MUSCAT – The initiative comes as part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to preserve traditional water systems and enhance their sustainability amid changing climatic conditions.

According to Engineer Hamad bin Rashid Al Sawai from the Directorate, the works are part of the Ministry’s broader plan for the rehabilitation of aflaj, especially those damaged by adverse weather events, including the air depression, which affected the governorate last year.
Specialised teams from the governorate’s agricultural and water resources departments undertook damage assessments, prepared technical specifications, issued tenders, and oversaw the execution of work across the region.

As part of the maintenance work, 21 aflaj were maintained in the Wilayat of Ibra, 19 in the Wilayat of Al Qabil, and 17 in the Wilayat of Al Mudhaibi. The Wilayat of Dima and At Taiyyin also witnessed maintenance of 78 aflaj, while 10 aflaj were repaired in the Wilayat of Bidiyah, four in the Wilayat of Sinaw, and 30 in the Wilayat of Wadi Bani Khalid.
As of now, 162 aflaj, representing approximately 90 percent of the targeted number, have been fully restored.
It is worth noting that North Al Sharqiyah is home to 571 registered aflaj.