Roads and canals vital to the residents have been renovated, opening the road for commerce and access to the provincial capital
29 December 2011 | Hirat, Afghanistan
CHALLENGE Located close to the city of Hirat, Injil District has little money to maintain and upgrade vital infrastructure. Roads and canals across the district were in deplorable condition. During the harsh wet winter season, roads washed out, making them impassable, and canals overflowed their banks. Farming is the primary source of income for the Injil residents, but the deplorable condition of the roads made it difficult to travel the relatively short distance to Hirat City. Thus, farmers were not able to sell their produce in the markets or access public services. Heavy trucks had limited access in and out of Injil and personal vehicle traffic had become nearly impossible. The bad roads meant that much of the local commerce was limited and there was little movement of goods and services.
INITIATIVE USAID, and its implementing partner Central Asia Development Group, worked with local community leaders in the district and identified road rehabilitation and canal repair as the top infrastructure priorities for the people living in the area. Approximately 16 km of roads in Injil — the Ordokhan, Qala Farahiha, and Sawa roads — were slated for immediate rehabilitation, along with almost 12 km of irrigation and side canals. Fixing the roads meant that the estimated 32,000 people who live in the vicinity would have access to the provincial capital, even in the worst winter weather. Installation of retaining walls to prevent erosion and rock fall, combined with road refurbishment meant that the people of Injil would no longer be isolated.
RESULTS The 100-day project repaired the three roads and cleared and renovated the canals. More than 400 men worked on resurfacing, laying gravel, and removing debris. The project provided a source of much needed income during the length of the project. The canal work improved irrigation to an estimated 400 hectares of agricultural land around Ordokhan Village. The roads are now passable and open for traffic.