Chairing the opening of the first session of the second legislative year of the 11th legislature, the Souverain stressed that “the current water resource situation challenges us all: government, institutions and citizens”, adding that “it requires us to be frank and responsible in dealing with the issue and in addressing whatever inadequacies there may be.”
While highlighting that Morocco is not the only country facing the problem of drought and water scarcity, HM the King noted that Morocco is now in a situation of “chronic water stress”, and that not all problems can be solved by simply building the water facilities planned, notwithstanding their great importance and of the need for them.
The Sovereign said that the water issue should not be exploited for political outbidding purposes, nor should it be used to stoke social tensions, noting that “as Moroccans, we should all exert greater efforts to ensure rational, responsible use of water”.
In this sense, HM the King called for a real change in our behavior regarding water, considering that in this respect, public administrations and institutions should lead by example.
“It is also necessary to ensure optimal management of the demand in light of the accomplishments made in mobilizing water resources”, said the Sovereign, explaining that in the medium term, “we need to strengthen our proactive policies in the water sector and make up for lost time”.
HM the King stressed that “it is both our duty and our responsibility today to adopt sustainable, integrated policies, commit to the spirit of solidarity and ensure efficiency under the new national water plan, which should be implemented as soon as possible”.
In this context, the Sovereign emphasized four main guidelines, namely the need to launch more ambitious programs and initiatives, to leverage modern technology for water saving and wastewater reuse purposes, as well as to pay special attention to the rational use of groundwater and preserve the water table by tackling illegal pumping and the erratic drilling of wells.
The third guideline, said HM the King, is to keep in mind that the water policy is not just a sectoral policy; rather, it lies at the intersection of a great many sectors.
Fourthly, added the Sovereign, the real cost of water needs to be taken into account at each stage of the water mobilization process, keeping in mind the need to be transparent and to raise awareness about all aspects relating to water costs.
HM the King recalled, in his speech, that the context of severe drought drought that Morocco is experiencing, the most serious in more than three decades, has dictated the adoption of a series of preemptive measures, since last February, under the plan to combat the effects of drought, aiming to make sure drinking water is available, to provide assistance to farmers and to safeguard the livestock.
The Sovereign said that several working sessions have been devoted to this issue, leading to the formulation of the 2020-2027 National Priority Program for Water, recalling the continuation with constancy and determination of the policy of building dams and reiterating the commitment to speed up the completion of the projects planned under this program, in all regions and corners of the Kingdom.
