Delays in completing hillside dams in Morocco are attributed to the high financial cost exceeding the allocated budget, according to Nizar Baraka, the Minister of Equipment and Water. With 17 dams currently under construction and plans for a total of 170 dams with a storage capacity of 26 billion cubic meters, the focus is on finding solutions to expedite the process.
Hillside dams are crucial in preserving rainwater for agriculture and drinking water supply. International water expert El Mokhtar Bzioui advocates for private sector investments to accelerate dam construction. On the contrary, Fouad Amraoui, a water expert, believes the state should update technical studies to align projects with the budget.
As Morocco faces water scarcity due to drought, the importance of dams cannot be understated. The challenge lies in balancing costs with efficiency, especially in hard-to-reach areas. Collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors could pave the way for faster progress in securing the country’s water resources.