Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel Aaty held a meeting, on Monday, to follow up on the measures taken by his ministry to develop the irrigation and drainage system in Siwa Oasis.
During the meeting, Abdel Aaty reviewed the current procedures for developing the irrigation and drainage system at Egypt’s western-most Oasis.
The measures are aimed at developing the solutions needed to address the problem of increasing salinity and agricultural drainage water in the area.
He also reviewed the outcomes of fieldwork at the oasis, which was carried out in the past week by a research team of the ministry’s engineers, as well as professors from Cairo University’s Faculty of Engineering.
The committee assessed the condition of ground wells, drains, ponds and lift stations, in Siwa, in preparation for the development of the oasis’ irrigation and drainage system.
The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has commenced implementation of a plan to develop Siwa Oasis. The process includes developing the area’s lakes, wells, and natural water springs, to maintain agricultural production and overcome the high salinity of the oasis’ water supply. It will also address issues that have occurred with Siwa’s agricultural drainage system.
Siwa is famous for cultivating olives and dates, as well as for its unique landscape which attracts thousands of tourists every year.
Some officials from the ministry were present at the meeting, including Ragab Abdel-Azim, Deputy Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation; Shehata Ibrahim, head of the irrigation sector; Iman El-Sayed, head of the planning sector; and Sayed Shalaby, head of the groundwater Sector.
Other attendees at the meeting included Ahmed Al-Imam and Hisham Bakhit, Professors of Irrigation and Hydraulics at Cairo University’s Faculty of Engineering.
