The Minister of Infrastructure Development, Eng. Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al-Nuaimi, revealed to «Emirates Today», the Ministry of developing rapid and permanent solutions to confront the dangers of heavy rains and the flow of torrents and wadis in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah and the eastern region and the Emirate of Fujairah.
The Minister of Infrastructure Development, Dr. Eng. Abdullah Balhaif Al-Nuaimi, said that the ministry has started implementing quick projects in areas affected by the recent rains that fell on the state, including the expansion of some rainwater drainage streams and ferries, while permanent solution projects include the construction of lakes and dams in the sources of valleys in The emirates of Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, and some eastern regions, where projects are progressing gradually since last September, and is expected to be completed within the next four years.
He explained that the Ministry is leading efforts in the necessary studies to construct dams, ferries, and artificial lakes in Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and some areas of the Emirate of Sharjah, and that it is charged with following up and establishing a set of dams and ferries projects by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and the initiatives of the President of the State, including the construction of dams in the area of the Negev Valley in the Al-Fahalin region In Al-Barirat and in Wadi Haqil in the Emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah, in addition to the construction of a dam in Wadi Ham in the Emirate of Fujairah.
He added that the projects include the construction of small and large dams and the expansion of existing lakes to collect rain water, pointing out that in 2017 the Ministry conducted the necessary studies to construct dams, lakes and ferries to prepare for climate changes and heavy rains, and that last September it launched several tenders to start building projects to ward off Rain damages and risks.
He added that the rains revealed to the ministry new things that were not happening 120 years ago, including the flow of some reefs and valleys as a result of heavy rains in some areas, including the residential area of Al-Fahlin, which witnessed the strong flow of Wadi Negev, in addition to the flow of some water tables in the mountainous areas in Ras The tent.
Al-Naimi explained that the effect of rain on some areas comes with a good thing, as the ministry is studying the quantities of rain that fell on some areas and the extent of their impact on the infrastructure in order to develop the necessary studies to prepare for the upcoming rains over the next 50 years.
He explained that the ministry cannot confront nature nor work against it, because its capacity is stronger than human capabilities, so the ministry is dealing in a realistic and good manner with climate changes in order to confront it with projects that resist torrential rains and torrents according to the highest international standards, since all the ministry's projects are from federal streets Dams have not collapsed or broken despite the heavy rains and torrential torrents that the country recently witnessed.
Unprecedented rain
The Minister of Infrastructure Development, Eng. Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al-Nuaimi, explained that "the rains were unprecedented at the state level, and that the ministry is waiting for its impact on some areas to be lessened in order to deal with it positively." He stated that the Ministry is dealing with rain and valley waters in Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and some areas positively, despite the negative effects that have caused them.
Construction of small and large dams and expansion of existing lakes to collect rain water.