Framework for water management in river basins.

The Framework of the Water Resources Management in river basin is the implementing Regulation for Strategic Policy Framework for the Water Sector 2004 – 2024 and Afghanistan Water Law, which aims to coordinate various policies, legislation and regulation on water management.
The Framework consists of 21 articles, divided into 7 Chapters: General Provisions (I); Management of river Basins based on Water Law (II); Cooperation in Management of Freshwater Areas (III); Determination of the River Basin Area Management Authorities (IV); Management of the Main river Basin Areas and River Basin Sub-Areas (V); Geographical Situation and Borders of Basin Areas (VI); Final Provisions (VII). The main objective of the Regulation is to establish authorities responsible to manage river basin areas. Accordingly, the Regulations clarify the legal and administrative process for the establishment of the river basin areas departments, river basin areas councils, river basin areas consultative boards, and water users’ associations.
The Ministry of Energy and Water is the authority responsible to coordinate all above-mentioned departments and authorities. The Regulation requires basin areas management authorities to: cooperate with other official departments; protect, develop, manage, and control national water resources; improve fair access of all people to water resources; make sustainable and efficient use of water; provide facilities necessary for social and economic development; preserve ecosystems and biological varieties; prevent the destruction and pollution of water resources; comply with international agreements; manage floods and drought in the country. The river basin areas management authorities are established and worked based on the following basic principles: justice in access to water resources; sustainability of water resources; social and economic development related to water resources; proper use of water; preserve people’s right to water based on the poverty reduction strategies; domestic cooperation; unity and coherence of regulations and legislation in the field; transparency of information. The Regulation requires an increase in the cooperation of people in the management of water resources. In doing so, the Regulation sets provisions for increase of public awareness on the issue through workshops, seminars, surveys, education, research, and capacity building activities. The borders of basin areas are determined based on the following criteria: pattern of the social, political, and economic growth in the area; public interest; environmental considerations. The country is divided into five main basin areas: Kabul; Helmand; Panj-Amu; North Sea; Harirurd-Murghab. The Regulation divides each main basin area to a number of sub-areas and determines their geographical borders.