Water policy: Royal speech places responsibility as a prerequisite
Hibapress
The speech, delivered by King Mohammed VI on the occasion of the Throne Day, places responsibility as a prerequisite for completing major water projects, indicated the president of the Oum Er Rbia Hydraulic Basin Council, Hassan Maaouni.
The Royal Speech presents strong responses to water issues and calls on everyone to act urgently and responsibly to combat water stress, Mr. Maaouni told MAP, recalling the importance of coordination not only horizontally but also transversally to complete ongoing projects or those scheduled regardless of the climate situation or rainfall.
This is a speech that set priorities and pointed out the barriers that delay the implementation of projects, including, among others, the lack of coordination of the actors concerned by the water problem and the delay in the implementation of certain projects in addition to the importance of subordinating the management or exploitation of water to the rules of good governance.
Citing the priorities highlighted by the royal speech, Mr. Maaouni, former Minister of Water and Forests, recalled the imperative of tackling these obstacles by accelerating the generalization of drip systems and completing the hydraulic interconnection project that the Sovereign calls for in order to establish the foundations of interregional solidarity in addition to continuing the implementation of water projects in accordance with the established timetables.
This historic speech presents in detail responses in line with the state of the country’s water situation, noted Mr. Maaouni, calling for intensifying work upstream in order to collect rainwater by building small basins in residences and farms as well as maintaining rivers and water sources which, under the effect of the phenomenon of evaporation, can lead to considerable water losses.
At the regional level, the President of the Oum Er Rbia Hydraulic Basin Council recalled the importance of the Integrated Water Resources Development Master Plans (PDAIRE) as reference documents that will serve as a guide in the management of water issues, specifying the importance of working periodically within the framework of joint commissions with the aim of ensuring more convergent and coherent management between water policy and agricultural policy in accordance with the High Royal Guidelines.