Latest news with #DiyalaProvincialCouncil
Shafaq News
a day ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Illegal water use chokes Iraq's Diyala river flows
Shafaq News – Diyala Iraq's Diyala Provincial Council reported on Tuesday that the illegal use of water resources and river routes has reached critical levels, prompting a series of measures to address the violations. In a press briefing, Omar Al-Karawi, Chairman of the Council, highlighted 301 unofficial fish ponds and more than 40 unauthorized irrigation reservoirs. He noted that authorities have already referred 139 violators to the judiciary, further stressing the need to negotiate with the Kurdistan Region and Iran to increase the dams' water quota, ensuring more consistent and sufficient flows to the province. Fares Mazahim Al-Jubouri, Deputy Head of the Council's Security Committee, pointed out that influential individuals are creating fish ponds while exerting pressure on officials, including the deputy governor and department heads. Confirming that four to five additional fish ponds and wells were being established even during this press conference, he warned that the crisis is worsening across the province and its villages, with negative effects on agriculture and local communities. Meanwhile, Raaed Al-Tamimi, head of the council's Agriculture Committee, reported that water releases from Darbandikhan Dam to Hamrin Dam total 50 cubic meters per second, but only eight cubic meters per second reach Diyala due to illegal fish ponds and diversions. He also added that outsiders have dug ponds on 4,000 hectares across four districts, obstructing river routes and water flows beyond the province's boundaries. Iraq faces a severe water crisis driven by years of upstream damming, reduced rainfall, and aging infrastructure, which have led to dwindling river flows. The Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources reports that the country's water availability has fallen below 1,000 cubic meters per capita annually, placing Iraq among water- scarce
Shafaq News
10-08-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's Diyala to tackle water crisis in talks with Iran, Kurdistan
Shafaq News – Diyala The Diyala Provincial Council is set to negotiate with Iran and the Kurdistan Region over water shortage, an Iraqi official announced on Sunday. The Head of Agriculture Committees in the Council, Raad al-Tamimi, revealed in a press conference that Diyala will take measures to mitigate the crisis, forming committees to travel to Garmian in the Kurdistan Region and to neighboring Iran to negotiate on water issues, increase discharges, and boost the province's reserves to meet the needs of residents and farmers He pointed out that the water crisis is worsening day by day across all areas and villages of the province, warning that it will have negative impacts on society and agriculture. Iraq is facing one of its worst water crises in decades, driven by prolonged drought linked to climate change and major upstream dam projects in Turkiye and Iran that have sharply reduced river flows. These cutbacks, which experts say may violate Iraq's right to an equitable water share, have depleted reserves, hit agriculture hard, and forced communities—particularly in southern provinces—to abandon traditional livelihoods.
Rudaw Net
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Diyala council seeks to block Qaratapa district upgrade
Also in Iraq Iraq's ruling coalition condemns drone attacks on Kurdistan Region Iraqi parliament fails to discuss drone attacks on Kurdistan Region Iraq's top court rejects lawsuits against Kurdish parliament PM Sudani welcomes new commander of anti-ISIS coalition A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Diyala Provincial Council has requested the Iraqi planning ministry to suspend the controversial elevation of Qaratapa into a district, a council member said on Tuesday, with plans for the subdistrict's elevation having drawn the ire of Kurds in the disputed province. The Iraqi government in early July approved changes in Diyala province that would see the merging of the predominantly-Kurdish subdistricts of Qaratapa, Jabara, Koks, and Kulajo into a new Qaratapa district – a decision deemed by Kurds as a renewed effort to alter the demographics of the disputed province and seize territory from Kurdish control. Aws al-Mahdawi, the sole Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) member from the council, told Rudaw that Qaratapa does not meet the criteria to become a district, and that the council's head has officially requested the planning ministry to suspend the procedures. 'Those who did this were doing it for election propaganda, with some failed parliamentarians behind the move,' Mahdawi said, adding that a committee will be formed to investigate the matter. The council presented several factors, explaining that Qaratapa's population is below that required to promote a subdistrict and that the area falls within the framework of Article 140 and should not tampered with. Additionally, Koks subdistrict is under the control of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and not Diyala province, which is under federal control. As such, Mahdawi stressed that its inclusion in the plan is 'illegal.' Sherko Mirwais, a PUK leadership official and head of the party's Khanaqin office, in early July called the changes a 'threat to all of Kurdistan and the future of Kurds in Kurdish areas outside the Kurdistan Region's administration.' Following the fall of the Baath regime in 2003, Iraq began a policy of de-Arabization under Article 140 of the constitution, aiming to reverse the demographic changes imposed by former dictator Saddam Hussein. The failure to fully implement it, however, has been cited as one of the main reasons for the continued attempts at demographic change in the disputed territories. Nahro Mohammed contributed to this report.
Shafaq News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Al-Karawi returns to Diyala council post, faces resistance
Shafaq News/ On Tuesday, Diyala Provincial Council Chairman Omar Al-Karawi confirmed his return to office to resume duties, following a ruling by the Administrative Court overturning his dismissal. Al-Karawi stated in a press conference that the council's current focus is on oversight and legislative functions, in accordance with the Provincial Councils Law. 'The doors are open for dialogue,' he said, noting that absenteeism is a failure to honor the trust of voters. Al-Karawi also clarified that the current composition of the council was based on prior political agreements reached in Baghdad, and that the distribution of positions within the province followed those understandings. The Administrative Court ruled on Monday to suspend the procedures for Al-Karawi's dismissal and reinstate him as head of Diyala Provincial Council, according to official court documents. However, nine council members voiced in a press conference strong opposition to Al-Karawi's reinstatement. Turki Al-Atabi, the head of the council's Integrity Committee, affirmed that the court ruling ran 'counter to the will of the majority,' emphasizing that 12 members—more than two-thirds of the council—had voted to remove Al-Karawi in March. The statement accused the former chairman of 'administrative misconduct and manipulating council decisions for personal benefit,' arguing that his dismissal was essential to prevent institutional deadlock and to ensure the council could continue performing its legislative duties. Calling on the Supreme Judicial Council to review the ruling, the members argued that the dismissal was legally sound and conducted in full compliance with the amended Provincial Councils Law No. 21 of 2008. Al-Atabi emphasized that 'upholding the council's decision is vital to preserving its integrity and serving the public interest in Diyala.'
Shafaq News
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraqi court upholds reinstatement of Diyala council chief
Shafaq News/ On Sunday, Iraq's Administrative Court rejected an appeal challenging a previous ruling that ordered the reinstatement of Omar Al-Karawi as head of the Diyala Provincial Council. According to an official court document, the judges concluded that the appeal lacked sufficient legal grounds and upheld the original decision issued on March 25, 2025, which suspended the implementation of Administrative Order No. (67/3/23) pending a final ruling on the case. Reacting to the ruling, MP Mudar Al-Karawi welcomed the court's decision, calling it 'a victory for justice, fairness, and the rule of law,' and urged everyone to 'respect the law' and comply with the binding court decision. Earlier, the Diyala Provincial Council voted to dismiss its chairman after rejecting his responses during a formal questioning session, appointed Nizar Al-Lahibi as his successor, and swore him in before court proceedings began.
