Long-range water projects drawn up for Jordan

Jordan's Water and Irrigation Minister Munthir Haddadin said his ministry has drawn up a program and an investment plan lasting until the year 2011 for the water sector at a total cost of $780 million.

"The ministry has so far secured $630 million of the required amount in the form of soft loans," Haddadin told the reporters.

"Various Arab and international institutions will contribute to implementing the program," he said. "US Agency for International Development, the World Bank and the European Bank are among the contributors," he said.

The work on some of new projects within the plan has started, as well as the ministry's efforts focusing on carrying out two other big projects. "One is to transfer water from Deir Alla to Amman and the other is the purification project for Zarqaa," the minister said.