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Water resource management in Kabul river basin, eastern Afghanistan

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Abstract

Severe drinking water shortage affects all resident of the Kabul river basin. Two and a half decades of civil war in Afghanistan (it began in late 1978) have resulted in widespread environmental degradation and water resource development throughout the country. The war has already finished and, therefore, water resource management for supplying water is one of the most important tasks for Afghanistan’s government. The Kabul river basin which is the most populated area in the country is located in the eastern part of Afghanistan. This article deals with the water resource properties of the Kabul river basin and also water demand in the important cities of the basin, such as Kabul, the capital and the largest city in the country. Also a few suggestions for providing water for domestic and agriculture purposes in short term, medium time and long term have been discussed.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to express their sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Ministry of Energy and Water of Afghanistan, Toossab Consulting Engineers from Mashhad, Iran and FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization of United Nation) office in Kabul who contributed to the work reported in the article.

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Correspondence to G. R. Lashkaripour.

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Lashkaripour, G.R., Hussaini, S.A. Water resource management in Kabul river basin, eastern Afghanistan. Environmentalist 28, 253–260 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-007-9136-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-007-9136-2

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