Ninawa proposes joint water project to ease shortage in western districts

MOSUL, Iraq — The director of Nineveh's water authority, Muyed Sadiq, has announced a new plan to address a water crisis affecting districts in the western part of the province. Sadiq said water demand in areas including Sinjar has been met largely through well drilling, which has not provided a lasting solution. Under the proposed "Shingal-Bashik Unified Water Project," the directorate has completed all technical drawings and plans for a facility with a daily capacity of 16,000 cubic meters. The file has been submitted to the Ministry of Municipalities for financing, with coordination from the provincial council and the relevant ministry. In Nineveh's eastern Christian-majority districts of Bartella, Bashiqa, Hamdaniyah, Tal Afar and Qosh, the directorate said recently implemented projects have brought noticeable stability to water services. Sadiq also noted that water reserves at the Mosul Dam have risen this year following improved rainfall. Despite the gains, the directorate said insufficient funding, staffing shortages, rapid urbanization and illegal construction remain the main unresolved challenges. No further details on the financing timeline were immediately available.