Application of strategic environmental assessment to the integrated water resources management plan for Kunduz River Basin (North Afghanistan). | |
| Author | Paiman, Zabihullah |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.EV-11-17 |
| Subject(s) | Integrated water development--Evaluation--Afghanistan--Kunduz River Basin Environmental impact analysis--Afghanistan--Kunduz River Basin |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering and Management. |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. EV-11-17 |
| Abstract | The main objective of this research was to apply Strategic Environmental Assessment Procedure to the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Plan for the Kunduz River basin in north Afghanistan. The study area is limited within north of Afghanistan Kunduz river basin. Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) is becoming prevalent and accepting as comprehensive approach to manage water resources in proper and sustainable manner. Because corresponding to rapid population growth, urbanization and industrialization the demand for water is increasing vastly, in the mean time the freshwater resources are limited and are going to decline. There are two main rivers (Kunduz and Khanabad) supplied the water for agriculture, domestic, industries, and environment in Kunduz river basin north Afghanistan. As well as these are the main tributary of Amu Darya River. It is found that both of them are going to be under pressure from resource deterioration and cannot provide sufficient water due to overuse in agriculture and industrial areas and others causes crucial water shortage on the region. This problem cannot solve unless IWRM become implemented and SEA support IWRM. In this research, it is also found that implementation of IWRM in north Afghanistan as an origin of major rivers in region has problem in due to l) 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 was drafted for Kunduz River Basin according to Orange River Basin IWRM Plan and SEA was applied based on the SEA of Scotland River Basin Management Plan. Although, SEA and IWRM both are emphasized for sustainable management, but the major difference between these two approaches is that environmental integration into decision is the central objective of SEA, while it is not a central concern of IWRM. Moreover, SEA provides a pathway and opportunity for IWRM Plan to evaluate environmental impacts of proposed IWRM Plan and thereby significant environmental impact and issues are identified and listed (SEAEnvironmental Report) for decision-maker (Afghanistan Water National Secretariat, SCW AM, MEW and NEPA) to take care into decisions. SEA also supports IWRM Plan to balance its three fundamental pillars equally (Social, Economic and Environmental) in order to guaranty sustainable development. |
| Year | 2011 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. EV-11-17 |
| 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 (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Shipin, Oleg; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Thammarat Koottatep;Vilas Nitivattananon; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | EU-Afghanistan Asia Link; |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2011 |