MUSCAT: The digging of unlicensed wells for personal use continues to deplete the water reserves in Oman.
These unlicensed wells encroach on natural resources and violate the regulations and laws governing public property and those engaging in such activities are legally accountable.
In June 2022, the Ministry of Agricultural Wealth, Fisheries and Water Resources issued a decision to form a task force to crack down on unlicensed wells in Oman. This move aimed to develop an action plan and take necessary legal measures to eliminate this phenomenon. Oman has been dealing with dramatically increasing cases of unlicensed well-digging over the past few years.
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Speaking on the importance of regulating the water sector in the Sultanate of Oman, Eng. Maqbool bin Hussein Al Rawahi, Director of the Water Licensing Department at the Ministry of Agricultural Wealth, Fisheries and Water Resources, said, “This decision will strengthen the water sector in the Sultanate of Oman and aid in preservation, development, protection of this sector. It will also ensure sustainability and management of water resources and allow the task force to take swift legal measures against the perpetrators.”
He added, “Unlicensed well-digging impacts the Aflaj irrigation systems of Oman and adversely affects the existing water sources. Drilling these wells within the boundaries of the residential plot located mostly near the sewage tanks of houses can also be hazardous to the health of the residents. This can result in the strong possibility of sewage water leaking into the well water endangering lives who consume this water. Most of these wells lack safety requirements.”
The Ministry continues to grant water licenses to dig new wells, which fall under the ambit of the Water Wealth Protection Law and its related regulations. The ministry has called on everyone to cooperate in cracking down on unlicensed wells in Oman.
The task force formed consists of representatives of various concerned parties and will work to define a mechanism which can control and chart out action plans to curb the drilling of unlicensed wells in Oman. The team would also formulate a mechanism for the immediate removal of unlicensed wells, and will focus on preparing a control mechanism for the expatriate workforce engaging in drilling unlicensed wells.
There will be necessary measures taken to control violations and non-compliant drilling equipment. The sub-teams under the task force will work with the approved mechanisms and procedures in the governorates.
