Alexandria–The Egyptian government will review development plans for the north coast in light of the threats posed by climate change, said Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Nasr Eddin Allam at an international conference yesterday.
"We cannot tell for sure if the Nile Delta will be submerged by water," he said. "But we will revise our plans in coordination with the United Nations so as to accommodate for any possible threats."
The minister said the government encourages scientific reasearch that would help revise its development plans to accommodate for changes in temperatures, water salinity, and drought levels in coastal areas.
Environmentalists warn that up to 15 percent of Egypt’s arable land could be submerged by rising sea levels.
Allam explained that the new draft law on groundwater will limit the depletion of Egypt’s reserve. "We will put restrictions on drilling wells, especially in the western Delta, where groundwater is scarce," he said. "And we will also restrict artificial lakes at tourist resorts."
"We want to direct our subterranean water consumption to agricultural development," he added, pointing out that the per capita share of water in Egypt has gone down to 700 cubic meters per year.
The ministry is devising a plan to meet challenges until 2050 in terms of irrigation and drinking water needs in light of an increasing population rate, said Allam.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
