Water scarcity most critical challenges
Egypt, Economics, 12/23/2000

"Work in Toshka project in southern Egypt has not ceased for a moment, with performance rates far ahead of schedule," Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Mahmoud Abu Zeid said.

Speaking at a seminar, organized Thursday by the National Books and Documents Authority and attended by a number of intellectuals, writers and experts, Abu Zeid said that all infrastructure operations in Toshka were being undertaken through Egyptian financing, except for the $100 million grant offered by Abu Dhabi for the third branch of the 100-km-long Sheikh Zayed Canal.

"Water scarcity, overpopulation, bad water quality and the absence of an integrated vision of water resources management at global level are the key challenges facing decision-makers," said Abu Zeid, adding that the private sector should have a role in providing finance needed to develop water resources.

As for the challenges facing the Arab nation, Abu Zeid said that as 60 per cent of all Arab waters came from outside the borders, it was necessary to conclude agreements with neighbors to secure fair water quotas.

Turning to Egypt, the Minister said the Egyptian water policy till 2017 guarantees the provision of water needed for reclaiming and farming an additional 3.4 million feddans, besides insuring drinking and industry needs.

"Close cooperation among the ten Nile Basin countries includes agreement that the River's waters do not go outside the borders of the ten countries," Abu Zeid went on to say, adding that in line with a new mechanism no project would be set up on the Nile without prior agreement by the Basin countries.

Previous Stories:
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  Suez Canal posts best revenues of its history   (12/21/2000)
  Mubarak reviews performance rate of mega-projects   (12/19/2000)
  President reviews development in mega projects   (12/16/2000)
  Memorandum on Lebanese- Egyptian gas pipeline   (12/15/2000)
  60 percent of Sheikh Zayed Canal constructed   (12/11/2000)

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