Al-mahwit: The Al-Mahwit Water Basin Committee, under the leadership of the Secretary-General of the Governorate's Local Council, Dr. Ali Al-Zaykam, convened to deliberate on strategies to safeguard the water basin from depletion and curb random well drilling activities.
According to Yemen News Agency, the committee evaluated the current measures for regulating drilling operations within the basin. This included reviewing applications submitted for drilling licenses, deepening existing wells, and conducting maintenance on current infrastructure. The meeting brought together key officials, including Ayyash Al-Talbi from the Water Resources and Facilities Authority, Abdulghani Al-Qatmah from the Local Corporation for Water and Sanitation, and Engineer Amin Al-Mahwiti from the Rural Water branch.
Key decisions were made to approve certain requests that met technical specifications, reject others, and outline the requirements for rehabilitating approved wells according to established technical standards. The committee emphasized the importance of activating oversight on drilling activities, ensuring that drilling rigs operate only with official licenses and under the supervision of qualified technical engineers.
Dr. Al-Zaykam highlighted the critical need to adhere to laws governing groundwater exploitation, particularly in regions experiencing low water levels or facing drought threats. He underscored the prohibition of issuing drilling licenses in drought-prone areas and the importance of subjecting drilling applications to thorough technical evaluation to prevent harm to the water reserve and ensure its conservation for future generations.
The Secretary-General reiterated the importance of collaborative efforts among local authorities, the General Authority for Water Resources and Facilities, the Local Water Corporation, and security agencies. Such cooperation is vital for regulating drilling operations, monitoring rigs, and preventing violations of regulations and laws.
Ayyash Al-Talbi, director of the General Authority for Water Resources branch, presented a report detailing the authority's activities, the status of drilling license requests, and the measures taken to address them. He highlighted the ongoing efforts to combat random drilling and discussed the challenges faced by the authority, proposing solutions for improvement. Al-Talbi emphasized that preserving water resources is a collective responsibility that requires coordinated efforts from local authorities, relevant agencies, and the community.
