Derbal: We have set a list of priorities for implementing the program for the use of filtered water in agriculture and industry – Algerian Dialogue

The Minister of Irrigation, Taha Darbal, confirmed today, Thursday, that his sector has set priorities across the various states of the country, within the framework of the instructions of the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, to accelerate the implementation of the program for the use of filtered water in agriculture and industry.

The minister said, in a session for oral questions in the National Assembly, that the sector is working to accelerate the implementation of this program according to a list of priorities and will be respected, to reach a 60 percent exploitation rate of the recovered water.

The Minister mentioned the program, for which a total financial value of approximately 150 billion dinars was allocated, as approval was granted to implement the first part at a value of 34 billion dinars over a period of 3 years (2023-2026).

This program includes rehabilitating stations and systems for filtering used water and delivering it to agricultural surroundings.

In response to a second question related to the phenomenon of muddying of dams, Mr. Darbal indicated that the sector has registered a program to reduce this phenomenon across the country by launching campaigns to remove mud.

This concerns the 2012-2018 campaign, which resulted in the removal of more than 16 million cubic meters of mud from the dams of the states of Mascara, Biskra and M’sila, and the ongoing 2020-2025 campaign in which 30 million cubic meters of mud were removed from the dams of Khenchela, Askar, M’sila, Skikda, Bechar, Relizane and Ain Defla. .

According to the minister, the National Agency for Dams and Major Diversions is implementing afforestation campaigns in the dam basins to protect them from the phenomenon of muddying.

The Minister also revealed that the completion of the Bukhrouf Dam in the state of Al-Tarf, which has currently reached 80 percent of completion, will be re-completed during the next two months after completing the administrative procedures and the law with the Achievement Foundation.

In response to a third question related to expanding irrigated agricultural areas, the minister mentioned the sector’s strategy and its efforts to provide 70 percent of the water that is mobilized annually for the agricultural sector, and to provide facilities for granting licenses to drill wells.

The Minister promised to work with the interior and agricultural sectors to issue whatever licenses can be issued within the framework of the law and to search for alternative solutions to respond to the desires of farmers in order to enhance the joint ministerial instruction in this regard, in addition to launching

Multiple studies of major water transfer projects from areas with more abundant water to areas with less abundant water.