Dhamar: Authority foils sale of 42 million liters of water to irrigate Qat farms in Bayda

DHAMAR, Sep. 25 (YPA) – Security forces in Dhamar province seized a number of water wells’ owners who sell  more than 42 million liters of water on a daily basis to irrigate Qat farms in a neighboring province.

The Yemeni Press Agency got a memorandum issued by the General Authority for Water Resources in the province of Dhamar-Bayda, on September 24, confirming the deposit of 5 owners of wells and drivers of water tankers from Mifat-Ans district to the Criminal Investigation Department in the province against the backdrop of waste and depletion water Basin of Dhamar and sold to irrigate Qat farms in t Rada’a district of Bayda after depleted groundwater there.

The Director General of the General Authority for Water Resources of Dhamar-Bayda branch , Abdul Hakim Wahbi, said that the authority, through the community field monitoring committees, found that the quantity of water transferred from the of Mif’at Ans district in Dhamar to irrigate Qat in Rada district Bayda exceeded 42 million Liter of water, with 750 tanks  per day of 60 thousand liters.

He pointed out that the owners of wells have been seized and released with pledges and guarantees not to drain groundwater to irrigate Qat and sell it outside the province, but they did not comply with that, and the tanks were filled during the evening.

Wahbi  indicated that the Authority will take strict measures against anyone who threatens to undermine the water security of  Dhamar province, pointing out that the issue of water conservation from attrition and indiscriminate digging is the responsibility of all members of society.

Sameera Hassn