Eco
The Ministry of Water Resources has announced a significant decrease in water salinity levels in the Shatt al-Arab, specifically in the northern and central areas of Basra governorate, following previous periods that witnessed high concentrations of salts. In this context, Ghaziwan al-Sahlani, Deputy Director of the General Authority for the Operation of Irrigation and Drainage Projects, affiliated with the Ministry, affirmed that technical teams are continuing to release substantial quantities of water into the Tigris and Euphrates basins. This measure aims to meet the irrigation needs of orchards, secure drinking water for citizens, and maintain the natural environmental flow of rivers. Al-Sahlani indicated that these efforts positively reflect on the environmental and agricultural situation across various governorates. The official added that the Ministry currently employs a rotational "Marashana" system for managing water distribution among water channels, ensuring that distribution is based on the actual need of each channel. This system guarantees fairness in the distribution process and achieves optimal utilization of the available water reserves. Al-Sahlani highlighted the Ministry's focus on utilizing incoming water quantities to revitalize the marshlands, confirming that inundation levels there have reached good stages. He also noted the successful distribution of water and its effective delivery to remote areas ("Dhanaiib") in governorates such as Basra, Muthanna, and Dhi Qar, which has significantly contributed to improving the water situation and mitigating the adverse effects of water scarcity in those regions. Furthermore, Al-Sahlani confirmed the return to operation of the Shatt al-Arab irrigation canal, which is expected to enhance water supply and improve agricultural and environmental conditions in the governorate generally.
