Jordan and Syria agreed to stop the allocation of Yarmouk River water to summer crops in the river's basin area on both sides of the border to reduce the depletion of the source, Jordan Times reported, quoting an official as saying.
However, it is still uncertain whether Jordan will receive “additional” water later this year from Syria, which is supplied to Jordan on an annual voluntary basis.
According to Adnan Zu'bi, assistant to the secretary general at the Jordanian ministry of water and irrigation, the decision to cut the water flow to summer crops was taken during the two-day working visit of Syrian water minister Taha Atrash to Jordan.
“Syria will stop pumping water from numerous wells along the sides of the river and reduce agriculture to cut down on the depletion of the river water,” a well-informed source told the paper on condition of anonymity.
In 1999, Jordan received 8mcm from Syria, but in 2000 only 3.5mcm of water were supplied.
Just a week ago, the Kingdom had repeated its request to Syria to hike the flow of Yarmouk River water to Jordan this summer – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
