(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat- More than 8,000 residents in the villages of Ibri wilayat have been reeling under water shortage due to dried aflaj and wells for some time now.
Residents said the temporary measures employed so far have not offered solace especially with the temperatures soaring.
Some of the affected areas include, Amla, Seeh al Maashi, Wadi al Ayn, Kubara, Abla, Al Ayn, Barut, Wadi Jeel, Dham, Al Heel and Al Rakza.
One of the residents in the affected areas said that villagers have to depend on water tankers every day to meet the daily needs.
Said Hareb al Hinai said, 'We have to depend on water tankers for which we pay RO5. All the construction works in the area too have been stalled. Besides, farmers have also stopped cultivation.'
Another resident, Mohammed al Hinai said it has been more than three weeks since the problem started in the area. 'I hope the authorities create more underground recharge dams. This is one way to solve this problem.'
The Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) dug a well last year in one of the areas to tackle the shortage but the residents say the move hasn't been of much help.
Salem Sabih al Hinai said, 'PAEW dug a well last year, provided weekly water trucks for each house but these steps are not enough. I hope they increase the working hours at the main water pumping station and pump more water.'
A member of the Shura Council, Sultan al Abri said temporary solutions have been provided to offer relief.
'We have communicated with the relevant bodies such as PAEW to offer relief to these villages by drilling wells and increasing water reserves in the main water tank. But these are just temporary solutions. PAEW has already signed an agreement to deliver water from Sohar to Ibri and the project will soon be completed. This project will offer a concrete solution.'
Abri added that he also plans to communicate with the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources to establish dams in cooperation with people of the region and private companies.
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