MOWR plans to secure drinking water in four provinces

BAGHDAD-INA

Ministry of Water Resources set Friday the priorities of the agricultural plan for the upcoming summer season, while pointing to efforts to secure drinking water and orchards in four governorates.

 The Director-General of the National Center for Water Resources Management, Hatem Hamid, said in a statement to the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The problem of water scarcity continues for the third year in a row as a result of the lack of water revenues," noting that the ministry's management of the storage system in the Tigris and Euphrates basins enabled it to give priority  for drinking water, orchards, environmental expenses, and the winter and summer planting plan for the past years.

 He explained that "next summer is expected to be difficult, but efforts are continuing to secure drinking water and orchards, as well as preparing a summer plan in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture through the water storage available in the dams."

 He added that "the bid'ah water project is insured, given that it has priority in securing drinking water in the governorates of Basra and Nasiriyah," pointing out that "securing the share of the Hamrin Dam, especially since the water shortage is severe in the revenues of the Diyala River on the one hand, and the water cut off from Iran on the other hand, which has caused a shortage of water.


 On the other hand, Hamid explained that "the agricultural plan for the next summer season will focus on crops that consume small amounts of water," stressing that "the Ministry of Agriculture has proposals and we will work to meet them within the strategic reserves available in dams and reservoirs."