(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) The Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources (MRMWR) in 2013 spent about RO3.67mn on aflaj maintenance and digging of new wells. Eng Salim bin Humaid al Shibli, director general, department of water resources, MRMWR, said that the ministry implemented 90 projects to maintain aflaj and their supporting wells across various governorates to ensure continuous water supply.
Eng Shibli said, ''Of the total, more than RO1mn was spent on drilling 51 new wells to support aflaj across the sultanate.'' He added that the ministry has prepared a comprehensive plan to maintain aflaj affected with poor water flow and damages caused over the years due to poor management.
''There are a number of factors contributing to the deterioration of aflaj, such as irregular maintenance and cleaning. Scarcity of rainfall during previous years in some areas has led to inadequate replenishment of aquifers.
''Additionally, many wells were dug near aflaj before water regulations and laws came into force, which resulted in over exploitation of wells and depletion of water levels in the vicinity,'' Eng Shibli said.
About the criteria for maintenance work, Eng Shibli said that any falaj that irrigates agricultural land is always given priority. ''Priority is also given to aflaj with poor or damaged construction and inadequate water level. Additionally, a falaj that waters extensive lands and benefits a large number of people gets priority, too and also the one which is the only water resource in the area.''
In Dakhliyah, which has many well-known aflaj, the ministry spent RO680,000 on 18 projects, including digging of six new wells at a cost of RO290,000.
In addition, rehabilitation work was carried out at aflaj Al Skhaikham and Abo Ghaydah in the wilayat of Bahla, falaj Al Masfya in Izki, falaj Al Haisyah in Samail, and aflaj Al Hawajir, Kamah and Al Huwail which serve the wilayats of Bahla, Nizwa and Bidbid.
For this year, orders have been issued to begin digging and rehabilitating of wells for aflaj Al Masaraj and Al Khatam in the wilayat of Manah, falaj Wasaf in the wilayat of Samail, falaj Al Motamir in the wilayat of Nizwa and aflaj Al Qaswat and Al Syahi in Izki.&nb
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