Al-mahwit: The Al-Mahwit Water Basin Committee convened today under the leadership of Dr. Ali Al-Zaykum, the Secretary-General of the Local Council, to deliberate on strategies to safeguard the basin from depletion and unauthorized drilling activities.
According to Yemen News Agency, the meeting, which included the participation of Deputy Governor Abdul Salam Al-Dhamari, resulted in the decision to establish a committee comprising members from the Water Resources Authority and other relevant entities. This newly formed committee is tasked with conducting surveys of existing wells, assessing rehabilitation requirements, and enhancing regulatory measures. Additionally, the committee resolved to enforce a ban on the relocation of drilling rigs without proper licensing and oversight by a technical engineer to ensure compliance during drilling operations.
The committee also reviewed multiple applications for licenses concerning the drilling, deepening, or maintenance of new wells within the basin area.
Present at the meeting were several key officials, including Directors of Finance Abdulrab Al-Maqdashi, Local Water and Sanitation Corporation Abdulghani Al-Qutmah, Social Affairs Dr. Yahya Al-Tayari, Assistant Director of Security for Security Affairs Colonel Mohammed Al-Haj, and other committee members. Ayash Al-Talbi, Director of the General Water Resources Authority Branch, presented a report detailing the authority's activities, which covered data on wells and drilling license applications.
Al-Talbi highlighted the ongoing efforts to curb unauthorized drilling, the challenges encountered, strategies to address these issues, the progress on previous meeting resolutions, and the branch's work plan for the future. He emphasized the collective responsibility in preserving water resources and the necessity for collaborative efforts to bolster the Water Resources Authority's role and enforce regulations governing drilling activities.
Dr. Al-Zaykum underscored the critical need to enforce legal measures to protect groundwater by restricting the issuance of drilling licenses in areas at risk of drought. He also stressed the importance of coordinated efforts among local authorities, the General Water Resources Authority, Local Water Corporation, security services, and other relevant bodies to regulate drilling activities and prevent unauthorized well drilling.