Deputy Prime Minister chairs Water Resources Council meeting

Manama, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, chaired the meeting of the Water Resources Council, which was held remotely. He affirmed the continuation of efforts to enhance water security and protection as a vital resource by facilitating necessary factors to achieve sustainability in line with the goals of the comprehensive development process led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. Shaikh Khalid highlighted that the Kingdom of Bahrain's launch of the National Water Strategy (2021-2030), which aims to achieve water sustainability and effective management of water resources, reflects the government's commitment to its plan for the years (2023-2030) and its alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically the sixth goal related to providing clean water and sanitation services. In the meeting, Yasser bin Ibrahim Humaidan, Minister of Electricity and W ater Affairs, and Chairman of the Permanent Technical Advisory Committee of the Water Resources Council, gave a review of the progress achieved. He said that 53% of the objectives and programmes of the National Water Strategy have been implemented. The strategy focuses on three axes; financial and economic, internal operations, and growth and education axis. Twelve goals that are being implemented through 40 programmes. During the meeting, the priorities of the Water Resources Council for the next phase were reviewed. It also discussed financial appropriations allocated to implement all the strategy's groundwater reservoir in Muharraq Governorate, and the proposed plan to regulate the use of groundwater in the Kingdom legislatively and administratively. Shaikh Khalid commended joint efforts in achieving this advanced level of implementing the strategy's objectives. He said this was a positive indicator of the ability to manage the Kingdom's water resources with full efficiency, effectiveness, and responsib ility, and the serious commitment to achieving sustainable development goals for 2030 by providing an advanced infrastructure that contributes to enhancing economic, social and environmental growth and improving the quality of life for citizens and residents alike. The Water Resources Council was established by Decree-Law (7) of 1982, establishing the Water Resources Council, amended by Law (36) of 2009. It is responsible for formulating general waste policies and strategies, providing support to the relevant executive bodies to ensure the full implementation of the policies set, proposing legislation and laws related to water resources and activating mechanisms for monitoring their implementation, creating mechanisms for coordination and integration between the various relevant parties, determining priorities for implementing water projects and increasing awareness that all individuals and all sectors of the society need to preserve water and its resources. Source: Bahrain News Agency