MAFWR issued 900 water licences in May

MAFWR issued 900 water licences in May

Muscat – A total of 913 water licences were issued in May 2022, according to statistics issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MAFWR).

Maqbool Hussain al Rawahi, director of Water Licensing Department in MAFWR, said, “The licences issued include requests for registering wells, dams and aflaj, for drilling wells, and development projects in various governorates.”

He informed that in the last two years, the ministry updated regulations based on water availability and likely changes in the situation. The ministry framed conditions and controls related to issuing water licences factoring in the requirements of community members.

The ministry strives to facilitate and simplify the procedures for granting water licences while preserving aflaj as a natural water resource.

According to Rawahi, the maximum number of licences – 242 – were issued in Dakhliyah, followed by 156 in North Batinah, 143 in Dhahirah, 131 in South Batinah, 120 in North Sharqiyah, 49 in South Sharqiyah, 36 in Buraimi, 16 in Muscat, nine in Dhofar, six in Al Wusta and five in Musandam governorate.

“The ministry deals with these projects in accordance with the technical requirements and gives conditional approvals in coordination with other government agencies,” Rawahi said.

Oman received an average rainfall of 123mm in