Ministry of Water Resources drains unauthorized fisheries south of Baghdad

BAGHDAD, August 22 — The Ministry of Water Resources announced on Tuesday that authorities filled 164 fish ponds drained an additional 400 others in the areas of Yusufiyah, Iskandariyah, Rashid, and Musayyib, south of Baghdad.

In a statement received by 964, the Ministry asaid:

The Ministry of Water Resources confirms the filling of 164 excess fish ponds and the draining of 400 others within the areas of Yusufiyah, Iskandariyah, Rashid, and Musayyib.

Tah Abbas, the Director of the Ministry of Water Resources in the Mesopotamia region, stated that the Ministry’s personnel, in coordination with the Directorate of Irrigation and Drainage Maintenance Projects and with the support of the security forces, completed the draining of all excess ponds within the directorate’s jurisdiction. He indicated that the Ministry had filled 164 excess fish ponds and drained 400 others, in addition to removing encroachments on water allocations by dismantling pumps and initiating legal action against encroachers.

He clarified that this campaign is part of the Ministry’s efforts to address water scarcity and regulate water consumption to ensure fairness in water distribution.

Saad Hadi, the Director of the Directorate of Irrigation and Drainage Maintenance Projects in the Mesopotamia region, explained that a joint mechanical effort was undertaken by the Ministry of Water Resources and the Directorate of Irrigation and Drainage Maintenance Projects to fill excess fish ponds and break the banks of the ponds to prevent them from refilling.

It’s worth noting that the Ministry of Water Resources continues its campaign to remove encroachments on water allocations across all governorates to ensure fairness in water distribution and ensure that water allocations reach the deserving recipients.