Latest news with #MinistryofWaterResources
Shafaq News
5 days ago
- Climate
- Shafaq News
Critical water shortage: Mosul Dam reserves hit an alarming low
Shafaq News – Mosul Iraq's Mosul Dam is facing an unprecedented and critical decline in water storage due to prolonged drought and a sharp drop in inflows, a weather expert warned on Friday. Speaking to Shafaq News Agency, meteorologist Sadeq Al-Attiyah stated that the dam has lost over half of its water reserves within just one year, plunging from 8 billion cubic meters to around 3 billion. 'This sharp decline reflects the gravity of the current situation,' he cautioned. Al-Attiyah pointed to a recently published animated graphic that clearly illustrates the dramatic loss in the dam's upper reservoir, underscoring the speed and scale of the drop in storage levels. While Iraq's Ministry of Water Resources recently announced that Turkiye has increased water releases into Iraq to 130 cubic meters per second—up from 60—the ministry acknowledged that the current volume remains insufficient to meet the country's actual river needs. Earlier, Ramadan Hamza, an expert in water resource policy and strategy, told Shafaq News that Iraq is unlikely to benefit substantially from the increased Turkish releases.
Hindustan Times
29-06-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Drone rescues man trapped on roof as floods swallow streets in Southern China
A young man in southern China's Guangxi region was rescued from the rooftop of his house using a jerry-rigged drone, as rising floodwaters threatened the area. Footage captured by a witness showed the drone soaring 65 feet into the air, with the man hanging beneath it, his legs dangling from the harness.(X/Li Zexin) Viral footage on social media shows the dramatic rescue on Tuesday evening, after a neighbour spotted the man calling for help from the roof of his crumbling two-storey home. Rescue personnel using speedboats were unable to reach the trapped man due to fast-flowing floodwaters in the streets, The Telegraph reported. A neighbour, who normally uses drones to haul bricks, cement, or spray pesticides, devised an alternative plan. The drone, reportedly capable of lifting up to 100 kg, was modified for the rescue. According to local media reports in China, a safety buckle was attached to the drone's lifting rope, along with a sandbag to stabilise the weight. Footage captured by a witness showed the drone soaring 65 feet into the air, with the man hanging beneath it, his legs dangling from the harness. The drone navigated through trees and pylons before safely lowering the man onto a road below. The entire rescue operation took less than two minutes. Floods in China Thirteen major rivers across Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, and Hainan have risen above warning levels over the past few days due to storms, according to reports aired on state television citing the country's Ministry of Water Resources. Record downpours in Rongjiang, in the southeast of the country, left six dead and forced more than 80,000 people to flee their homes. The rainfall over 72 hours was twice the city's average for June. China has battled summer floods for millennia, but some scientists say climate change is causing heavier and more frequent rainfall. Chinese officials warn that massive flooding could trigger unforeseen "black swan" events with dire consequences, such as dam collapses.
India.com
25-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif begs before this country, vows to resolve all issues with....
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Indus Water Treaty update: Since India suspended the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attacks, the leadership of Pakistan led by Shahbaz Sharif has made several attempts to start talks with India. Due to the rising pressure on the government of Pakistan regarding the water scarcity issue, Pakistan has tried everything to put India under pressure, but in vain. In the recent development, reports are saying that the Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif wants to resolve the issues of terrorism, Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) to start talks with India. Here are all the details you need to know about the recent stand of India on the Indus Water Treaty and how Pakistan is begging India to reconsider its decision. Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif begs before India As per a report by news channel ARY News, Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif spoke told the leadership of Saudi Arabia led by Mohammad bin Salman that Pakistan is ready to talk with India on PoK, Indus Water Treaty, trade and terrorism. With its citizens deeply worried now about the country staring down the barrel of a major water crisis, a desperate Pakistan had also written to India as many as four times, pleading New Delhi to reconsider its decision of suspending the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) following the heinous April 22 Pahalgam terror attack which resulted in the death of 26 innocent civilians. Pakistan's letters to India The four letters sent by Syed Ali Murtaza, Secretary of Pakistan's Ministry of Water Resources, were addressed to the Ministry of Jal Shakti which has since then forwarded them to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), a report by IANS said. In the letters, Murtaza has urged India to reinstate the agreement. Notably, India has made it clear that the treaty will remain in abeyance until Islamabad 'credibly and irrevocably' ends its support for cross-border terrorism invoking its national security prerogative. (With inputs from agencies)
Express Tribune
17-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Spending on water projects to fall short of target
Listen to article The government is expected to widely miss the target for fund utilisation on water sector projects in the outgoing fiscal year 2024-25. An amount of Rs142.6 billion had been allocated for water projects under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for FY25. The estimated expenditure by the end of May was Rs79.4 billion, revealed the Annual Plan 2025-26 while reviewing the performance in FY25. In view of the strategic importance of the water sector, the FY25 development programme comprised 59 projects with total approved cost of Rs2,298.3 billion. Despite various challenges in the way of implementation, efforts were made to accelerate the water sector programme. By the end of June 2025, out of the 59 projects, 23 schemes worth Rs163.5 billion are expected to be completed or closed. These include 10 projects in Balochistan, six in Sindh (canals, small dams and drainage), four in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), two in Punjab and one scheme of the Ministry of Water Resources. Work is progressing on Mohmand Dam, having power generation capacity of 800 megawatts, water storage capacity of 0.676 million acre feet (MAF) and 18,233 acres of command area, and on Diamer Bhasha Dam (4,500 MW of electricity and 6.4 MAF of water storage). The Annual Plan FY26 is aligned with the National Water Policy (2018), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Uraan Pakistan, where the government is targeting several megaprojects for enhancing the country's water storage capacity. Out of the total allocation of Rs133.424 billion for the Water Resources Division, the share of water sector development programme is Rs101.979 billion. Of this amount, Rs79.6 billion has been earmarked for the construction of large, medium and small dams including Rs68.5 billion for two megaprojects – Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand Dams. Apart from that, work on Nai Gaj Dam costing Rs47 billion will be expedited with the allocation of Rs500 million. The project is aimed at developing the command area of about 28,800 acres in Dadu district of Sindh. Similarly, Rs300 million has been allocated to Naulong Multipurpose Dam for the development of 47,000 acres of command area in Jhal Magsi district of Balochistan. To irrigate 286,100 acres of land in K-P, the Chashma Right Bank Canal (Lift-cum-Gravity Canal) project is being initiated with an allocation of Rs100 million for FY26. Total cost of the project is Rs189.606 billion. To meet water demand in the metropolitan city of Karachi, the K-IV project will be given priority for timely completion. It has been given Rs3.209 billion for FY26. To ensure the availability of water to Karachi through the Greater Bulk Water Supply (K-IV) project, the implementation of a scheme titled "Water Requirement for K-IV Project – Improvement of Kalri Baghar Feeder and Keenjhar Lake – Plain Cement Concrete Lining of Kalri Baghar Feeder Upper Phase-I" costing Rs39.943 billion (with 50% PSDP share of Rs19.971 billion) will be expedited. For this, Rs10 billion has been set aside. An amount of Rs1.875 billion has been allocated for remodeling the pat feeder canal system in Balochistan district of Naseerabad. The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) had approved the project on July 27, 2023 at a cost of Rs61.793 billion. The project is envisaged to provide due share of the province under the Water Apportionment Accord 1991. The Kachhi Canal Project (remaining works), Dera Bugti district, Balochistan is nearing completion, after which the irrigated command area will be increased from 72,000 acres to 102,000 acres. An amount of Rs100 million has been allocated for the project. The Kachhi Canal – Restoration of Flood Damages 2022 Project is aimed at restoring irrigation water supply to Dera Bugti, which had been affected due to the damage caused by 2022 floods. In FY26, Rs698.1 million has been allocated for the project.
Shafaq News
09-06-2025
- Climate
- Shafaq News
Drought's devastation: Iraq's rice belt withers
Shafaq News/ Iraq's Najaf and al-Muthanna provinces are bracing for a major agricultural crisis following the government's decision to cancel this year's rice (al-shilb) cultivation due to acute water shortages. Fields at a Standstill Al-shilb rice, one of Iraq's most water-intensive crops, is crucial to the livelihood of thousands of families in central and southern regions. However, with upstream flows from Turkiye significantly reduced and the Euphrates River's volume dropping by 60% over the past two decades due to upstream restrictions and climate change, this year's planting season has been canceled. Ahmed Sawadi, advisor to the head of Najaf's Provincial Council for Agriculture and Rural Affairs, confirmed to Shafaq News that the Ministry of Water Resources has formally prohibited rice farming. 'This is a disaster,' he warned. 'Most farmers in Najaf, al-Diwaniyah, and al-Muthanna rely entirely on agriculture.' The ban, he cautioned, will plunge already vulnerable rural families deeper into poverty, further limiting their access to essential services such as healthcare, electricity, and education. Collapsing Water Lifelines Najaf is already experiencing the water fallout. Shaker al-Atwi, director of the province's Water Resources Department, told our agency that no summer irrigation quota has been allocated. 'The remaining reserves are prioritized for drinking water—but even that is under threat.' He also noted the drying of the Ibn Najm marsh, which depends entirely on saline drainage, adding that high temperatures have accelerated its evaporation, killing large numbers of fish and worsening the ecological strain. Al-Muthanna, located at the tail end of the Euphrates, faces even harsher conditions. Deputy Governor Youssef Sawadi described the situation as 'critical,' accusing upstream provinces of exceeding their allocations and depriving his region of its share. He called on the Iraqi government to enforce fair distribution and reinstate the suspended summer cropping plan, arguing, 'Rice is vital to the livelihoods of local communities.' Sawadi also highlighted rising river pollution as a compounding threat, warning that contamination is eroding the viability of remaining farmland. Gaps in Strategy Officials argue that better planning and more proactive diplomacy could have mitigated the crisis. Ahmed Sawadi pointed out that Iraq's constitution recognizes water scarcity as a 'natural disaster,' obligating the state to compensate affected farmers. He also advocated for modern irrigation methods—especially the seedling system, which can dramatically reduce water use. Despite its proven effectiveness, it remains underutilized in drought-hit areas. On the international front, Sawadi called on Baghdad to leverage its $20–22 billion annual trade relationship with Turkiye to negotiate a more equitable water-sharing agreement. Meanwhile, the deputy governor stressed the need for urgent coordination among ministries to combat water pollution and preserve what remains of Iraq's agricultural and ecological systems.
