KABUL, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's Ministry of Energy and Water has launched a new phase of the riverbank protection project worth 81.5 million afghanis (over 1.2 million U.S. dollars), in northern Afghanistan's Takhar province, the official statement said on Friday.

The project involves reinforcing a 1,200-meter section of riverbank with a width of 21 meters in the Darqad district of this province, and is scheduled to be completed within one year, the statement said.

The project is aimed at preventing riverbank erosion, protecting agricultural land, and improving the safety of lives and property for residents, the statement added.

Takhar province, which is prone to flooding during heavy rains, has suffered repeated damage to farmland and infrastructure in recent years, making riverbank protection a key priority for local communities. ■