Dozens of fish farmers in Daquq rally against decision to fill unauthorized basins

KIRKUK, August 17 — Dozens of fish farmers and officials from the local water directorate had a stand-off in Kirkuk’s Daquq district on August 15 as tensions rise over a government decision to fill some 3,000 unauthorized basins.

A call to the Minister of Water Resources resulted in an immediate two-month stay of the ruling, giving farmers time to move fisheries and make alternate arrangements.

The decision to fill unauthorized ponds came in May 2o22 after the Iraqi Cabinet approved coordination efforts between the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources to respond to threats to water scarcity and negative effects on the country’s agriculture. 

Imad Rahmahullah, Director of groundwater infrastructure in Daquq, told 964: “The Encroachments Committee within the Directorate of Resources and Agriculture, accompanied by a substantial force from the Kirkuk Operations Command, arrived at the village of Matiq to remove the unauthorized fish farming basins.”

“After numerous owners gathered and the situation intensified, Mohammed Mahmoud, Director of Maintenance at the Directorate of Water Resources, made a phone call to the Minister of Water Resources, Aoun Dhiaab. It was decided to grant them an extension until October 15th.”

“The committee and its accompanying security force withdrew, with plans to return on the specified date to demolish the unauthorized lakes in Daquq, which exceed a total of 3,000.”