Water Shortage Hinders Development of Parks in Nimroz

Residents of Nimroz say the province, particularly Zaranj city, has faced a shortage of recreational parks and public green spaces for years.

They call on officials and businesspeople to pay greater attention to building recreational parks and expanding green spaces in Zaranj.

Mohammad Nabi, a Nimroz resident who visited the Chigini desert for recreation, said: “Many people come to this area for recreation, but traffic accidents sometimes occur in Chigini because of speeding vehicles. If proper parks and green spaces are built in the city, people will not have to come here. We ask the government and businesspeople to help build parks and green spaces.”

Another Nimroz resident, Rahman Gul, said: “I came here for recreation, but the weather is very hot and Nimroz does not have a suitable recreational area. We ask the government to provide proper recreational places so that we can spend our free time in a suitable environment.”

Local officials in Nimroz say efforts are underway to build and expand recreational parks in Zaranj.

They say water shortages and the lack of sufficient water for irrigation are among the main challenges to developing parks and green spaces.

Nimroz Mayor Salahuddin Mumtaz said: “We irrigate trees in the city at a high cost. This shows that Nimroz is facing a severe water shortage. One of the main reasons for the lack of parks and green spaces in the city is the decline in groundwater levels and the shortage of water. Despite this, we are trying to use the available resources to develop green spaces and meet the needs of residents.”

Nimroz is one of Afghanistan’s hottest and driest provinces and has faced a severe shortage of clean drinking water for years.