Application of strategic environmental assessment to the integrated water resources management plan in Afghanistan : focusing on the Amu Darya River Basin | |
| Author | Dashti, Sayed Ajmal |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.EV-11-12 |
| Subject(s) | Integrated water development--Afghanistan Environmental assessment analysis--Afghanistan Water quality management--Afghanistan |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering and Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) is becoming prevalent and accepting as a comprehensive approach to manage water resources in appropriate and sustainable manner. The water demand has increased manifold in corresponds to population explosion, rapid urbanization and industrialization. In the mean time the freshwater resource are limited and depends on the local weather & climatic factors. Water situation in Central Asia continue to be dire because of the unplanned extraction and rapid developments in the last decade. There are two main rivers (Amy Darya and Syr Darya) supplying water for central Asia countries including Afghanistan. It is found that both these rivers cannot provide sufficient water due to unplanned use in agriculture and industrial sectors which in turn causing crucial water shortage in the region. This problem cannot be solved unless & until concrete plans like IWRM is implemented and SEA support IWRM for balancing social, economical and environmental issues. In this study, it is also found that Afghanistan has problem in implementation of IWRM due to 1) Lack of river basin data; 2) Lack of proper coordination of management activities; 3) Institutional fragmentation; and 4) Inadequate public awareness. Therefore, an IWRM Plan is drafted for Amu Darya Basin according to Orange River Basin IWRM Plan and SEA is applied based on the SEA of Scotland River Basin Management Plan. Both SEA and IWRM are emphasizing on sustainable management, but the central objectives of these approaches differ from environmental point of view. Moreover, SEA provides a pathway and opportunity for IWRM Plan to evaluate environmental impacts of proposed IWRM Plan thus listing significant environmental impact and issues (SEA-Environmental Report) for decision-maker (Afghanistan Water National Secretariat, SCWAM, MEW and NEPA) to take necessary action. SEA also supports IWRM Plan to balance its three fundamental pillars equally (Social, Economic and Environmental) in order to guaranty sustainable development. The research study finding is not just to suggest recommendations. According to international best cases, it is provided a draft IWRM Plan structure and furnished an entire SEA procedure for integration of SEA and IWRM for Amu Darya Basin. |
| Year | 2011 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering and Management (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Shipin, Oleg V.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Visvananthan, C.;Nguyen, Thi Kim Oanh |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | EU;Afghanistan Asia Link; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2011 |