Suez: Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam conducted a field tour in Suez governorate to inspect the water system and assess its performance during the peak irrigation demand period.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the minister's visit commenced in Suez where he reviewed pumping stations alongside Suez Governor Abdel Meguid Saqr. Hani Sewilam inspected dredging and maintenance operations on the Suez Canal irrigation branch from kilometer 50 to its end, as well as the Shallufa canal and Shallufa Pump Station 1.

Sewilam emphasized the importance of sustained coordination to establish a joint operational mechanism between Shallufa Pump Stations 1 and 2. Approximately EGP 100 million has been invested in equipment upgrades to ensure the stations' operational readiness. Additionally, Sewilam directed the removal of illegal water intakes and reinforced coordination with the governorate to confiscate unauthorized pumping equipment on the Shallufa canal.

The minister reviewed technical approaches to address areas with accumulated agricultural drainage water. He engaged with engineering teams for explanations and considered proposals based on studies by the National Water Research Center (NWRC), along with feedback from farmers and residents.

Sewilam called for the completion of technical studies aimed at achieving a sustainable solution to drainage accumulation, including the potential establishment of a covered drainage network in the Shallufa area serving around 6,500 feddans, in coordination with ministry and governorate authorities. He also stressed the need for the continuous removal of dredging and excavation residues from canal embankments to prevent obstruction of traffic or public movement, in cooperation with local authorities.

Furthermore, Hani Sewilam underscored the importance of removing all illegal backfilling and encroachments that obstruct pump intakes along the Shallufa canal, in order to restore its designed hydraulic capacity.