The Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources joined forces with the Faculty of Engineering at Cairo University, and the people of Siwa Oasis to carry out the “Developing the Irrigation and Drainage System in Siwa Oasis” project at a cost of three billion LE, in an effort to put radical solutions to problems that have been going on for 30 years.
Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam said in his speech on World Water Day that deep wells have been drilled to produce fresh water from the Nubian sandstone aquifer for mixing with surface well water, while also closing many groundwater wells that were withdrawing water from the shallow groundwater aquifer.
He explained further details on the Siwa Oasis Development Project, which include work being done to implement a number of bridges in Siwa Lake with a total length of 14 kilometers.
It also includes the excavation of an open canal 33.7 kilometers long to transfer agricultural drainage water to the east of the oasis through the Antfour pumping station, which pumped agricultural drainage water through a 5.7-kilometer canal that reaches the open canal.
The country has carried out a number of projects in confronting climate change and harvesting rainwater.
Up to 268 industrial projects have been implemented in the Upper Egypt governorates at a cost of LE1.68 billion, and 70 industrial projects are being implemented at a cost of LE1.33 billion.
Furthermore, the ministry plans to set up 69 industrial projects at a cost of LE4.61 billion.
And 1,359 industrial projects have been implemented in the governorates of North and South Sinai, the Red Sea and Matrouh at a cost of five billion LE, and 20 industrial projects are being implemented at a cost of LE480 million.
It further aims to bring off 20 industrial projects at a cost of LE5.6 billion, while protection projects are being reviewed to increase their storage capacity in light of climate change and resulting extreme hydrology.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
