Water Resources: We have taken strict measures to save water for the summer season

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[size=52]Water Resources: We have taken strict measures to save water for the summer season[/size]

[size=45]Baghdad / Firas Adnan[/size]
[size=45]The Ministry of Water Resources reported that Iraq has taken measures to store the largest amount of water to meet the summer season, pointing out that the releases of the Tigris River are still acceptable in light of the recent talks with Turkey.[/size]
[size=45]However, observers talk about fears of depletion of all strategic reserves before the end of this year, warning of the transfer of the crisis to drinking water.[/size]
[size=45]Khaled Shamal, a spokesman for the Ministry of Water Resources, said, "The water crisis in Iraq involves two parts. The first is external, since the country's water sources come from neighboring countries, namely Turkey, Syria and Iran."[/size]
[size=45]And Shamal continued, “More than 70% of Iraq’s water comes from neighboring countries,” denying that “an agreement has been concluded with these countries that have built large dam projects and changed and drained many of the rivers’ paths and their drainage.”[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out that "the second part is related to climate variables," stressing that "Iraq is the fifth country affected by climate variables and drought."[/size]
[size=45]And Shamal said, "This matter has cast a shadow over the Iraqi water reality, specifically in the southern governorates, which are Basra, Dhi Qar and Maysan."[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out, "measures taken by the ministry, starting from the winter season, by storing more than what can be stored to enhance strategic storage and use it in the summer season."[/size]
[size=45]Shamal talked about “implementing a strict policy of water distribution, alternation, and sharing to control the distribution of water on the two banks of the rivers, while not releasing any water additions to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers except for the actual need.”[/size]
[size=45]He emphasized, "Implementing a campaign to lift the abuses of water quotas, those on rivers' taboos, and those related to the environmental aspect."[/size]
[size=45]And Shamal added, "The treatment of environmental pollutants was by launching water jets, but the situation has changed at the present time due to the lack of water, and therefore we went to coordinate with the security forces and the Supreme Judicial Council, then we took deterrent measures against the transgressors."[/size]
[size=45]And he continues, “The Turkish side deals with the Tigris and Euphrates rivers as belonging to it, and this comes in conjunction with the absence of a water agreement with Turkey and the lack of rainfall in the Tigris and Euphrates basins.”[/size]
[size=45]And Shamal continues, “The water file is sovereign,” warning that “Prime Minister Muhammad Shia’ al-Sudani had visited Turkey last March, and it was agreed to double the water releases in the Tigris River after he presented his water problem.”[/size]
[size=45]And he added, "The Turkish side, on the second day of Al-Sudani's visit, doubled the releases of the Tigris River, and this doubling continued, which is somewhat acceptable revenue compared to what it was in the past."[/size]
[size=45]Shamal said, "The ministry benefited from these releases by storing them in the Mosul Dam, and strengthening the water in the Tigris River by improving its water status, increasing drainage and raising levels."[/size]
[size=45]He continued, "Iraq has historical rights to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and the rivers shared with Iran, and these two countries must give us these rights, and then all the objections registered by these two countries to Iraq's uses of water will be discussed."[/size]
[size=45]And Shamal went on, that “the main problem is not related to the waste of water, but it is related to the lack of revenues, which decreased by 70%, and this is a dangerous indicator that should be paid attention to, so the talk should be on two things. Harm".[/size]
[size=45]Baghdad hosted the third water conference with the participation of a number of countries and organizations concerned with the water file, where Prime Minister Muhammad Shia' al-Sudani stressed in his speech that resolving the crisis of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers needs urgent international intervention.[/size]
[size=45]For his part, Adel Al-Mukhtar, a researcher in water affairs, said, "The United Nations has recognized that the drought will be severe with Iraq."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Mukhtar added, "Iraq has a memorandum of understanding that has not been implemented until now, obligating the Turkish side to grant us our water rights, and it must share the damage."[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out that “the water situation needs to reconsider the agricultural policy, as it is not reasonable to build an agricultural plan based on 30 to 40 billion cubic meters, and it must be reduced to 10 billion cubic meters.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Mukhtar said, "We registered a big objection to the agricultural plan for the winter season, which was approved for surface irrigation, which amounted to 6.5 dunums."[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out, "Iraq was able, during the first rainy wave, to store two to two billion and 500 million cubic meters, and covered the last irrigation, which is estimated at about 3 billion cubic meters."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Mukhtar believes that “the winter agricultural plan has lost Iraq 3 billion cubic meters that were supposed to be stored, bringing the storage to 15 billion cubic meters instead of 10 billion cubic meters.”[/size]
[size=45]And he stated, “The Iraqi water storage is not sufficient until the end of this year, but the question that should be put is: What if the next winter is dry without rain?”[/size]
[size=45]And Al-Mukhtar finds that, "Indications indicate that we have reached the stage of danger, and this means that we may enter into a drinking water crisis, unless Turkey increases the releases until we overcome the crisis."[/size]
[size=45]And he stated, "The time has come to draw an agricultural policy, so that we can convince the Turkish and Iranian sides, because they are protesting that Iraq is wasting water."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Mukhtar concluded, "Expectations confirm that the year will be harsh for Iraq in light of this clear decrease in water storage and the lack of solutions to the crisis."[/size]
[size=45]Iraq is suffering from the most severe crisis in decades in the water file, with neighboring countries adopting policies that exacerbated the severity of the drought.[/size]
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