A water map being prepared

Soaring food prices have laid bare the difficulties in mobilizing water resources in the face of the effects of climate change. During the first weekly session of question time in the House of Councilors, Nizar Baraka, Minister of Equipment and Water, was asked about what has been done in this area.
The Minister underlined that a “significant rate of integrated water resources development plans for the various river basins have been approved”, which, according to him, makes it possible to have a better visibility of the current situation of water and of the agricultural, industrial, and drinking water needs until 2050.
Baraka recalled the measures rolled out by the Department of Agriculture to encourage the use of irrigation methods that limit waste. It is within this framework that more than 700,000 hectares have been converted to drip irrigation. The goal is to reach 1 million hectares by 2030. The idea is also that crops be reviewed at the regional level, according to the water capacities of each territory, in order to avoid problems of soil salinity, making land unsuitable for any agricultural activity.
Another problem that is regularly pointed out is that of the anarchic wells which constitute a major source of waste of these resources. Baraka said that 372,000 wells have been listed in the different regions. Of this total, 90% are not authorized. The Minister announced that 12,800 wells have been closed and 23,667 others will also be closed.
The well drilling authorization procedure will also be reviewed. The Minister of Equipment and Water has announced that his department will adopt a novel approach in this area. He underlined, for example, that a one-stop-shop system will be put in place to monitor and examine applications related to the use of the public water domain, as well as to obtain the necessary authorizations within a reasonable time period, not exceeding 2 months. 
Mohamed Ali Mrabi