Irrigation Minister: Nile water,only for its Basin countries

Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation and public works Mahmoud Abu Zeid said that the government is keen on protecting the High Dam and other establishments.

Al Salam canal is a project that aims at adding 400.000 feddans to the Egyptian arable land and not to carry Nile Water to Israel.

Egypt cooperates with other Nile Basin countries to guarantee the Egyptian Nile Basin quota and try to increase it to meet new Egyptian project.

Mean while an ad hoc ministerial committee allocated 60,000 acres for cultivation in Toshka that are expected to provide 27,000 new jobs, an official source said yesterday.

The Minister Abu Zeid said the reclaimed land would benefit thousands of people and provide jobs.

He said water would be channelled to the 60,000 acres during next year's October War victory celebrations.