Cabinet to probe new water resources

Egypt's Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Mahmoud Abu Zeid presented on Tuesday a new plan to the cabinet for developing water resources till 2017, in a way coping with international changes and population increase at a cost of L.E. 122 billion.

The plan includes reclamation of 3.4 million feddans and coordinating with the Nile Basin countries on curbing the amount of wasted water and modernizing the irrigation process.

During a reception on the occasion of the World Water Day at the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources headquarters, Abu Zeid said the plan also includes boosting cooperation with the Nile Basin countries.

He said that more than L.E. 10 billion was spent on the infrastructure of Al-Salam Canal in Sinai and Toshka project.

The reception was attended by Minister of Agriculture Ahmad Alleithi and Minister of Environment Maged George.

On his part, the Minister of Agriculture said the Ministry was about to fulfill a time-schedule to achieve self-sufficiency in wheat and fill the gap between production and consumption in Egypt through expansion of wheat plantations.