Laâyoune – The Hydraulic Basin Agency of Sakia El Hamra and Oued Eddahab held its Board of Directors (CA) for the year 2024 on Friday in Laâyoune.
Chaired by the Minister of Equipment and Water, Nizar Baraka, this Board was dedicated to closing the agency's accounts for the 2023 budget year, presenting its action programme and its draft budget for the year 2025, as well as the progress of the execution of its budget for the year 2024.
Speaking on this occasion, Mr. Baraka recalled the strategic importance of water resources in the process of economic and social development, highlighting in this regard the problem of structural drought in most regions of the Kingdom linked in particular to the phenomenon of climate change.
In this sense, he affirmed that the government is working at all levels to address this problem in light of the Royal Directives contained in the speech of HM King Mohammed VI, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Throne Day, in which the Sovereign stressed the need to redouble efforts, design innovative solutions and use good governance in managing the water problem.
After presenting an overview of the Kingdom's significant achievements in the field of water, Mr. Baraka noted that his department is continuing to carry out the study to update the National Water Strategy, taking into account the situation of national water resources.
It is also a question of revising the draft National Water Plan in light of the High Royal Directives, and the results of the adopted Integrated Water Resources Management Master Plans.
Furthermore, he indicated that during the past year, the Sakia El Hamra and Oued Eddahab basin saw the redevelopment works of the Sakia El Hamra and Oued Eddahab dam, damaged by the 2016 floods, noting that the completion rate of this project has reached 74%.
It is also a question of continuing the construction works of the seawater desalination plant in the city of Dakhla, the start of the operation of the seawater desalination plant in the Amgriou centre and the completion of 27 exploration boreholes, in order to strengthen the supply of drinking water.
Mr. Baraka explained that the Sakia El Hamra and Oued Eddahab basin experienced a significant deficit in rainfall during the 2023-2024 hydrological year, of the order of 82% compared to the annual average, which negatively impacted the level of groundwater, noting that the government is working on the implementation of many structuring projects in the Sakia El Hamra and Oued Eddahab basin.
These include, in particular, the programming of the implementation of several projects, namely the extension of the brackish water demineralisation plant in El Ouattia and Tantan, the construction of hill lakes in the province of Es Smara, the continuation of borehole equipment and the completion of exploration borehole works.
Among the planned projects are also the preparation of preliminary technical studies for the construction of two small dams in the communes of Galtat Zemmour in the province of Boujdour and El Hagounia in the province of Tarfaya according to the proposals of the regional committees chaired by the Walis, and the start of the implementation of projects for the reuse of treated wastewater from the cities of Dakhla and Laâyoune for watering green spaces.
To deal with the anarchic exploitation of water resources, Mr. Baraka welcomed the development of the participatory management contract for water resources for the Dakhla aquifer, by the basin agency in coordination with all stakeholders and the services concerned.
Mr. Baraka stressed that the year 2024 was marked by the launch of a major awareness campaign on the need to reduce water consumption and adopt responsible and civic behaviours in this regard.
During this Board, several projects were approved, including the participatory management contract for the Dakhla groundwater, as well as four convention projects relating to the water sector, and five concession contracts.
On the sidelines of this meeting, Mr. Baraka and the delegation accompanying him carried out a field visit to the Sakia El Hamra dam site.
This article Laâyoune: The Hydraulic Basin Agency of Sakia El Hamra and Oued Eddahab holds its Board of Directors for the year 2024 appeared first on MAP Express.
