Decline in level of al-Belikh River

The water level of al-Belikh River has dropped significantly recently, affecting negatively on the irrigation of agricultural lands especially winter crops in some areas, and the lack of balance between areas to benefit from the river.

4 November, 2018 08:45

AHMAD AL-ASAF / AL-RAQQA

Al-Balikh River is a source of income for the people of al-Raqqa, as it irrigates 1,000 hectares of agricultural land from the Syrian-Turkish border to the town of al-Raqqa al-Samra.

Al-Balikh River is a river stems of the village of Ain al-Arous located on 3 km south of Girê Spî city. It is 110 km long in the Euphrates River. It flows into two branches in the town of al-Raqqa al-Samra, east of al-Raqqa, with a density of 6 cubic meters per second.

The decline of al-Balikh River may cause obstacles to farmers as the winter season approaches, the farmer relies on the irrigation of crops by diesel engines, and opening water drains to irrigate the crops as the war against ISIS affected the irrigation projects.

The co-chair of the Agriculture Committee Issa al-Kanef said: "Because of the suspension of irrigation projects as a result of the war and sabotage by IS, the farmer resorted to the development of projects on the river or the opening of water banks, and now al-Belikh River from its source to its outlet there is a hundred sub-banks and a thousand diesel engines, this is why water levels are low and farmers do not benefit from them.

Al-Kanef pointed out "We will work on repairing irrigation pumps and projects in the area to ease the river, and each area will take its share of the river to balance agricultural areas"

H/S

ANHA