Minister witness opening Toshka spillway dyke

Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mahmoud Abu Zeid Monday opened the dyke built at the entrance of Toshka spillway at 11:00 a.m., when the water level before the High Dam reached 178.47 metres.

Following removal of the dyke to allow the floodwaters into Toshka spillway, Abu Zeid said that the measure is preventive and falls within other measures to cope with the increase in water level.

"Some 260 million cubic metres were discharged behind the High Dam Monday, with an increase of 10 million cubic metres vis-a-vis the discharged volume in the past days," said Abu Zeid.

He pointed out that the Toshka depressions absorb 120 billion cubic metres and represent a protection wall for the High Dam in case of subsequent high floods.

On the other hand, the Nile water level in Lake Nasser rose to 178.47 metres Monday, recording 11 centimeters more than the level registered on Sunday.

Water stored behind the High Dam reached 140.260 billion cubic meters, according to an official source at the High Dam and General Authority.

Some 260 million cubic meters were released into the Nile course, north of the High Dam , to meet the needsof drinking water, electricity generation, irrigation, navigation and industry, the source added.