Iraqi water resources minister visits Salahuddin districts to review irrigation issues

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Minister of Water Resources Muthenna al-Tamimi on Friday visited the Beled and al-Dujail districts in Salahuddin province to inspect irrigation services and identify problems on the ground, the ministry said. The visit was part of efforts to monitor water infrastructure and develop technical solutions in the province. In Beled, the minister met with local officials, tribal representatives and provincial administrators, including Salahuddin's deputy governor, at the guesthouse of MP Muhammad al-Baldawi and the Huzaifa tribe's Diwan. Attendees presented demands related to irrigation and water services, and al-Tamimi issued directives to address rising groundwater levels by laying suitable technical pipes connecting the modern Beled drainage station to the main eastern drainage line, installing a covered outlet to replace the siphon in the modern Beled canal, and converting the ND-18 drainage line into a covered piped system. In al-Dujail, the minister held separate talks with the district's mayor, tribal figures and department directors. He directed the lining of the Western Ishaki canal, repairs to relevant departmental vehicles and the provision of modern canal-cleaning machines for the district. The ministry said the visit falls within its framework for tracking irrigation systems across Salahuddin, identifying field challenges and working toward more efficient management of water resources. No further details were immediately available.