Lawmakers, environment officials gather over water problems

Lawmakers and environment officials in Amran have recently gathered over the worsening water problems.  New studies put the blame on indiscriminate over-exploitation.  It was the first major meeting over the water shortage problems after new studies released statistics estimating the water withdrawal from underground reservoirs at 70 million cubic meters per year.  The new official study says that only 10% of that quantity seeps underground. 

Health officials say there are 20,000 wells in al-Bown region in the province. The meeting addressed other environmental issues like smoke emissions, the solid waste, fungi pollutants, and the air pollution from the country's biggest cement manufacturer Amran.

On the other hand, the Saada Basin Management and the local government have gathered to discuss measures for preventing a water shortage disaster being seen imminent in view of indiscriminate drillings for irrigation waters.  

The meeting addressed a proposal awareness campaign for involving mosque preachers in educating people about the threats of water crisis and the possible contribution of the public in tackling it.

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