Sa'ada: The technical committee of Sa'ada Basin convened on Saturday to evaluate numerous applications for the drilling and deepening of water wells. The meeting, chaired by Saleh Aqab, included the participation of province undersecretaries Mohammed al-Baadani and Mohammed Kaiba, as well as agriculture sector official Zakaria al-Mutawakel and other committee members. Together, they reviewed a total of 55 applications.
According to Yemen News Agency, the applications comprised requests for new well drilling, consideration of previously deferred applications, and appeals submitted for reconsideration. The committee reached decisions to approve several requests, reject others, and postpone some due to incomplete technical and legal requirements. The officials emphasized the committee members' responsibility in verifying documents and data for each application, ensuring well-informed decision-making to protect the basin from over-extraction.
The committee underscored the necessity of raising community awareness about the dangers of excessive groundwater depletion, especially in light of the increased use of solar energy, which has lowered irrigation costs. They emphasized the adoption of modern irrigation methods to mitigate these risks. Furthermore, the officials called for stricter oversight of drilling rig owners and the implementation of legal actions against those violating well drilling and deepening regulations. Coordination among relevant authorities was deemed essential to preserve water resources and prevent random drilling activities.
During the meeting, Ahmed al-Jaradi, Director of the branch of the Water Resources Authority in Sa'ada, presented the submitted files for licensing. These files included details on locations, justifications, legal status, and technical observations related to the applications.