The Minister of Energy and Water, Walid Fayad, sent a letter to the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities on September 3, 2023, bearing the number 282/S1. In this letter, he requests the immediate removal and prevention of all obstacles and encroachments on riverbeds and winter streams, allowing municipalities to clear them. This is to ensure public safety and secure the flow of water in winter streams and rivers before the onset of the winter season, thus avoiding potential flooding.
The letter states: "In order to ensure public safety and reduce the likelihood of floods during the upcoming winter season, and as a follow-up to our previous letters, particularly the last one numbered 293/S1 dated 9/9/2022, some municipalities are requesting approval to clear riverbs and winter streams within their property areas before winter. Since the necessary funds for a complete survey and removal of encroachments are not yet secured, and since the process of bidding or contracting for the clearing can take time due to the unavailability of funds.
It has been observed by the technical team of the General Directorate of Water Resources and Electricity, following field inspections due to complaints regarding obstacles and small dams constructed to collect water in streams and rivers for tourism or irrigation purposes, among other encroachments, along with the accumulation of waste and debris in some areas.
Therefore, we hope you will circulate an order to all governorates to instruct all municipalities to prevent any encroachments on public river properties and to remove all obstacles from these streams. We request that those responsible for placing these barriers remove them immediately before winter under the threat of liability for any damage that may occur to public and private properties, to prevent flooding or diversion of water outside the streams and rivers, which could cause public safety hazards, as well as to facilitate the municipalities in clearing debris and waste from these streams, which obstruct flow without removing sand and ensuring that none of the excavation output is commercially exploited and transported to legal landfills."
