Govt prohibits transfer of toxic substances by river transport means

Mehleb said the ministries of interior, transport and the environment were notified to prohibit the transfer of toxic and hazardous substances by river transport means.

 

He also recommended that school curricula teach children that the Nile is a lifeline to the Egyptians that must be preserved. 

 

“This government is addressing problems in a way no one has come close to in years,” he said.

 

Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hossam Maghazy presented a report about decisions taken in previous meetings. He said the Housing Ministry provided an integrated proposal as to how to avoid the negative effects of sewage on the Nile and on waterways.

 

Also, the Health Ministry prepared a list of toxic and hazardous materials for the incumbent bodies to determine other ways of transport for them, such railways.

 

With regard to removing violations and infringements on the Nile and on waterways, the minister said 88,295 of a total of 138,855 cases were removed since 25 January 2011, with 1,000 cases in August alone.

 

He added that the ministry is starting a new treatment for sewage water to use for the cultivation of non-food items and for the irrigation of public parks in new cities. 

 

For his part, Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities Mostafa Madbouli presented an integrated study for the sanitation projects of the Rashid Branch, Al-Salam Canal and their surrounding villages.

 

He said there are 144 stations serving these areas, including 27 stations under construction, 58 under development and 59 newly proposed, stressing that more than 20 percent of Egypt's villages will benefit from that project.

 

At the end of the meeting, Mehleb requested to observe a minute of silence for the martyrs of Rafah who were killed in a terrorist attack.