First phase of Toshka project to be inaugurated next October

The Egyptian Deputy Premier and Minister of Agriculture Youssef Wali said the first phase of Toshka project will be inaugurated next October as 20000 feddans will be cultivated in the first phase.

Wali praised performance at Toshka project, in the south of the valley, and the rates of work at the various sites.

Work has been completed up to about 85 per cent. There are no difficulties in the way of funding, Wali said.

During tour of the project yesterday on which he was accompanied by 12 ministers, Wali attributed the successes achieved in the project to the continued support of President Hosni Mubarak to overall development in Egypt, foremost among which are major national projects at Toshka, As Salam Canal, East Owaint and Darb Arbayeen.

The first two units of the giant pumping station will undergo tests and will be operated in August prior to the opening of the project as part of the October celebrations.

Wali inspected work in the four branches of Sheikh Zayed Canal to the length of about 100 kilometers.

He also toured fish breeding pools in Lake Nasser and coastal fruit and vegetable plantations at Toshka spillway and experimental projects at the branch of Prince Walid Bin Talal and the branch of Egyptian national companies.

Mahmoud Abu Zeid, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources who was among the ministers accompanying Dr.Wali, said that the project was making steady progress day after day.