Afghanistan – Takhar Province Provincial Disaster Management Committee (pdmc) Meeting

Afghanistan – Takhar Province

Provincial Disaster Management Committee (PDMC) Meeting

Taloqan on 13 January 2015

Draft Summary

Agenda:

1. 
   Reciting of Holy Quran
   
2. 
   Opening speech by Takhar provincial governor
   
3. 
   ANDMA 2014 natural disaster report
   
4. 
   Take decision about Dosad Laklakan and Zorbroon villages of Khoja Ghar district which are affected due to protection wall in Dasht-e-Qala district
   
5. 
   Take decision about destruction of irrigation canal and road in Sorogh village of Khwajaghar district
   
6. 
   Find solution way for Puli-Qaq village community problem who are located on a flood way which needs to be excavated and provided with a protection wall
   
7. 
   Free discussion and suggestions by participants and distribution of appreciations letters to humanitarian agencies
   
8. 
   Conclusion the meeting by Takhar provincial governor    
   

The main issues discussed:

After reciting of Holy Quran, HE Abdul Latif Ebrahimi Takhar, provincial governor mentioned about different natural disasters which occurred during 2014 and thanked ANDMA and all humanitarian organizations who were involved in on time response. He persuaded the involved humanitarian agencies to have preparedness for winter and spring natural disasters.

Abdul Razaq Zinda Takhar, ANDMA Takhar director then briefed participants about disasters which have occurred in 2014 as follows:

Totally 74 villages in Takhar province affected, (896 houses destroyed, 939 houses damaged), (4261 jerib farmland, 77 irrigation intakes and canal, 6 bridges destroyed and damaged), 16 people died, 5 people injured and 542 livestock killed. He sincerely appreciated humanitarian agencies which have responded on time, especially WFP provided food items, Concern Worldwide and NRC built shelters for affected families.

Representatives of Khwajaghar and Dasht-e-Archi district mentioned about their problems due to strengthening of Kokcha river in Dasht-e-Qala district. They said more than hundred jeribs of farmlands of Dosad Laklakan and Zorbroon village have been destroyed so far. If the government doesn’t find any fundamental solution for the mentioned problem in the upcoming spring and summer more than ten villages will be destroyed.

Engineer Mohammad Salim Akbar, director of Takhar Department of Water Management (DoWM) said there was no any coordination about thess protections with involved sectors (DoWM). DoWM didn’t have any contribution to the design of the mentioned project. In fact, water way directly converted to Dasht-e-Archi district irrigation canal. Despite of problem creation in Khwajaghar district ceased destruction of Dasht-e-Archi irrigation canal. The mentioned canal irrigates 180,000 jeribs of farmland in Dasht-e-Archi district. If we don’t find a solution, otherwise all farmland will be devastated by irrigation water. The petition letters have been sent to AKF Takhar office and also an assessment team from Ministry of Water and Energy has assessed closely the area and it was agreed to refer the mentioned problem to AKF which has 50,000 USD in this regard. Also he criticized ANDMA about the selection of RRD and DoPW for the assessment of water management problems because it is against working principals. He hoped in the future water management problems will be referred to concerned departments.

Then Mr. Mohammad Farid, deputy provincial governor said in the future each department should coordinate and observe the mentioned problem before the implementation of their projects to prevent mistakes.
Action Points:

1. 
   AKF committed to provide cash for Dosad Laklakan and Zorbroon villages of Khwajaghar district to prevent from probable destructions. DoWM will lead the mentioned project and Department of Economy, Panj Amo River Basin Department, Dasht-e-Qala & Khwajaghar district governors, ACTED, AKDN, and KFW will find a fundamental solution and report the results to the governor’s office.
   
2. 
   Puli Qaq village flood way should be reassessed by an assessment team which includes DoWM, DoA and RRD to find a solution for the community problem. PDMC secretariat should send the related documents to DoWM.
   
3. 
   DoPW should assess and take action about Bayaba bridge problem which connect two districts, Chahab and Yangi Qala.
   

Closure: HE Abdul Latif Ebrahimi Takhar, provincial governor distributed appreciation letters to selected departments and humanitarian organizations.