KABUL, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Local authorities have begun construction of a water supply network in the most underdeveloped Garmsir district in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province, reported the official news agency Bakhtar on Monday.
The essential project at a cost of 16 million afghani (around 252,000 U.S. dollars) would provide potable water to more than 700 families in the poor district, the state-owned media outlet added.
Afghanistan has been facing extreme water shortage due to successive years of drought, and the problem is tangible even in the capital Kabul as scores of people are seen standing in queue behind water wells to fetch water every day.
The government has already constructed scores of water supply networks in several districts.
To overcome the challenge, the Afghan government has decided to construct water reservoirs in almost every district of the post-war country. ■