RASC News Agency: Several residents of the sixth district of Herat province in western Afghanistan claim that for more than two years, they have paid significant amounts to bring municipal water to their homes, yet the Taliban have taken these funds without addressing the issue. A resident of the sixth district of Herat, speaking on condition of anonymity, told RASC on Sunday, May 5, “More than a thousand homes paid 12,000 kabuli rupees each to the Taliban’s water supply administration in the province to bring municipal water to their homes, but none of the officials have taken any action on the matter.”
He added that all household water wells have dried up for unknown reasons, causing significant hardship for the residents. The situation has pushed locals to demand immediate attention and resolution from the Taliban authorities. He warned that if the Taliban continue to neglect the issue, residents will be forced to seek alternative solutions. Akbar Belali, a local council member in one of Herat’s neighborhoods, told RASC that the Taliban grant cooperation and privileges in areas they favor to provide urban services.
He stated, “Most of the areas where municipal water has been provided are Taliban strongholds, which many residents of Herat find unacceptable.” Meanwhile, another local resident told RASC that the lack of safe and potable water in this area of Herat province has caused significant harm to Herati families. He added that someone should question Taliban officials on where the funds collected from the people have gone.
He explained that the Taliban officials use the collected funds to finance infrastructure projects in their favored areas. He noted that families without municipal water are compelled to go door-to-door in search of safe water just to get through the day. According to him, if the Taliban claim to excel in development, they should address the people’s main problems.
On the other hand, Rahman Ahmadi, an expert in western Afghanistan, confirms that the Taliban have deceived the people to extort funds under the pretext of providing municipal water. He suggests that people should demand their legitimate rights from the Taliban to avoid future obstacles.
Ahmadi emphasized that if people remain silent and do not demand their rights from the Taliban, worse challenges will arise in the future. The Taliban’s water supply administration in Herat province has not commented on this news.
