RIYADH, 12 January — Saudi Arabia will spend more than SR1 billion on the construction of new dams in various parts of the country, according to Agriculture and Water Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Muammar.
He said the government had allocated SR1.955 billion for his ministry in this year’s national budget — SR58,101 million more than last year.
Speaking to the Saudi Press Agency, Muammar said his ministry would carry out a number of new water and agricultural projects worth SR914.15 million this year, including a SR100 million drinking water project in capital Riyadh.
The dams to be built are the Wadi Huly Dam (which will cost an estimated SR376.62 million), Rabigh Dam (SR168.9 million), Laith Dam (SR124.296 million), Wadi Arda Dam in Baha (SR140 million), Wadi Atoud Dam (SR150 million) and Beesh Dam (SR198 million), according to the minister.
Saudi Arabia announced an SR202 billion budget for this year on Dec. 8, 2001 with a SR45 billion deficit. The annual budget projected revenues at SR157 billion and allocated SR28 billion for new projects and SR10.1 billion for industry and agriculture.
Spelling out his ministry’s new projects, Muammar said it would carry out a major project to supply water from the emergency reserves to Riyadh. The main water supply line to Deerab will be reconstructed at a cost of SR20 million.
The ministry has allocated SR70 million to establish a water purification station in Remah.
Referring to a project for pumping water to the National Guard Hospital in Jeddah, the minister said SR10 million has been set aside for the project.
"The budget also included operation of some of the existing water projects in a number of regions," the minister said.
