of the
equipment fleet to undertake work to manage the river. The need for cooperation with
Tajikistan to ensure that work undertaken by one country does not have a bad effect on the
other was noted.
APPENDIX C 157
F. Individual Interviews
11. This table provides example records of individual interviews between PPTA technical
experts and stakeholders. Many more such interviews took place than are recorded here.
Date: 15 to 19 November 2008

Place: Balkh Province
Visit to Bangala Bridge and Weir site, to Sholgera Valley, and to Samarkandian
Topics(s):
Weir.
M. Ibrahim Sultani and John E. Priest, Irrigation Engineers WRDIP
Attending:
Eng Esmatullah, Head Water Management Dept. Balkh and staff engineer
Bangala Weir: selected for off-channel construction, instead of previous in-
channel site.
Bangala Bridge: identified need to build a new bridge.
Sholgera Valley: observed areas dedicated to rice and recognized that with all
drainage returning to the river for reuse downstream, the general concern that
Outcome(s):
rice cultivation is depriving downstream users of large quantities of water is not
the reality of the situation.
Samarkandian Weir: identified need to upgrade gate operations for faster
operation by electrification and for installation of gantry for gate removal,
maintenance, and repair.
Reported by: J. Priest
Date: 13 to 15 December 2008

Place: Balkh Province
Interviewed oelder citizens regarding flood high water marks. Observed MEW
Topics(s): construction of Nahri Shahi canal works. Discussed the provincial water
program with the Provincial Department.
M. Ibrahim Sultani and John E. Priest, Irrigation Engineers, WRDIP
Attending: Eng Esmatullah, Head Water Management Dept. and Eng. Amin, Deputy Dept.
Head.
High water levels: interviewed two elders at Imam Bukri Bridge and identified
high water levels during the 1991 and the 1958 floods. Interviewed three elders
regarding the 1991 flood level at Bangala Bridge.
Works Construction: inspected sites of construction for connecting Nahri Shahi
Canal to serve the Siagherd and Balkh canals.
MEW program and needs: Engs. Esmatullah and Amin noted the need to
operate gates at weirs by electric motors for rapid response and to have the
capacity for gate removal for maintenance and repair. They noted that there was
98 per cent progress in resolution of the dispute regarding appropriate diversions
to the Mushtaq Canal at Samarkandian Weir.
Outcome(s): Input to development of subcomponent concepts
Date: 18 December 2008

Place: MEW, Kabul
Topic(s): Presentation to Minister and staff, MEW, work program for Bangala Weir
WRDIP. Robert A. Mohammed, TL; Eng M. Ibrahim Sultani (presenter); John E.
Priest; Jelle Beekma, TL KRBP
Attending: PCI, Robert Wilkins
MEW, Minister, M. Ismail Khan; Eng. Zia Gul, Dir.Planning;Sayed Sharig Shobai,
Ch Eng FAO; Eng. Qassim Naimi, Advisor; plus 14 others
Weir design: informed Minister and staff of the need to modify the design of
Bangala Weir that NESPAK presented in April 2008 to make possible
Outcome(s):
construction off-channel to avoid problems of care and handling of water
associated with in-channel construction.
APPENDIX C 158
Agreement: Alerted MEW to the need for them to sponsor presentations to

water users to get agreement on weir and canal layout, procurement of land, and
official registration of agreement among MEW, and water users of Charbolac,
Faisabad, and Aqcha canals.
Date: 8 to 12 February 2009

Place: Nangarhar Province
Topics(s): NVDA O&M and structures; R&U traditional irrigation systems
WRMD, M. Ibrahim Sultani and John E. Priest, Irrigation Engineers
Attending: Director, NVDA; Dep Director, NVDA
Head, Water Management, MEW
NVDA: Pump stations, Darunta headworks, main workshops, main canal, olive
factory, traditional irrigation systems.
Outcome(s):
Torkay, Kunar River.
Flood wall, Kabul River
Date: 5 April 2009

Place: WRDIP office
Topics(s): Gambiri Project and hydroelectric potentials of Kunar River
Robert A. Mohammed, TL; John E. Priest and M. Ibrahim Sultani, Irrigation
Engineers, WRDIP; and reviewers of the Gambiri Project.
Attending:
Capt. Katherine Carpenter, US Army Corps of Engineers, Kabul, and
MEW, Seyd Mahboob, FAO
Outcome(s):
Date: 8 - 9 February 2009

Place: NVDA Office, Nangarhar, Ghanikil District and private area
Topic(s): Information on NVDA irrigation system, resources & beneficiaries, social data.
Abdel Ahmed Laqmani, Abdul Ayob, Yak Shanbi Khan, local leaders and farmers
Attending:
from through out
Basic NVDA information, canal list, information on five farms, staff nominated to
Outcome(s):
accompany team
Date: 16th February 2009

Place: Water Management Department, Kunduz
General water management information for the province, information on field
Topic(s):
staff contacts
Eng. Sayed Ahmed, Director Water Management Department, Kunduz,
Attending:
Zabihullah, Hydrologist, Kunduz
Outcome(s): Collected basic information and other relevant data
Reported by: Anura Widana
Date: 17th February 2009

Place: Imam Sahib and Qadam Jai
Topics(s): District social information, information about the affected areas
Gul Mohamed, Irrigation Director, Imam Sahib district, Mohamed Khan, Director
Statistics, Imam Sahib district, community leaders of Qadam Jai Village (Safar
Attending:
Qaidy, NSP shura member & Treasurer Abdul Shaker) together with six farmers,
craft making people
Collected basic information, village profiles, discussions on ethnic minorities
Outcome(s):
including kuchi people, information on flood effects and impacts collected
Date: 18-22 February

Place: Yangi Qala and Darqad districts
APPENDIX C 159
Social profiles of affected areas, flood damage and livelihood impacts,

Topics(s): information on ethnic people and impacts on them, social water management
information, other social information and local people’s concerns
Abdul Dayan, District Governor, Yangi Qala; Haji Mohamed Ali, Senior citizen/
elder; Gullam Darvish, Director Agriculture, Yangi Qala; Najamudin, NSP shura
chairman, Pata village; Sayed Mozafer, NSP deputy shura, Pata village; Abdul
Majeed, Mirab bashi; seven farmers of Pata village; Habib Ahamed, Supervisor,
Khawar Kara Construction Co.; Zia Ul Rahman, District Programme Manager,
CONCERN, Yangi Qala; four community mobilizers; Abdul Khalek Malik, NSP
Attending: shura Tarqull village; and seven local farmers; Sharafdeen shura chair; and five
local farmers of Ishanabad village. Haj Shah Mohamed shura chair/WUA chair;
12 local leaders/farmers of Choraq Guza village; Mohamed Akram Sohin
Governor Darqad district; Najebullah, Head of Darqad Municipality; Ajmal Abdxel
Kardar, officer-in-charge, CONCERN, Darqad; and three community mobilizers;
Hazarathullah, Shura Secretary/WUA Secretary; eight local
leaders/mirab/farmers of Darqad district.
Collected data and information concerning above topics, verification ensured on
Outcome(s):
issues, cross-checked information, and field observations made
Date: 25- 26 February 2009

Place: Balkh District
Obtain field information on affected areas, discuss impacts with affected people
Topic(s):
and establish contacts for further information gathering
Eng Esmatullah, Director of Water Management, Balkh Province; Eng. Zah Hulla
Ahkthar, Head Technical Service; Chairmen village shura; other community
Attending: leaders; mirabs and 15 farmers of three villages. Managers, community
mobilizers and monitoring staff of four other agencies involved in irrigation and
community development.
Established contacts for further studies and data collection, made first-hand field
Outcome(s):
information from affected areas, and obtained social data
Date: 11-16 March 2009

Place: NVDA project area, Nangarhar
Collection of detailed field data; social and poverty information for poverty
Topic(s): reduction strategy; information for gender and Indigenous peoples action
collected
Attending: Community leaders, mirabs, farmers and NGO officials
All relevant social data and information (gender, ethnic minority, poverty)
Outcome(s):
collected and verifications perfected
Date: 22-30 March 2009

Place: Imam Sahib and Yangi Qala
Detailed field surveys completed; collected information for Resettlement
Topics(s):
Framework, gender actions and social and poverty reduction strategy
Officials of irrigation and agriculture directorates, community leaders and local
Attending:
farmers including women
All relevant field data collection completed, information required for resettlement
Outcome(s):
framework, minority action plan and gender action plan completed
Date: 31 March to 3 April 2009

Place: Balkh district
To collect information required for resettlement framework, gender plan and
Topics(s):
social and poverty reduction strategy
Attending: Community leaders, Mirabs and farmers
APPENDIX C 160
All relevant information for resettlement framework, gender actions and

Outcome(s): indigenous people issues collected, observations on actual field situation noted
and contacts for further follow up established
Date: 28 January 2009

Place: Khwaja Bahawodin District Office
Topic(s): River bank erosion and flooding
28 people including WRDIP / MEW, local administration staff and community
Attending:
representatives from 4 districts
Improved understanding of local problems
Outcome(s):
Broad agreement to the strategy proposed by the PPTA team
Reported by: John Ratsey
Date: 01 February 2009

Place: Imam Sahib District Office
Topics(s): River bank erosion and flooding
24 people including WRDIP / MEW, local administration staff and community
Attending:
representatives
Improved understanding of local problems and history
Outcome(s):
Consensus that major works would need cooperation with Tajikistan
Reported by: John Ratsey
Date: 12 November 2008

Place: WRDIP Office
Powerpoint presentation by Toosab Eng Co re progress of preparation of a
Topic(s):
feasibility report for the Gambiri Project, Nangarhar/Kunar provinces
M Ibrahim Sultani and John E. Priest, Irrigation Engineers, WRDIP
Attending: Five persons of Toosab including Seyed Torab Shah Kazemi, TL Kama Proj and
Sayed Ali Hussaini, Eng Geologist.
The Toosab team presented, at the request of MEW, work progress, their
concept of a turnkey project, and inquired how it might fit into the WRDIP
Outcome(s):
program and budget. They were informed that the approach used by the ADB
did not envision the turnkey approach as proposed.
Date: April 1, 2009

Place: NVDA management office and olive processing factory
Topic(s): Orientation and update on NVDA operations and plans
Abdul Ahmed Luqmani, VP (Technical) NVDA
Eng. Gulahmed, NVDA
Jelle Beekma, Institutional Specialist, PPTA
Attending:
Syed Hussaini, Economist, PPTA
Guiliano Massinia, Agronmist, PPTA
Sara Bennett, Environment Specialist, PPTA
Outcome(s): Discussion of current operations and tour of olive processing facility
Date: April 2, 2009

Place: NVDA management office
Topic(s): NVDA future plans
Director-General, NVDA
Jelle Beekma, Institutional Specialist, PPTA
Attending: Syed Hussaini, Economist, PPTA
Guiliano Massinia, Agronmist, PPTA
Briefing on NVDA history and current status in terms of water system, citrus and
Outcome(s): olive groves, mechanization, potential markets, business plan, management and
technical training needs, budgeting process
Date: April 12, 2009

APPENDIX C 161
Place: Balkh Province Environment Department

Topic(s): Water and other environmental issues in Balkh, overview of Dept Environment
Director, Balkh Environment Department
Attending:
Briefing on urban water supply and sanitation, tugai forest on Amu Darya in
Outcome(s): Balkh, Balkh Environment Department staff capacity, equipment, budget,
activities

Place: Samarkandian Weir
Topic(s): Wier operation
Operator on site
Jelle Beekma, Institutional Specialist PPTA
Attending:
Observed past operation of sedimentation sluice has not been adequate to flush
Outcome(s): sediment through structure. No log books for flow, water levels, repairs, gate
positions on site; operator stated that gates are adjusted about every 10 days

Place: Private home, Aqcha District, Balkh Province
Topic(s): Local perceptions of irrigtion and other water issues, agriculture, livelihoods
12-15 mature local men
Shaima Seddiqui, Gender Specialist, PPTA
Attending:
Discussion over lunch of the difficulties they have been facing in terms of
declining water supply which affects agriculture and domestic supplies; water
Outcome(s):
theft by upstream villages ad decline in respect for and enforcement of traditional
water allocations; outmigration of young men.

Place: UNEP Kabul
Topic(s): Tugai forest
Belinda Bowling, Resident Representative
Attending:
Discussion of UNEP’s visit to Darqad/Imam Sahib tugai forests, and their
perspective on the prospect of working with communities in these areas where
Outcome(s): smuggling is an important feature of local life and local economy. Also
discussed UNEP’s support to NEPA and how best for WRDIP to support
development of NEPA capacity and foster growth in NEPA/MEW cooperation.
Date: April 6, 2009

Place: Office at MEW
Topic(s): Set-up of donor funded projects; role of the PCU
Eng. Mohammad Zarif Zahir
Attending: Project Manager PCU Water MEW
Wolfgang Ostwald, Procurement Specialist, PPTA
Outcome(s): Quick overview of the role of the PCU

Place: NVDA HQ in Jalalabad
Topics(s): Finance, Procurement, Capacities of NVDA
Mr. Abdul Ahmad Loqmani, Vice President (Tech) NVDA
Attending: Mr. Matiullah Mujaddidi, Director of Finance of NVDA
Overview of the capacity weaknesses of NVDA and awareness that either
Outcome(s):
qualified staff or a company has to be hired to implement WRDIP
APPENDIX C 162

Place: NVDA HQ in Jalalabad
Topics(s): Internal structure of NVDA
Dr. Labibullah Makhawer
Mr. Abdul Ahmad Loqmani
Attending:
Mr. Matiullah Mujaddidi
Outcome(s): Soft copy of organogram NVDA

Place: MEW
Fund flow for ADB Projects, Procurement Procedures, Set-up of other donor
Topics(s):
funded projects
Mr. Nasir Ahmad Hakimi, , Deputy Minister Administration MEW
Attending: An assistant to the Deputy Minister
Courtesy visit, Deputy Minster was nominated recently and was unable to
Outcome(s):
provide information

Place: ADB Guest House
Fund flow for ADB Projects, Procurement Procedures, Set-up of donor funded
Topics(s):
projects
Mr. Danilo Dulay, Financial and Administration Specialist Energy Sector
Attending: Development Investment Program
Overview of ADB procedures; recommendations whom to contact in the different
Outcome(s):
ministries (DGs Planning, Finance, Procurement)

Place: ADB Resident Mission
Topics(s): ADB procedures
M. Hanif Ayubi, Associate Project Analyst ADB Resident Mission
Attending:
Outcome(s): Courtesy visit
Date: April 30 2009

Place: Her office
Topics(s): Set-up for the implementation of WRDIP
Eng Zia Gul, Director General Planning MEW
Attending:
Other donor funded projects considered successful (PCI and Western Basin) use
Outcome(s): the commonly accepted solution for the implementation of donor funded projects,
the establishment of a PMU or PIU

Topics(s): Set-up for PCI finance and procurement
Sayed Shatiullah (Ashna), Project Accountant for PCI
Attending:
Outcome(s): Quick verbal overview how PCI is set-up, no documentation

Topics(s): Set-up for PCI finance and procurement
Eng Majid
Attending:
Office Manager PCI
APPENDIX C 163

Outcome(s): Rough overview how PCI is set-up
Date: May 02, 2009

Topics(s): Set-up of finance and procurement systems
Eng. Braj K. Sharma, Energy Commercial Expert for ADB financed Projects in
Attending: the Energy Sector
Outcome(s): Referred to the PD
Date: May 02, 2009

Place: ADB Resident Mission
Topics(s): ADB procedures positions regarding set-up of ADB-funded projects
Habibullah Momand, Control Officer ADB Resident Mission
Attending: M. Hanif Ayubi, Associate Project Analyst ADB Resident Mission
General overview of ADB-procedures, names of persons in MoF (AID
Outcome(s): Coordination Unit and ARDS Procurement Advisor), promise to send softcopies
of a number of documents
Date: May 04, 2009

Place: His office
Topics(s): Budgeting process and problems in the budgeting process
Waheed Atabar, Economic & Development Advisor for Dep. Minister
Attending: Administration MEW
Outcome(s): Overview of the different steps required for budgeting
Date: May 04, 2009

Topics(s): Set-up for ADB Energy sector projects
Mr. Asiel Eshan, Financial Adminstrator EPRP (World Bank Project) SMEC
Attending:
Outcome(s): Brief overview; reference to the procurement specialist back on May 19th, 2009
Date: May 04, 2009

Place: His office at MEW
Topics(s): Set-up of donor funded projects; manuals
Eng Shah Mohammed, Project Director for ADB Energy Sector Investment
Attending: Project
Outcome(s): No new information
May 06, 2009

Date:
Place: His office at MAIL
Topics(s): ADB-funded projects and set-up for implementation
Mr. Saleem Kundozi, Deputy Minister of Finance, MAIL
Attending:
Asked his staff to make contact with other relevant persons in MAIL; though the
Outcome(s): situation and capacities of MAIL have improved, support in many fields is still
necessary
Date: May 06, 2009

Topics(s): GoA procurement procedures
Attending: Mr. Salim Mankhil, DG Procurement MAIL
APPENDIX C 164
Marshuk Ali Shah, Organizational Reform Specialist, Independent Administrative

Reform and Civil Service Commission (works for GRM International)
Amant Khan Financial Advisor, Support to Strategic Planning for Sustainable
Rural Livelihoods (SSPSRL) (works for GRM International)
Detailed discussions on the GoA procurement process and problems and
Outcome(s):
weaknesses identified
Date: May 06
Place: Office at MAIL
Topics(s): She is preparing a presentation strength and weaknesses of MAIL
Khatera Sadat, Junior Program Budget Analyst / Capacity Development Program
USAID
Attending: Amant Khan Financial Advisor, Support to Strategic Planning for Sustainable
Rural Livelihoods (SSPSRL), works for GRM International
Promise to provide a soft- or hardcopy of her presentation; or to prepare a 2-3
Outcome(s):
pages summary
Date: May 06, 2009 x

Place: His office at MoF
Topics(s): Role of the AID Coordination Unit in MoF
Khatera Sadat, Junior Program Budget Analyst / Capacity Development Program
Attending:
USAID Wolfgang Ostwald, Procurement Specialist, PPTA
Quick and routine overview of the role of the AID Coordination Unit and names of
Outcome(s):
other persons to contact in MoF
Date: May 06, 2009

Place: His Office at MoF
Topics(s): The role of the Budget Department in MoF
Mohd Adris Walli, Budget Officer Physical Infrastructure & Natural Resources
Attending: Sector (Focal Point for MEW)
Outcome(s): A run-through through steps where the Budget Department of MoF is involved
Date: May 07, 2009

Place: His office at MEW
Topics(s): Finance
Mr. Besmila Dara al Amani, Chief of Finance of MEW
Attending:
Overview of the GoA financial system and its flaws, capacity strengthening
Outcome(s):
needs in finance
Date: May 07, 2009

Topics(s): Financial issues
Mr. Syed Ali aqa Abraheme, Director of Finance of MAIL
Marshuk Ali Shah, Organizational Reform Specialist, Independent Administrative
Reform and Civil Service Commission, works for GRM International and Amant
Attending:
Khan Financial Advisor, Support to Strategic Planning for Sustainable Rural
Livelihoods (SSPSRL), works for GRM International
Overview of the GoA financial system and its flaws, capacity strengthening
Outcome(s):
needs in finance
165
APPENDIX D – CUMULATIVE IMPACT ASSESSMENT
A. Introduction
1. Cumulative impacts are changes to the environment caused by projects and activities
of human origin in combination with other such actions. This Cumulative Impact
Environmental Assessment (CIEA) considers (i) the likelihood of any significant cumulative
and induced environmental impacts from the entire MFF which would require a sector or
regional assessment to be prepared and (ii) the cumulative impacts of approved/committed
Water Resources Development Investment Program (WRDIP) activities with other projects
and activities that could affect areas potentially impacted by WRDIP.
2. Specifically, this CIEA addresses the following issues:
(i) The likelihood of any significant cumulative and induced environmental

impacts from the entire MFF;
(ii) Cumulative impacts of approved/committed WRDIP activities with (a) ongoing

projects and with (b) expected future biophysical / socioeconomic changes
such as population growth and increasing domestic water demand;
(iii) Past cumulative impacts on environmental components deemed sensitive or

vulnerable (e.g. habitats, species) in areas potentially impacted by
approved/committed WRDIP activities;
(iv) Cumulative impacts of approved/committed WRDIP activities with other

committed/approved projects that have not yet reached the field
implementation stage;
(v) Potential effects of the cumulative impacts identified above on mitigation

measures included in approved/committed WRDIP activities; and
(vi) Mitigation measures for cumulative impacts. 89
3. Cumulative and induced environmental impacts from the entire MFF. This CIEA
considers the likelihood of significant cumulative and induced environmental impacts from
the entire MFF. This may occur in situations where adverse impacts build up over
successive tranches, or where the program environmental impacts are influenced over time
by external factors such as biophysical/socioeconomic changes.
4. Cumulative impacts with approved/committed WRDIP activities. This CIEA

considers cumulative impacts with approved/committed WRDIP activities. The currently
approved/committed WRDIP activities are the WRDIP Tranche 1 components, whose
potential environmental impacts and proposed mitigation are documented in the Tranche 1
89
In the absence of established ADB guidance on CIEA methodology and report structure, exemplar CIEAs
produced for ADB and other entities were identified and assessed for clarity, brevity, logical approach and
moderate scope (i.e. project inclusion criteria neither overly restrictive nor speculative). The best of them was
chosen as a model and then modified and developed to suit present purposes: Queensland Department of Main
Roads (2004) Cumulative impacts and environmental management, Tungun Bypass Environmental Impact
Statement (Available: http://www.mainroads.qld.gov.au/web/publicCR.nsf/DOCINDEX/Tugun+Bypass:
+Environmental+Impact+Statement+(EIS)).
166
initial environmental examination (IEE). WRDIP and other projects still at a conceptual or
pre-feasibility stage are excluded from this analysis.
5. Cumulative Impacts with Ongoing Projects and with Anticipated

Biophysical/Socioeconomic Changes. These types of cumulative impacts were assessed
in the Tranche 1 environmental assessment (EA), which was an initial environmental
examination (IEE). A summary of these findings is presented here. These types of impacts
enter the EA through the future-without-project (FWO) environment. The FWO environment
reflects available historic data, current field observations including relevant ongoing projects,
plus relevant estimated FWO biophysical and socioeconomic changes through to the end of
project life (i.e. abandonment).
6. Past Cumulative Impacts on Sensitive and Vulnerable Environmental

Components. These impacts were also assessed in the Tranche 1 IEE, which included
information about the history of sensitive/vulnerable environmental components in its
baseline environment characterization. A summary of these findings is presented here.
7. Cumulative Impacts of WRDIP Tranche 1 Components With Other

Committed/Approved Projects Not Yet under Field Implementation. These impacts
must be assessed within the CIEA because normal EA methodology does not capture them.
The reason for this is as follows. In a theoretical world where projects and their impacts
developed purely in series without overlap in time, EAs of each successive project would
automatically reflect the cumulative impacts of (and with) all past projects in their baseline
environments characterizations. In the real world situation, projects develop in parallel, and
the yet-to-be-realized impacts of committed/approved projects not yet in field implementation
may be missed.
B. Overview of Contents
8. This document describes:
(i) The spatial and temporal boundaries of the WRDIP MFF as a whole and the
Tranche 1 potentially cumulatively impacted areas (PCIA);
(ii) The WRDIP MFF cumulative impacts;
(iii) The WRDIP Tranche 1 components and their impacts (i.e. those impacts
subject to cumulative impact with other activities); 90
(iv) The cumulative impacts of WRDIP Tranche 1 components with (a) ongoing
projects (under implementation and early operation phase) and (b) ongoing
biophysical and socioeconomic processes such as demographic change and
increasing water demand;
(v) Past cumulative impacts of projects and other human activities on

environmental components deemed sensitive or vulnerable;
90
None of the prospective Tranche 2 and 3 components currently have stable concepts nor
approval/commitment from ADB/GOA and so are not included here. Their EAs will assess their cumulative
impacts with Tranche 1 components, other ongoing projects as of the EA study, and expected future changes
(demography etc.)
167
(vi) Identification of other committed/approved projects having impacts on areas

subject to WRDIP Tranche 1 impacts (to err on the side of caution, projects
whose formal approval / commitment seems probable are included even if
approval has not yet occurred or cannot be confirmed);
(vii) The potential cumulative impacts of these projects with WRDIP Tranche 1
components;
(viii) The potential effects of the cumulative impacts on WRDIP Tranche 1

mitigation measures; and
(ix) Cumulative impact mitigation measures.
C. Spatial and Temporal Boundaries

i. Boundary Types
9. Setting boundaries is the process of establishing limits to the area and period to be
assessed for cumulative impacts. Boundaries may be spatial or temporal.
ii. Potentially Cumulatively Impacted Area

10. The first tranche under the Investment Program will have four components: (i)
Component 1: Northern Basins Development (NBD); (ii) Component 2: NVDA Improvement;
(iii) Component 3: Flood Management; and (iv) Component 4: Program Management and
Development. The first three components will have physical and nonphysical outputs as an
integrated package. The physical outputs include irrigation improvement works and bank
erosion and flood protection works.
11. The potentially cumulatively impacted areas (PCIAs) for tranche 1 are here taken as
identical to the studied areas of the three Tranche 1 components that include physical works.
These areas are three discontiguous zones associated with the three components: (i) the
lower Balkh Basin for Component 1, (ii) the Nangarhar Valley Development Authority
command area plus downstream areas for Component 2, (iii) the lower Pyanj River Basin
plus downstream areas for Component 3, and (iv) areas upstream from any of the foregoing
that are potential sources of environment-on-project (EOP) impacts. Downstream area here
refers to downstream regions potentially impacted by upstream water abstraction, regulation,
or pollution.
12. The types of physical interventions eligible for Tranche 2 and 3 WRDIP financing are
water resources infrastructure for irrigation and flood and/or erosion control. In certain
circumstances hydropower or bulk domestic water supply will also be eligible, or a
combination thereof.
13. The locations for Tranche 2 and 3 interventions have not been defined and could
take place in any of Afghanistan’s provinces.
iii. Temporal Bounding

14. The temporal bounding used here is from baseline to full maturity of all WRDIP
interventions. Baseline is defined as mid-2009. Full maturity of all WRDIP interventions is
taken to be 2024, five years beyond the assumed WRDIP end date of 2019.
168
D. Cumulative and induced environmental impacts from the entire MFF

15. WRDIP interventions in Tranches 2 and 3 are likely to be dominated by water
resources infrastructure for irrigation and flood and/or erosion control as per Tranche 1.
Tentative tranche 2 sub-projects include: construction of Imam Sahib headworks; Yetim
Tapa intake, channel and system improvements; investments in Sherin Tagab, Sari Pul and
Khulm River Basins; traditional irrigation rehabilitation and upgrading in the Lower Kabul
Basin; and extension of the Yangi Qala embankment. Environmental impacts are likely to be
the same as for Tranche 1. Some impacts, particularly impacts related to construction
activities for Imam Sahib headworks, Yetim Tapa intake, channel and system improvements,
and traditional irrigation R&U in the Lower Kabul Basin will be predominantly location
specific, with impacts short-term and/or minimal, particularly if mitigation measures are
undertaken, as shown in the Tranche 1 Environmental Management Plan mitigation table
(see table 2). Since subsequent physical activities will be undertaken in different locations,
there will be no significant cumulative environmental impact from the entire MFF.
Subprojects in the Sherin Tagab, Sari Pul and Khulm River Basins have not been identified
yet.
16. Potential long-term impacts (e.g. social conflict due to changes in water distribution)
are mainly due to change in the institutional environment, and successive tranches will make
no difference to this initial change which will be mitigated in tranche 1. In such instances
there will therefore be no significant cumulative environmental impact from the entire MFF.
17. The only likely cumulative impact that can be envisaged at this stage for the MFF as
a whole is changes to the Pyanj river morphology as a consequence of successive river
training and bank protection interventions. For example, the cumulative impact of a tranche 2
extension of the Yangi Qala embankment constructed under component 3 of Tranche 1 may
affect the river course. Such impacts can be mitigated by appropriate site selection of works
based on hydrological and morphological studies, transboundary dialogue with Tajikistan to
coordinate flood control and other developments, and mutually beneficial solutions (see
Table 4).
18. The potential cumulative impacts of water sector development in Afghanistan in

general are not addressed here, nor are the range of possible water sector development
scenarios and their potential cumulative impacts reviewed here. These important and
necessary tasks will be addressed in the medium-term (five to ten year) basin, regional, and
water resources sector planning studies that are expected to be undertaken for each of the
river basins (through assistance from WRDIP or other donors).
19. Therefore, based on current information, there is little likelihood of significant

cumulative and induced environmental impacts from the entire MFF thus a sector or regional
assessment is not required.
E. WRDIP Tranche 1 Components and Their Impacts

20. The committed/approved projects of WRDIP are its Tranche 1 components. Their
physical and non-physical elements are shown in Table 1.
21. The CIEA addresses only those impacts of other projects that augment (additively or
otherwise) an impact of a Tranche 1 component. Their impacts are shown in Table 2.
169
F. Cumulative Impacts of Ongoing Projects and Processes with WRDIP Tranche 1

Components
i. Ongoing Projects
22. One category of cumulative impact arises from the combination of WRDIP Tranche 1
components with ongoing projects. Ongoing here means under construction and in the early
operation period following construction, during which farmers gradually shift their cropping
and agricultural practices to the new water regime and eventually realize full benefits. Full
benefit realization is generally assumed to occur five years after the construction completion.
23. Component 1 (C1), Northern Basins Program. The Emergency Rehabilitation and
Reconstruction Project – Traditional Irrigation Component (EIRRP-TIC) recently rehabilitated
and upgraded some secondary and tertiary irrigation canals and traditional water control
structures in the C1 area. C1 itself will include construction of an additional 200+ small
structures designed by EIRRP-TIC along main canals in the lower Balkh river system. The
impacts of the small scale water control infrastructure already constructed by EIRRP-TIC
and to be constructed under C1 are localized to the structure construction sites and to the
small catchments of the structures. The cumulative impact of C1 + EIRRP-TIC recently-
constructed small-scale infrastructure will be for these impacts to occur at more places on
the landscape. Threshold or higher-order effects are not anticipated and no mitigation
beyond that described in the Tranche 1 IEE is required. Cumulative impacts with the
recently completed Samarkandian weir are also possible. Samarkandian and Bangala weirs
in combination afford control over most of the lower Balkh flow, and, as explained in the
Tranche 1 IEE, this is accompanied by risks of misappropriation of structure operation and
flows by empowered groups and deficiencies in River Basin Authority operation. An
expected cumulative impact of irrigation rehabilitation and upgrading (R&U) overall is
increased agrochemical use, and potential related knock-on effects such as contamination of
domestic water supplies and agricultural produce, increased occupational health risks to
agricultural workers, and an increase in incidence of acute pesticide toxicity related to
intentional ingestion.
24. Component 2 (C2), Nangarhar Valley Development Authority. Several ongoing

projects have rehabilitated and upgraded NVDA irrigation infrastructure. In 2005-6, some
proportion of the USAID Afghanistan Immediate Needs Program work in Nangarhar Province
(manual silt removal from 2200 km of community canals, built 150 km of roads and 350,000
m3 of dikes, flood protection walls, road culverts, washes, and canal intakes) was done
within the NVDA command area. In 2008-9, the USD2.8 million Grand Canal Repair project,
a partnership of the GOA and the Nangarhar Provincial Rehabilitation Team of the
International Security Assistance Forces, repaired irrigation structures on 63 km of NVDA
canals in four districts, repaired 850 gates, and installed five new siphons. Since June 2004,
the World Bank Emergency Irrigation Rehabilitation Project (EIRP) has been repairing
intakes and providing protection walls and cross drainage structures at some NVDA
locations. As for C2 above, much of the impact of this work will be localized to structure
construction sites and to the catchments of the structures and canals, and the cumulative
impact will be for these impacts to occur at more places on the landscape. Cumulative
impacts related to increased agrochemical use (as described above for C1) are also
expected.
170
25. Component 3 (C3), Flood Management Program. Rehabilitation (or arguably new
construction given the highly deteriorated condition of the Soviet embankment) of the
Tajikistan embankment along the old Soviet alignment was completed recently, and
construction of protection works (spurs) is ongoing. These works in combination with C3
construction of (i) Yetim Tapa headworks and (ii) a short embankment along the Pyanj to the
west of the headworks will likely have two cumulative impacts. First, the Tajikistan
embankment maintains and renews the exclusion of Pyanj flood flows from the northern half
of the Hamadoni/Darqad fan, and the Yetim Tapa headworks will exclude flood flows from
another section of the fan. The Yetim Tapa channel network is currently inactive but was
active as recently as perhaps 1984, and is likely to become so again at any time in the
absence of intervention. With the closure of the Yetim Tapa network to flooding, only two
active channel networks remain (one to the east and one to the west of Darqad).
Interannual flood frequency, flood water levels, bank erosion, and bed aggradation rates will
likely increase on these remaining networks with the Yetim Tapa closure. In addition, the C3
~5 km Pyanj embankment in combination with the Tajikistan embankment will channelize the
Pyanj for a short reach, likely causing bed degradation in the channelized reach and
aggradation below it. Each of these effects will tend to increase flood water levels, bank
erosion, and embankment attack, thereby increasing the cost of maintaining flood protection
at a constant risk level for both countries.
ii. Ongoing Biophysical and Socioeconomic Processes

26. Another type of cumulative impact arises from the combination of WRDIP Tranche 1
components with ongoing biophysical and socioeconomic processes. By definition,
cumulative impact assessment addresses the impacts of combinations of human activities,
and thus excludes the combination of WRDIP Tranche 1 components with biophysical
processes arising solely from non-anthropogenic cause (but not biophysical processes for
which anthropogenic forcing is possible but not confirmed, or that are caused by a
combination of anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic forcings).
27. C1 Northern Basins Program. Our understanding of ongoing biophysical and

socioeconomic processes in the lower Balkh system is quite limited. The limited information
we do have suggests that the conflict decades put considerable stress on traditional social
controls on water allocation such that empowered groups (commanders) took control of
traditional water diversion structures, and previously sanctioned behaviors (e.g. theft of
water from canals using low-lift pumps) were tolerated in some cases. But very little is
known about how these arrangements have evolved over time, particularly in the post-
conflict period. The apparent post-conflict rapid increase and then decrease in opium
cultivation in parts of the system suggests that socio-political arrangements can be unstable
and can undergo rapid change. C1 proposes to transform water management in the system
from a traditional system controlled by (privileged) users of the system to one that is centrally
managed by a River Basin Agency on the basis of hydrologic and other data streams. The
cumulative impact is of the (i) continued unfolding of sociopolitical arrangements in the post-
conflict period with (ii) the C1-led changes in the sociopolitical arrangements for water
management.
28. C2 NVDA Improvement Program. C2 impacts will occur in the context of rapid
demographic and economic change in the PCIA, which is located in a rapidly urbanizing
area near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border that has considerable potential for agricultural
171
and other export production. C2 impacts on bulk domestic water supply and quality, and in
turn public health, will occur at the same time that demand for domestic water supply is
growing rapidly due to growth in population numbers and growth in per capita demand with
urbanization. Concurrently, water supply and public health infrastructure availability and
quality could deteriorate if they do not expand quickly enough to keep pace with population
growth.
29. C3 Flood Management Program. Human settlement, exploitation, and

development of flood- and erosion-prone areas have been among the most fundamental and
widespread of human activities for many millennia, and catastrophic flooding of settlements
and agricultural areas is as old as civilization. Flooding and bank erosion as adverse
impacts are in effect created by the process of settlement and development in vulnerable
areas – their occurrence in natural, non-human modified landscapes is not problematic –
and as settlement and development proceed, the magnitude of potential adverse impacts
increases. To some extent this has happened during the 20th century and is continuing into
the 21st century, in the flood- and erosion-prone areas of the Hamadoni/Darqad fan of both
Tajikistan and Afghanistan. Traditionally an acceptable outcome has been to construct and
maintain increasingly effective (and increasingly expensive) flood and erosion protection
infrastructure around increasingly densely settled and highly developed areas (e.g. as
happened in the Netherlands), but there is no guarantee in any given setting that economic
capacity, technical solutions, and river hydrology/sedimentology will produce a solution with
acceptable residual risks.
G. Past Cumulative Impacts on Environmental Components Deemed Sensitive or

Vulnerable
30. C1 Northern Basins Program. The C1 PCIA is characterized by a rich
archeological heritage. The conflict decades halted archeological research and rendered
conservation and protection impossible, thereby greatly increasing plunder and destruction.
It is critical that the utmost care be taken to screen sites prior to construction, and if
necessary to develop and implement safeguards plans for water resources infrastructure
construction, to ensure that no further damage is caused.
31. C2 NVDA Improvement Program. The C2 PCIA is not believed to contain any
vulnerable or sensitive environmental components.
32. C3 Flood Management Program. Tugai habitat along the Amu/Pyanj generally has
experienced accelerating fragmentation and destruction in recent decades. In the C3 PCIA,
this habitat has progressively deteriorated since (at least) the construction of the Tajikistan
embankment by the Soviets in the mid-1900s. During the conflict years, this process was
exacerbated by an influx of refugees who utilized tugai resources for their survival. In the
post-conflict period, the dynamics of the border region (i.e. smuggling) continue to limit the
ability of GOA and concerned donors (e.g. UNEP) to work with local communities to
conserve or rehabilitate the tugai. C3 is not expected to have negative impacts on tugai
habitat, and indeed includes a social forestry component that may include tugai species,
however implementation-stage monitoring will be undertaken to ensure that this assessment
is correct and to track social forestry progress including its contribution (if any) to tugai
rehabilitation.
172
H. Identification of Other Committed/Approved Projects

33. The first step in identifying other (pre-field implementation) committed/approved
projects is to assemble a long list of candidate projects. Several sources were examined for
candidate projects:
(i) The Afghanistan National Development Strategy 1387-1391 (2008-2013) 91 ,

which provides strategic direction for national development in general, and
water sector development in particular, was first examined to confirm that it
does not list specific projects.
(ii) The 2007 Water Sector Strategy prepared by the Ministry of Energy and
Water (MEW) 92 lists priority construction projects organized in three
categories: (i) National River Basin Management Program; (ii) Emergency
Irrigation Rehabilitation Program; and (iii) National Water Resources
Development Program.
(iii) The 2008 Water Sector Project Atlas prepared by USAID 93 presents a ‘wish
list’ of potential projects identified through consultation with a wide range of
stakeholders.
(iv) The Project Implementation Unit (PIU), Department of Planning, Ministry of

Energy and Water was consulted. It maintains a list of the projects that it is
responsible to process for funding under the Afghanistan Rehabilitation Trust
Fund (ARTF) and by bilateral donors. In addition, PIU staff are also familiar
with projects processed by other MEW units.
34. From these sources, a long list of projects was compiled and then screened to
identify those (i) including physical works; (ii) approved/committed; and (iii) located in or
having impacts on one of the PCIAs including areas downstream of the WRDIP Tranche 1
components (Table 3).
35. Four approved/ongoing projects were identified:
(i) Provincial-level projects (with Provincial Reconstruction Teams, PRTs, etc.)
(ii) ADB Emergency Irrigation Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Project –

Traditional Irrigation (EIRRP-TIC)
(iii) European Union Pyanj-Amu River Basin Programme (formerly Kunduz River
Basin Programme, KRBP)
(iv) World Bank Emergency Irrigation Rehabilitation Project (EIRP)
91
GOA. 2008. Afghanistan National Development Strategy 1387-1391 (2008-2013). Available:
http://www.ands.gov.af/ands/final_ands/src/final/Afghanistan%20National%20Development%20 Strategy_eng.pdf
92
Ministry of Energy and Water-Water Resources . (2007). Water Sector Strategy for Afghanistan National
Development Strategy. Available: http://www.ands.gov.af/ands/final_ands/src/final/
ministry_strategies/English/Ministry%20of%20Energy%20and%20Water-Water%20Resources %20-
%20%20English.pdf
93
USAID. 2008. Water Sector Project Atlas, Prepared for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Afghanistan
Infrastructure and Rehabilitation Program.
173
I. Cumulative Impacts of Identified Projects with WRDIP Tranche 1 Components

36. Each of the four identified projects involves implementation of subprojects that will be
approved on an ongoing (rolling) basis for the duration of the parent project. It is not
possible to characterize the impacts of these subprojects, nor in turn their cumulative
impacts with WRDIP Tranche 1 components, until (at a minimum) subproject locations and
concepts are reasonably well-defined. Thus this cumulative impact assessment tasks
should be deferred to this timeframe (see Section K, Mitigation, below).
J. Potential Effects of Cumulative Impacts on WRDIP Tranche 1 Mitigation

Measures
37. None of the cumulative impacts (shown in Table 4) compromises the effectiveness of
any of the proposed WRDP Tranche 1 mitigation measures (shown in Table 2).
K. Mitigation Measures for Cumulative Impacts

38. Table 4 documents mitigation measures for the identified cumulative impacts.
Mitigation measures in addition to those already identified in the Tranche 1 IEE are:
(i) For C1/C2 + ongoing (includes recently completed) small-scale water

infrastructure – including strengthening of local water management
institutions, training about adverse impacts of such infrastructure and
mitigation options, and support for benefit realization (e.g. demonstrations of
improved on-farm water management);
(ii) For C3 + increasing population and agricultural/urban development in flood-

prone areas – As part of the National Flood Management Program/Unit
developed under WRDIP, support local communities to develop appropriate
‘living with floods’ plans. These could include flood zoning (the regulation of
investment and human activity in floodways and on floodplains) and flood
preparedness (construction of flood refuges, warning and evacuation
systems, prepositioning of sandbags etc.).
(iii) C1, C2, C3 + as-yet-unidentified future subprojects under EU Pyanj-Amu

Basin Project, WB EIRP, and provincial governments – Develop institutional
arrangements to ensure regular communication between WRDIP PDF and
other projects to coordinate infrastructure commitment, planning and design,
and mitigation/monitoring of adverse impacts.
L. Conclusions
39. Based on current information, there is little likelihood of significant cumulative and
induced environmental impacts from the entire MFF thus a sector or regional assessment is
not required.
40. WRDIP Tranche 1 components will have cumulative impacts with other ongoing and
approved/committed projects, and with ongoing biophysical/socioeconomic processes. With
mitigation their residual impact will be acceptable. The CIEA identified three new cumulative
impacts and corresponding mitigation measures; all other cumulative impacts and
corresponding mitigation were previously identified in the Tranche 1 IEE. None of the
cumulative impacts affects vulnerable/sensitive environmental components.
174
Table 1a: WRDIP Tranche 1 Physical Works

Component
Northern Basins
NVDA Improvement Flood Management
Development
Lower Balkh Basin (Balkh
Location plains areas of Balkh and Nangarhar Province Takhar and Kunduz Provinces
Jawzjan Provinces)
Intervention
Irrigation improvement Irrigation improvement Bank erosion and flood protection
Type
(i) Embankment (5-6 km) with pilot
erosion protection (porcupines,
Major New riverside afforestation with flood
Physical (i) Bangala Weir tolerant tree species)
Works (ii) Permanent gated intake on the
Amu Darya for the Yetim Tapa
irrigation system
(i) 250 main canal
structures Test of effectiveness of gabions
Minor New (ii) Secondary and tertiary and other quick gestation and low
Physical canal structures on a cost interventions to protect areas
Works pilot basis to establish along the Amu Darya from minor
effective WUA bank erosion
engagement modalities
(i) Darunta Dam
headgate repair
(i) Samarkandian Weir - (ii) Main canal desilting
rehabilitation and (iii) Protection wall
enhanced flood improvement
Rehabilitation passage capacity, (iv) Secondary canal
and Upgrading control gates headgate replacement
of Existing electromechanical (v) Siphons repair
Engineered improvement (vi) Spillways repair
Structures (ii) Narhi Shahi Weir - (vii) Drainage passages
control gates repair
electromechanical viii) Intake and pump
improvement house repairs
(ix) Secondary structure
rehab
Gross command area
400,000 ha (irrigated on a
rotating basis). Irrigated
Area 25,000 ha 5000 ha
area: dry year 32,000 ha,
normal year 64,000 ha,
wet year 80,000 ha
175
Table 1b: WRDIP Tranche 1 Non-Physical Activities

Northern Basins Development Component
River Basin Management
Establish and support the Northern Basin River Basin Agency and River Basin Council, including training,
resources, advice, and assistance to:
(i) Monitor, measure, and analyze flow data, and develop operational rules for major structures
(ii) Undertake O&M tasked to RBA – develop O&M policies and mechanisms for sustainable financing, province
interim O&M financing on a declining basis
(iii) Prepare Northern Basins water resources management strategy and master plan
Water Users Associations
(i) Develop effective WUAs by strengthening and formalizing the mirab system into legally established WUAs
under the Water Law
(ii) Provide core technical training to WUAs and farmers on O&M, minor repairs, water distribution and
management, basic irrigation design, irrigation scheduling, monitoring and evaluation
(iii) Develop WUA development plans for other WRDIP basins for possible Tranche 2 implementation
(iv) Pilot program of WUA participation in secondary and tertiary structure development
(v) Preparation of plans for scaled-up WUA participation in development of structures identified and prepared by
WUAs in Tranche 1, for possible Tranche 2 implementation
(vi) Improved on-farm water management demonstration activities delivered through WUAs.
River Basin Councils
RBC and sub-RBC development will be initiated through public consultations with water users during Master Plan
field surveys and assessments. The RBC will be comprised of SRBCs, each representing a federation of WUAs
on a particular irrigation canal.
NVDA Improvement
NVDA Reform
The component will support:
(i) Institutional restructuring and business planning putting NVDA on a corporate basis under an independent
board, and creating a sustainable irrigation service delivery agency, based on analysis of markets and land
tenure/management options
(ii) Sustainable main canal O&M financing
(iii) Interim O&M through interim declining financing
Water User Associations
Starting with the existing loose mirab system, the component will support development and strengthening of
WUAs in privately managed and leasehold areas with:
(i) Training in O&M and minor repairs, water distribution and management, irrigation scheduling, monitoring, and
evaluation
(ii) Improved irrigation and on-farm water management demonstration activities, open to NVDA operating staff
and others farming or irrigating NVDA land
(iii) Coordination of WUA and irrigation service delivery agency responsibilities and activities
National Flood Management
National Flood Management (NFM) Program and NFM Unit, MEW Kabul
Establish and support NFMP/NFMU by:
(i) Developing a five-year NFMU capacity building plan addressing development of a flood management policy;
national flood-threatened and -affected areas database; flood management and bank erosion monitoring
system; enhanced flood warning and emergency response system; and priority flood management project
portfolio
(ii) Training NFMU staff in flood risk assessment, flood mapping, flood management structure design, and other
related topics
(iii) Preparing flood management works for financing under the WRDIP Tranche 2
176
Table 2: WRDIP Tranche 1 Impacts and Mitigation Measures

Phase & Activity Impact Mitigation
All components
Construction-phase: dust, Standard measures per Contractors
noise, and liquid / solid Air-water-noise pollution Environmental Management and Monitoring
waste emissions Plan
Construction phase: Disturbance or damage to Implementation Consultant to screens all sites,
construction activities archeology artifacts or sites plan safeguards if needed
Small-Scale Irrigation Structures Improvement
(Northern Basins Program & NVDA Improvement Components)
Participatory site identification, design,
Changed domestic and construction including construction
Operation phase: O&M of
irrigation water availability; supervision, operation, and maintenance,
minor irrigation structures
social conflict achieved through public consultation and
WUAs
National agrochemical policies; farmer
Worsened surfacewater and education in agrochemical use; policing of
Operation phase: increased
groundwater quality and public agrochemical imports and markets; medical
agrochemical use
health training in agrochemical poisoning diagnosis
and treatment
Operation phase: changes Support to WUAs to undertake O&M that
Adverse impacts on domestic
in water distribution afforded mitigates adverse impacts. Inclusion of
and irrigation water supplies,
by newly gated minor vulnerable group members in surveys, public
especially of vulnerable groups
structures consultation, WUAs
Specific to Flood Management Component
Appropriate placement, setback, design for
Operation phase, siting River attack of embankment
expected conditions; trials of alternative
related: EOP impact on and Yetim Tapa intake
protection measures (porcupines,
infrastructure
afforestation)
Increased water levels,
Operation phase: Yetim flooding on remaining channel Headwork operation to distribute flood
Tapa channel network networks in years when future- damage. Performance target: future-with-
closure during flood events without-project (FWO) Yetim project all-channel flood damage no worse
(97-100 per cent) Tapa channel would have been than FWO all-channel flood damage
active
Operation phase: Pyanj Reduced length, increased setback.
channelization between Long-term aggradation Performance target: aggradation slower than
proposed and TAJ existing at/below channelized reach increasing ability of countries to defend against
embankments rising bed & water levels
Abandonment phase:
Hazards from defunct gabions Relocation, removal, disassembly if necessary
deterioration, displacement
and porcupines to avoid problems
of gabions / porcupines
Specific to Northern Basins Program Component
Stakeholder frustration with or
incomprehension of new
Operation phase: operational arrangements Training and communication provided during
modernization of system leads local people to damage ongoing RBA stakeholder consultation and
operation infrastructure, compromise WUA support
system operation; or to social
conflict
Damage to livelihoods and
well-being through adverse RBA capacity building, including technical
Operation phase: Poor impacts of RBA operation on assistance specifically related to technically,
operation of scheme by RBA surfacewater, groundwater socially, and environmentally sound
availability or quality, soil operational policies, rules, and procedures
Damage to livelihoods and
Operation phase:
well-being through adverse
Appropriation of operational
impacts of appropriator’s Prompt effective action taken to enforce
control of structures from
operation on water water relevant provisions of the Water Law
RBA / WUAs by powerful
availability or quality, or soil
individuals or families
177
Table 2: WRDIP Tranche 1 Impacts and Mitigation Measures

Phase & Activity Impact Mitigation
Bangala flood safety factor was increased
Operation phase: EOP Flood, erosion, sedimentation during design; operator training and
impact on infrastructure damage to weirs supervision, regular checks for damage and
prompt maintenance and upgrading if found
Specific to NVDA Improvement
Project-led changes to the Environmental assessment of proposed
Impacts contingent on specifics
incentive environment (e.g. incentive changes and preparation of EMPs if
of incentive changes
privatization) necessary
Project and RBA participation in the Provincial
Component + other projects’ Potential cumulative impacts of
Development Council process leading to a
past and future R&U of WRDIP R&U + other projects’
strategy and plan to avoid, mitigate, and
NVDA system R&U of NVDA system
monitor cumulative impacts
Potential cumulative impacts of
component on domestic water
supply, water quality, and
Component + population
public health + concurrent Same as above
growth + urbanization
rapid growth in demand for
domestic water and public
health services
178
Table 3: Approved/Committed Projects Screening

(exclusionary criteria indicated by shaded cells)
Study / Potential Downstream
Approved/ Include in
Name Non-Phys Impacts in of Tranche 1
Committed CIEA?
Only? PCIA? Component?
Provincial Level Activities (with Provincial Reconstruction Teams etc.) No Rolling approval Yes Yes Yes
Main project yes;
ADB Emergency Irrigation Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Project –
No rolling approval Yes Yes Yes
Traditional Irrigation (EIRRP-TIC)
of SPs in PCIAs
European Union Pyanj-Amu Basin (formerly Kunduz River Basin Project KRBP) No “ “ Yes Yes Yes
World Bank Emergency Irrigation Rehabilitation Project (EIRP) No “ “ Yes Yes Yes
Almar Storage Dam, Faryab Province No No No
Andkhoi Irrigation Project, Faryab Province No No No
Cleaning & Rehabilitation of Seven Canals in Helmand Valley No No No
Design & Build Amu Darya Andkhoi Pump Scheme, Faryab Province No No No
Kafgan Irrigation Project, Herat Province No No No
Kalagosh Irrigation Project, Lagman Province No No No
Pashdan Storage Dam, Farah Province No No No
Preliminary Study, Machalgho & Parak & Paktika Irrigation and Power Dam,
No No No
Paktika
Rehabilitation of Dalla Dam in Kandahar No No No
Rehabilitation of Six Dams Concept stage No
Western Basin Water Resources Management Project No No No
ADB-MRRD Mini-Hydro Development Project Badakshan & Bamian No Tender No No No
Chashma-e-Shafa Dam and Pule-e-Baraq Dam (Balkh Basin) Yes Yes No No
Shahwa-arous Storage Dam, above Kabul City Yes No
Warsaj Irrigation and Hydropower Project, Amu Darya, Takhar Province Yes No
ADB Pyanj River Basin Flood Management Regional TA Afghanistan-Tajikistan Yes No
Detail Survey & Design Small & Medium Dams & Related Structures Amu
Yes No
Darya, Northern, Helmand, Western & Kabul Basins
Detail Survey/Design Small & Medium Dams & Related Structures Yes No
Feasibility Study for Farah Rud Irrigation Project Yes No
Feasibility Study for Gambiri Irrigation Project Yes No
Feasibility Study for Gulbahar Storage Dam Project Yes No
Feasibility Study for Kajaki Gates Project Yes No
Feasibility Study for Kelagai Storage Dam Project Yes No
Feasibility Study for Small and Medium Dams Yes No
Feasibility Study of Kamal Khan Flood Control and Power Project Yes No
Feasibility Study of Shatoot Storage Dam Project Yes No
179
Table 3: Approved/Committed Projects Screening

(exclusionary criteria indicated by shaded cells)
Study / Potential Downstream
Approved/ Include in
Name Non-Phys Impacts in of Tranche 1
Committed CIEA?
Only? PCIA? Component?
Feasibility Study Upper Amu Darya Irrigation & Hydropower Project Yes No
World Bank Afghanistan Water Resources Development (AWARD) Yes In preparation No
World Bank Kabul River Basin Decision Support System Yes No
APPENDIX D 180
Table 4: Cumulative Impacts and Mitigation Measures

Phase & Activity Cumulative Impact Mitigation
With Ongoing Projects
C1 + benefit realization from Localized impacts in more Within institutional strengthening activities of
infrastructure R&U recently locations of small-scale water C1, train local organizations to mitigate
completed by EIRRP-TIC resources infrastructure R&U localized adverse impacts, realize benefits
Samarkandian and Bangala Addressed by mitigation already included in
weir in combination afford C1 – institutional strengthening and capacity
C1 + Samarkandian Weir
control over most of the lower building of the River Basin Agency, River
Balkh flow Basin Councils, and Sub-Basin Councils.
C2 + benefit realization from
R&U under USAID AFG Localized impacts in more Within institutional strengthening activities of
Immediate Needs, GOA/PRT locations of small-scale water C2, train local organizations to mitigate
Grand Canal Repair, WB resources infrastructure R&U localized adverse impacts, realize benefits
EIRP
Increased agrochemical usage
and related knock-on effects
(contamination of domestic
water supplies and agricultural
C1, C2 + other irrigation produce, increased Addressed by mitigation measures
R&U occupational health risks to documented in Tranche 1 IEE
agricultural workers, and an
increase in incidence of acute
pesticide toxicity related to
intentional ingestion)
Mitigation already identified in the Tranche 1 –
Additive impacts on interannual transboundary dialogue to coordinate flood
C3 + Tajikistan flood control
flood frequency, flood water control and other developments, and seek
works (+ tranche 2 and 3
levels, bank erosion, and bed mutually beneficial solutions. This has begun
interventions)
aggradation rates under the ongoing ADB Pyanj River Basin
regional technical assistance with AFG & TAJ.
With Ongoing Biophysical and Socioeconomic Processes
Addressed by mitigation already included in
Appropriation of structure C1 – enforcement of Water Law provisions on
C1 + post-conflict
operation, water supply access infrastructure and flow control beginning with
sociopolitical adjustment
by empowered groups dialogue and mediation escalating to law
enforcement action if needed
Deteriorating rural and urban C2 – WRDIP and RBA participation in the
C2 + rapid demographic / domestic water supply quantity Provincial Development Council process and
economic change and quality, leading to meetings and support to its technical
deteriorating public health committees, to develop coordinated avoidance
and mitigation strategies
As part of the National Flood Management
Program/Unit developed under WRDIP,
support local communities to develop
appropriate ‘living with floods’ plans including
C3 + increasing population e.g. flood zoning (the regulation of investment
Increased flood and erosion
and agricultural/urban and human activity in floodways and on
damage risk to infrastructure
development in flood-prone floodplains) and flood preparedness
and well-being increases
areas (construction of flood refuges, warning and
evacuation systems, prepositioning of
sandbags etc.). Support for such measures
will be undertaken as part of National Flood
Management Unit institutional strengthening.
Past Cumulative Impacts on Sensitive/Vulnerable Environmental Components
Much damage and plunder
occurred during the conflict
C1: archeological sites and C1 – site screening, and if needed preparation
decades when archeological
artifacts and implementation of construction-phase
research, conservation, and
safeguards plans
protection were impossible
Progressive deterioration has
occurred in recent decades; C3 Pilot social forestry activity included in C3, that
C3: tugai habitat
is not expected to affect tugai may involve tugai tree species
adversely
APPENDIX D 181
Table 4: Cumulative Impacts and Mitigation Measures

Phase & Activity Cumulative Impact Mitigation
With Other Committed/Approved Projects
Need to assess as SP
C1, C2, C3 + as-yet- Develop institutional arrangements to ensure
locations and concepts
unidentified subprojects at regular communication between WRDIP PDF
become known. Small-scale
provincial level and under and other projects to coordinate infrastructure
water resources infrastructure
EU Pyanj-Amu Basin Project commitment, planning and design, and
R&U will cause localized
and WB EIRP mitigation/monitoring of adverse impacts.
impacts in more locations.
On WRDIP Tranche 1 Mitigation Measures
None.

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Environmental Assessment Report

Initial Environmental Examination

Afghanistan: Preparing the Water Resources

Project Number 7088-AFG

AFG: WATER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT PROGRAM

Figure : Roads, Secondary Towns, and pre-2003/4 Administrative Boundaries

APPENDIX B: STANDARD CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT ENVIRONMENTAL

APPENDIX C: PUBLIC CONSULTATION ........................................................................ 138

APPENDIX D: CUMULATIVE IMPACT ASSESSMENT…………………………………… 165

2. The Project is a Multi-Tranche Financing Facility (MFF). MFF is a new type of

5. In accordance with ADB environmental guidelines (referenced in Appendix A) for

6. Under GOA environmental regulations (referenced in Appendix A), all three

8. The post-conflict setting posed some challenges to the environmental assessment

9. Tranche 1 consists of three components:

• Component 1 (C1) Northern Basins Development, located in north-central

• Component 2 (C2) Nangarhar Valley Development Authority Improvement,

• Component 3 (C3) Flood Management Program, located in northeastern

C. Description of C1 Northern Basins Program

13. Smaller infrastructure. The Component will complete reconstruction and

b. Water User Associations

D. Description of C2 Nangarhar Valley Development Authority Improvement

E. Description of C3 Flood Management Program

F. C1 Northern Basins Development Baseline Environment

2. Location and Studied Area

(ii) Balkh catchment (approximately ~25,000 km2) upstream of the irrigation

3. Environmental Setting in Historical Context

(i) Lower Balkh Irrigation System

(ii) Upper Catchment

(iii) Drought and Climate Change

b. Morphology, Soils, and Geology

c. Seismology / Earthquake Hazard

(ii) Marshes / wetlands

(iii) 540 µS cm-1 in the Amu Darya (358510 4119828).

d. Rare / Endangered Species

6. Social, Economic, and Cultural Resources

b. Overview: Provincial Profiles

d. Cities & Towns

e. Land Tenure and Rural Livelihoods

f. Health Services Delivery and Surveillance

86. In particular, DEWS information provides near-real-time incidence statistics on

g. Mineral, Oil/Gas, and Large Industrial Development

k. Domestic Water Supply Behaviors

l. Owned Space and Water

m. Gendered Space and Water

n. External Influence and Interventions

p. Current Traditional Resource Use by Indigenous Peoples

q. Culturally and Socially Significant Sites

103. The possibility of encountering archeological materials during construction of

7. Lower Balkh Irrigation System

c. Traditional Diversion Structures

(iv) Sedimentation – tail reach where sedimentation becomes a problem due to

e. Upstream Use: Sholgara system

g. Operation, Maintenance, and Water Management

(i) First, traditional water diversion is by means of proportional division

regardless of variations in flow rate. Elegantly, the flow division is

i. Other Water Users and Wastewater Discharges

G. C2 Nangarhar Valley Development Authority Improvement Baseline

• Downstream areas that could receive potential Component impacts;

• Upstream areas that could be potential sources of EOP impacts

• Chaparhar (Farm 1?); capital Chapahar

• Jalalabad (Farm 1); capital Jalalabad

• Muhmand Dara (Farm 4); capital Muhmand Dara

• Shinwar (Farm 3 & 4) ; capital Shinwar