A consultant calls for the formation of a national council to avoid the problem of water scarcity

[size=52]A consultant calls for the formation of a national council to avoid the problem of water scarcity[/size]

[size=45]Baghdad / Hussein Hatem[/size]
[size=45]The Ministry of Water Resources talks about holding a meeting soon with the Iranian side to discuss the issue of water scarcity, expressing its hope that all water needs in the summer season will be fully secured. On the other hand, specialists in water affairs called for reducing water use through the use of modern irrigation systems, forming a National Water Council and continuing negotiations with neighboring countries to avoid scarcity and drought.[/size]
[size=45]A spokesman for the Ministry of Water Resources, Aoun Diab, said in an interview with Al-Mada that “the ministry was able to provide good storage of water,” assuring citizens that “the ministry is able to fully secure all needs in the summer season.”[/size]
[size=45]Dhiab added, "But Diyala province has a more difficult situation since its main source of water is the eastern side of Iran," adding that "the ministry was able to boost drinking water in the first degree in the Baqubah region through pumping stations, and dig some wells to secure water in the Mandali and Qazan regions." A spokesman for the Ministry of Water Resources adds that "there is movement and contacts with Turkey and Iran." It is likely that "there will soon be a meeting with specialists from the Iranian side to discuss the issue of water." Two weeks ago, Minister of Water Resources Mehdi Rashid announced that water levels in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers were halved, and he said in a press conference at the ministry’s headquarters that “water imports coming from Turkey to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers decreased by 50 percent.” And the minister stated, "The tributaries of the Darbandikhan dam have reached zero percent, while the lower Zab imports have decreased by 70 percent."[/size]
[size=45]Rashid pointed out that "we received news that Iran has diverted some of the tributaries into Iran, including the Sirwan River and some of the waters of the Diyala tributary," noting that "this information was confirmed by our technical control in the ministry and we felt that the matter is there." In turn, the advisor and water expert, Adel Al-Mukhtar called for the formation of the National Water Council headed by Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi and the membership of the Ministries of Agriculture, Water Resources, Health, Environment and Foreign Affairs.[/size]
[size=45]In an interview with Al-Mada, Al-Mukhtar says that "limiting the water file to the Ministry of Water Resources is not correct and results cannot be achieved as no negotiation is made through the establishment of the National Council with the Prime Minister and other ministries. The consultant pointed out that "it is wrong to hold the Ministry of Water Resources the subject of the agreements," noting that "the responsibility for the agreements rests with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is responsible for following up on international agreements and obligations in the presence of the Ministry of Water Resources as another party." The water expert adds that "the establishment of the National Council was proposed 10 years ago to the House of Representatives, and its idea changed over the previous years until it faded."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Mukhtar points out that "Iraq needs 15 billion cubic meters of water in the summer season," adding, "But the decrease in water levels in these circumstances as a result of the scarcity of rain and the lack of snow led to weak revenues." The consultant calls for "reducing water use through the use of modern irrigation systems, especially with regard to (gardening) drip irrigation," pointing out that "Iraq needs 3 billion cubic meters of water in the year to irrigate the orchards," noting that "in the event of irrigation conversion To modern irrigation or drip irrigation, we will go to empty two billion cubic meters in the summer. "[/size]
[size=45]The water expert went on to say that "one of the causes of wasting water is also raising fish in many of the bypassed lakes, at a time when we lack water," adding that "fish lakes need nearly a billion cubic meters of water."[/size]
[size=45]"The unlicensed fish lakes reach more than 500 or billion cubic meters," he says. The water expert shows that "the marshes in the summer season need to be sustained by two billion cubic meters of water, which can be replaced by a billion, in the event that non-essential crops such as rice is left." Al-Mukhtar points out that "a specialized team of experts must be formed to draw a profitable policy, not only for the work of the farmer, but for production and profit."[/size]
[size=45]With regard to the water stored in dams and reservoirs, the water expert believes that "water covers the scarcity in this season," adding, "But if the next winter is like the winter that has passed, the water will go without a mechanism and a plan." Al-Mukhtar added, "The water year ends on June 1, after which water storage can be known and on this basis summer and winter cultivation is built," indicating that "after determining the storage, 50% of the water is used and the other 50% is stored."[/size]
[size=45]The government consultant confirms that "negotiation is very important," indicating that "the Iranian side called for negotiations, but there is no movement on this file yet." The water expert holds, "the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the reason for the delay in negotiations."[/size]
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