MELEKA WERE, Afar – The Awash Basin Development Office (ABDO) said two dams worth of 13 billion Birr are needed to prevent recurrent, seasonal floods and drought in the Basin.
Briefing a crew of journalists from four Nile Basin countries to attend a media training workshop on Climate, Water and Security in the Eastern Nile River Basin recently, ABDO Office Head Abeje Menegesha, said areas in and around Upstream Koka, Awash (Koka-Awash Bridge), Awash Halidebi, Awash Adiatu, Awash Termina and Eastern Catchment have for long been repeatedly flooded seasonally and recurrently.
The major cause of the flood are runoff from the highlands with intensive rainfall aggravated by the modifications of land use and expansion of Lake Beseka by intrusion of fresh water from the surrounding. In addition, floods from agricultural lands intensified by river morphological changes and inadequate drainage and floods due to interlocked river systems with low drainage and flatter slopes have been severally causing damages to the community.
The Office has a record of the damages the floods caused since 1980s in Afambo, Dubti, Asayita, Buremodayito and Gewane, Amibara and Dulecha, Amibara, Gefrem/Debel and others. For instance, 30,907 people and 3,137.25 hectares of crops have been affected floods caused by over topping in East Shoa Zone of Oromia between the year 2011 and 2019. In the reported period, the floods have caused displacement and damage on 29,252 people, 7,201 hectares of crops and 219 livestock in West Shoa Zone.
Generally, the floods have been damaging irrigation farms, infrastructure and house equipment and causing displacement of population, water born disease and huge amount of budget requirement for resettlement. On the other hand, drought has also been another problem in the basin. Most recently in 2015, the climate change induced drought has completely stopped the water supply form Koka and Tendaho dams causing a serious problem on communities and their livestock that were totally dependent on these dams for their livelihood, Abeje said.
These have forced the government to terminate other development activities such as large scale irrigation by prioritizing human and livestock lives. The Office Head said in the long run, the Office has proposed to the government that two multipurpose dams have to be constructed to overcome both flood hazard and drought in a sustainable manner.
The first multipurpose dam is proposed to be built near Awash 7 kilo town and will provide multi-purpose services including town water supply, fishery, mini hydro-power generation, irrigation and recreation service in addition flood protection.
The second dam is proposed to be built on Logia River and in addition to flood protection; it would irrigate 5.000 hectares of land. Standard dyke construction was also proposed. While the two Dams would cost some 13 billion Birr, they have not been materialized as of yet due to budget shortage, he said.
ABDO was established some 35 years ago with the mission of preventing floods and protect communities and irrigation infrastructure. Its head office is located at Meleka Were town, Amibara woreda of the Afar state.
The Ethiopian Herald, January 2/2020
BY ABIY HAILU
