The hot dispute over the nation's quota of Nile water has apparently prompted the Government to look again at old suggestions to rationalise the use of water for growing crops that require huge quantities of this life-giving liquid. Representatives from the ministries of irrigation, agriculture and environment are now racing against time to draw up a bill, inspired by the old suggestions, for submission to the Cabinet. Egypt was shocked when its bid to tap more of the river's water was firmly rejected by other Nile Basin states. Egypt's demands have only been respected by Sudan. Moreover, the other Nile countries have teasingly complained that Egypt is taking more of the river's water than necessary. Ignoring Cairo's protests, they unilaterally signed a new Nile Treaty, which has vastly amended the time-honoured treaties governing Nile water quotas. Reliable sources have told the press that the representatives mobilised by the three ministers are conducting their challenging task behind closed doors. “It's all veiled in secrecy,” says an anonymous official. “Water consumption, whether for drinking or irrigation, needs to be rationalised to avoid shortages in future.” The press has learnt that the new bill will be submitted to Parliament in the next parliamentary session. It will restrict the consumption of water used to irrigate hugely water-consuming crops, as well as stipulating new rules for dredging canals so that the water can flow more smoothly. Crop growers will also be offered incentives to grow crops which are not water-intensive. The new bill, if approved, will undermine the prospects of the growers of rice, sugarcane and bananas, which are notorious for the huge amounts of irrigation water they need. Rice growers may well be fined if they refuse to switch to crops like wheat, which needs much less water. One water engineer insists that the fine should be LE5,000 (about $890). Water experts and crop growers protest that the Government has left its water rationalisation suggestions very late. The have accused the Government of changing its mind after thousands of fertile acres were destroyed because of a lack of irrigation water lasting a month in one part of Egypt. Panic-stricken growers have been using contaminated sewage water to irrigate their land. They refuse to comment when reminded of the health hazards posed by vegetables and fruit grown with contaminated water. If contaminated water is used, productivity falls by 20 per cent per acre.
