Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
held a meeting to review the ongoing efforts to develop and clear the nation’s
natural lakes, with focus on Al-Manzala and Nasser.
The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli, Minister of Environment Yasmin Fouad, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation al Sayed al-Quseir, and Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Swelam.
President Sisi was updated on the development and clearing of Lake Manzala, the largest and most important natural lake in Egypt, as part of the relevant state efforts, Radi said.
Manzala has been the scene of a thorough change and a qualitative shift, after removing encroachments and unlicensed farms, deepening and clearing the lake as well as and getting rid of sediments and weeds, Radi added.
In addition, the canals connecting Manzala to the Mediterranean were also cleared, in addition to halting the flow of sewage water into the lake through setting up triple treatment plants. Moreover, a ring road has been established around the lake to ease transport of people and goods.
These efforts have led to restoring the natural state and ecological balance of Manzala, thus increasing its total area to 250,000 feddans.
President Sisi gave directed the government to complete the development cycle of Manzala via an integrated strategy, which is likely to add to what has already been achieved, the spokesman said.
This can be realized through the promotion of fishing capabilities and mechanisms to offer additional job opportunities to fishermen in the villages overlooking the lake, Radi noted. This will of course have economic, commercial and food returns.
In the meantime, President Sisi followed upon the ongoing efforts to develop Lake Nasser, and gave directed the government to prepare an integrated study on how to make utmost benefit from its fish wealth through developing the lake, raising its efficiency and maximizing its fishing capabilities.
Source: The Egyptian Gazette
