Pacts worth RO47m inked for development projects

MUSCAT — Fifteen agreements to implement a number of projects in the municipalities and water resources sector, at a total cost of RO47,023,013, were signed by Abdullah bin Salim Al Rowas, minister of regional municipalities and water resources, in his office at the ministry yesterday.

The projects in the municipalities sector include designing and paving of a number of internal roads involving a total length of 41.8km. These include roads in Sharjat Fatma Shaqarqa’a, Hillat Al Sidafi, Hillat Al Qaham and Tiwi Said in the wilayat of Wadi bani Khalid, involving 2.5km, 3km and 4.5km respectively.

Internal roads in the wilayat of Al Mudhaibi, involving a total length of 27.7km, will also be paved. Another project aims at designing and constructing Rahab-Al Tiwi road in the wilayat of Liwa at a length of 4.10km.

Wastewater plants

The projects also include expansion of the treated water pipeline from the wastewater station in the wilayat of Saham to the main road (second phase), development and beautification of the business district at Al Bidayah in the wilayat of Al Suwaiq. They also include expansion of the treated water pipeline from the wastewater station in the wilayat of Saham to the main road (first phase), construction of a public park in the wilayat of Al Rustaq, construction of the wastewater station in the wilayat of Liwa and the wastewater network (second phase) in the wilayat of Saham.

The agreements related to water projects include construction of a dam to protect the populated areas from flood havoc at Al Amerat Heights in Muscat governorate. In addition to Al Amerat, the project will also protect Al Qurm trading area from major floods like the unusual weather condition that hit the Sultanate in June 2007. The project being constructed at Amerat Heights consists of a 3.5km-long major dam with 22-metre height, with two concrete and cemented fumes to drain the excess water from the 22-million cubic metre capacity dam. The first fume is 380-metre-long with a drainage capacity of 946 cubic metre per second, while the second 120-metre long fume has a drainage capacity of 364 cubic metre of water per second.

The project also includes four minor dams with lengths ranging from 50 to 2,754 metres and one to eight-metre height. It also includes construction of a 235-metre-long and 10-metre-high diversion dam, which is equipped with a 50-metre-long additional fume with a drainage capacity of 250 cubic metres per second.

In an effort to enhance the stock of underground water, two other recharge dams will also be constructed in the governorate of Al Buraimi. The two dams will contribute to enhancing the underground water reservoir and improve the water conditions in the villages located at the lower areas between the two dams. The project will also help in providing a degree of protection against flooding in the areas down the two dams. The project will also help in making better use of the rain and wadi water and prevent their loss in the desert.

The project will also develop the water resources, improve standards of living and promote tourism and economic sectors.

Wadi Masilik dam will be of 2,700-metre-long, nine-metre-high with 1.9 million cubic metre storage capacity. The water pool of the wadi will be 470,000 square km. Wadi Mahda dam will be of 2,150-metre-long, eight-metre-high with a storage capacity of 1.17 million cubic metre. The size of the water pool for the wadi is 560,000 square km. To control the flow of the water reserved at the lake, the dam will be provided with two 800mlm and 500mlm outlet to release the water.

Hydrology network

The project includes hydrology network to assess the performance and efficiency of the dams. Another project relates to establishment of a surface storage dam in Wadi Qatam, increasing the height of Wadi Saiq and Wadi bani Habib dams in Jabel Al Akhdar, and establishing other two surface storage dams in Wadi Al Qanfoor and Wadi Al Sugra in Jabel Al Akhdar. Underground feeding dams will also be constructed in Wadi Mseillek in the wilayat of Al Buraimi and Wadi Mahdha in the wilayat of Mahdha.

These dams will increase the availability of water resources in the area and help residents find safe and good quality water abundantly.

These dams will also bring security in the communities, reduce migration and prevent exposure to health risks resulting from lack of resources and poor water quality and improve their socio-economic conditions.

After signing the agreements, Sheikh Abdullah bin Salim Al Rowas said it was a pleasure that signing of these agreements coincided with the celebration to mark the 39th anniversary of the Renaissance Day under the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. The Sultanate has made a number of achievements that covered all walks of life.

Constant care

Sheikh Al Rowas affirmed that implementation of these projects for the good management and evaluation of water resources, especially the construction of different kinds of dams, was one of the issues for which His Majesty the Sultan attaches constant care.

Speaking to the media, Eng. Ali Al Abri, undersecretary for water resources issues at the ministry, said: “Out of the six agreements related to water resources signed by Abdullah bin Salim Al Rawas, the most significant one is the establishment of dams which will be useful in protecting people from the risk of floods in the governorate of Muscat. In fact, the ministry seeks to establish a number of other dams.”

“The construction of a number of dams in the governorate of Al Buraimi aims at strengthening the water situation and preventing further deterioration of the situation, especially during drought,” Al Abri added.

“Al Jabel Al Akhdar area is exclusively used for agricultural purposes and the ministry is attempting to maintain this individuality of the area by establishing dams to protect the water resources in the area,” he said. — With inputs from ONA