Water crisis will not return, minister says

Over 30 new dams will be completed within the next five-year plan, which extended until 2019 with a total capacity of up to 1.5 billion m3, Water Resources Minister, Houcine Nassib, said on Sunday.

Houcine, announced on the third French-speaking channel, that investments in water resources sector will be enhanced through the next quintet, especially in the part which is related to the improvement of the public service, the sustainability of the provision, distribution of water resources, and enhance the reserves of the country that are destined to drinking, agriculture and the industrial sector.

“The sector benefited from huge investments , especially in the field of infrastructure, including the new dams , water barriers and major projects in the east , west and south of the country, which is the equivalent of several thousands of kilometers, in order to bridge the gap that is recorded between regions of the country in the area of ​​rainfall , including the construction of large Dams, and water compound of Beni Haroune, with an energy of  1 billion m 3, for providing five cities in the east of the country with drinking water and irrigation water “.

“Some areas of the country, especially the eastern ones, noticed a decline in rainfall last year, unlike the western cities of the country, including Oran, Tlemcen and Saida, where rainfall volume was acceptable”.

“National average for the water level of the 70 Algerian dams reached approximately 70%, a rate that is slightly higher than the national average that is recorded in January 2013”.

“Extensive purification of old dams will raise their capacity, including Djarf Torba in Bechar, and dams in Ghelizane, Boumerdes and Skikda”.