AMMAN (J.T.) — The government on Wednesday announced an emergency water rationing plan to help tackle the chronic water shortage in the Kingdom during the summer season.

Addressing a press conference, Water and Irrigation Minister Kamel Mahadin, nevertheless, reasssured citizens “that no water crisis is expected this year.”

Under this year's contingency plan, to be implemented as of May 1, water will be pumped to residents of various parts of the Kingdom 36 hours a week, “ensuring minimum supplies unless the situation exacerbated,” Mahadin said.

The worst-case scenario envisages up to 40 per cent cut in water supplied by the state — a severe rationing to Jordanian homes, which now receive water through networks only two days a week.

Although the rationing schedule is designed to reduce consumption, a 19 per cent water deficit is still anticipated as demand totals 164 million cubic metres (mcm) and supply amounts to 132.7mcm, Mahadin said.

Under the programme, more than 42 wells will be drilled to produce 29.54mcm during the summer, joining 46 existing ones which were dug in 1999 to provide 42mcm.

Irrigation water supplied to the Jordan Valley will be cut by 30-50 per cent as the 2000 agricultural requirements were estimated at 206mcm, while available resource are 161mcm.

The seasonal rainfall brought 55 per cent of the long-term average of 8 billion cubic metres a year. Jordan's six dams were only 33 per cent full with 53mcm.

Among the Kingdom's major long-term plans to cope with water deficit are constructing the Wihdeh Dam on the Yarmouk River near the northern border with Syria to store 225mcm; purchasing millions of cubic metres of drinking water from Turkey and drawing 100mcm of ancient water from the strategic Disi aquifer in the south.

The minister said plans to set up the JD146 million dam will begin in September, with a Jordanian-Syrian consortium handling 50 per cent of the project.

He added that negotiations with Libya to help Jordan lay the $730 million Disi conveyance system are still under way.

Last month, several Jordanian officials, including Mahadin, announced that Tripoli, which has the required experience in carrying out such schemes, informed Jordan it would cover 70 per cent of the conveyance system's cost. It was still unclear whether Libya's contribution would be through financial or in-kind aid.

The minister explained that any plans to purchase water from Turkey “must be implemented in line with a regional cooperation” framework.

Lack of funds, regional political conflicts and Israeli environmentalist are troubling Turkey's offer to sell water to its Middle East neighbours.

The Kingdom has been facing severe water shortages since a mild drought hit the region three years ago. But the situation worsened in 1999 because of inadequate rainfall — the main source of water for domestic, industrial and agricultural use.