PAM affiliate and House of Councillors member, Fatima Zahra Bentaleb, stated that the negative repercussions of the climate fluctuations in our country, provided the high temperatures and the increasing scarcity and irregularity of rainfalls, have brought together major challenges related to managing the scarcity of water resources and activating spatial solidarity, especially in light of the current decline in groundwater supplies within several regions.
During the oral questions’ session held on February 2, 2021, Mrs. Bantaleb stressed that the severity of the problem related to the growing disparities in rainfalls distribution, urges the parties in charge to accelerate the completion of dams with great capacities, in order to control and preserve rainwater during heavy rainfall periods, to be used in the event of water insufficiency.
Mrs. Bentaled also emphasized the necessity to divert the surplus water from northern basins to those in southern and central Morocco, for the latters suffer a severe shortage in rainfalls, indicating that the scarcity of water resources is a problem that afflicts large areas within our country, especially the Marrakesh-Safi, Souss-Massa and Daraa-Tafilalet regions, which are considered among Morocco’s most prominent agricultural regions.
This shortage affects a large segment of the population in rural areas where agricultural activity is the main source of income; therefore, the national economy, as well as water and food reserves, may take a serious hit, she added.