Iraq fills illegal fish ponds, seals unauthorized wells in groundwater enforcement campaign

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Ministry of Water Resources said Monday it is pressing ahead with a campaign to protect strategic groundwater reserves, acting on instructions from Water Resources Minister Muthanna al-Tamimi and with the support of ministry departments and security units. The operations are being carried out in the provinces of Saladin, Baghdad, Najaf, Karbala and Anbar. In the Tikrit district of Saladin, authorities filled 10 illegal fish ponds and sealed five wells feeding them, the ministry said. In Tarmiya on Baghdad's Karkh side, 16 unauthorized fish ponds were filled and 14 unlicensed wells were shut down. In Najaf, an artesian well feeding an illegal fish pond was sealed in the Bahr al-Najad area, according to the ministry. In Karbala, drilling equipment being used without authorization for groundwater extraction was confiscated along the Najaf road and along a strategic route. In Anbar's Karmah district, four illegal fish ponds were filled after being found in violation of water resources regulations. The ministry did not immediately provide further details on the wider campaign or any next steps.