Droughts attack the south and finance impede assignments of irrigation projects

Droughts attack the south and finance impede assignments of irrigation projects


BAGHDAD -
"The scarcity of water throughout Iraq and the capital has many reasons, not as it is rumored that it exceeded some provinces over the quotas of other provinces," Baghdad Provincial Council member Jassumah Rahim al-Izergawi said.

Azzergawi said in a statement to «Journal News», that "the large number of abuses by citizens and population density and the absence of pipelines and future plans to feed all areas with usable water, noting that there are tanks unused because of the lack of water lines.

"The poor distribution of electricity has contributed to the scarcity of water because the pipelines and pumps operate on electric stations, pointing out that the provinces suffer from the scarcity of water, especially the province of Dhi Qar, which has been listed on the World Heritage (Marshlands), but to this moment did not get its share Full irrigation for several reasons, including that the water releases of the southern provinces are incorrect. "

She pointed out that the water scarcity was caused by foreign political differences with neighboring countries on the water quotas, indicating that Turkey had reduced the Euphrates River flows in the water crisis last year, stressing that the water scarcity is resolved by consensus in foreign policy of Iraq and regional and global countries.

Al-Azerjawi said that "the solution of the water shortage crisis has been developed and feasibility studies, but we have the problem of non-launch of financial allocations, demanding the Council of Ministers to launch those allocations to decide on completion of the many projects stalled as the Rasafa big water project and suspended due to lack of financial allocations and the small projects feeding the main project, Whether in the capital Baghdad or in the southern provinces. "

He added that "the Ministry of Finance has not launched the allocations until the moment to ask the latter and the Ministry of Planning to pay attention to the problem of water scarcity, which began to crisis and it is necessary to find effective solutions," noting that "the plans and budgets have been lifted since 1/7/2017 but without implementation."
The Supreme Committee, which oversees the marshlands' accession to the World Heritage List, called for joint management of the amounts to be allocated by the government to the Marshlands projects and not to single out the ministries and their disposal with the funds of 80 billion dinars.

The committee member Jassem al-Asadi told «The News News» that "the management of the file required the formation of a committee by the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, including the ministries and provinces concerned, or to send the amounts allocated to the project directly to the province, which was determined by 67 percent of the total amount in the light of space Which is occupied by the province of areas of the marshes. " In order to "develop the projects required by them and announce them directly according to the needs of the region."

Al-Asadi pointed out that "the existence of a plan and study requires the agreement that the ministries send their plan in the management of the archaeological areas in the province by a body concerned with the effects of the discussion and give a special methodology through meetings where the determination of disbursement amounts."
Adding that "multiple ministries, such as culture and resources involved with the province to implement the projects of UNESCO, but there is an attempt to these ministries to take over the projects alone, which raises serious concern about the seriousness of the implementation of projects and non-complacency."
He called the first deputy governor of Dhi Qar Adel al-Dakhili Council of Ministers to intervene urgently to resolve the worsening water crisis in the province of Dhi Qar because of the lack of levels and abuses by the neighboring provinces.

Dakhili said in a press statement that Dhi Qar suffers from water scarcity due to excesses on the high river and abnormal conditions due to high temperatures and low water levels that have cast a shadow over the province.

He pointed out that the marshes of the province threatened by drought and everyone in front of a major challenge to avoid this crisis, which adversely affect the reality of water, economic and tourism. Warning of the disaster hit the marshes and the collapse of prestige after the return of life and join the list of world heritage.
Al-Dakhili pointed to the ambiguity in the mechanism of supporting neighboring countries in the water file with Iraq and not to provide the governorate with how to deliver water to the southern marshes by the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Water Resources. Calling for activating the role of the Committee on the removal of abuses on both sides of the Tigris and Euphrates to ensure the share of water conservation at the very least.

He added that last year the local government had many problems, including the death of a large number of fish and supporting the marshlands and increase their water quotas is nothing but media noise that does not benefit the city and still suffering a continuous drought.


[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]