The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has put forward a draft of conditions and controls for the use of surface water resources for the survey.
The project aims to govern and regulate surface water resources and their uses, maximize their utilization, and manage their affairs and all rights related to them without prejudice to the rights considered by Sharia, as well as protecting surface water sources from depletion and pollution, and ensuring their sustainability, to provide and meet water supplies in accordance with comprehensive development plans.
It included the guideline for violations of surface water sources and the corresponding penalties, including the establishment of a water harvesting facility before obtaining a license from the Ministry, and its fine was set at a minimum of 25 thousand riyals, and a maximum of 50 thousand riyals for the first time violation, with the cancellation of the license if it is repeated by the same authority.
And a violation of practicing mining activities without obtaining the Ministry’s approval, with a minimum of 250,000 riyals, and a maximum of 500,000 riyals, and for every day until the effects of the violation are removed, and not licensing for a period of five years.
And the violation of using the water source without a license, with a minimum of 15,000 riyals and a maximum of 30,000 riyals, and action is taken for the first time, and the license is canceled if it is repeated.
And the violation of using the water source in artificial recharge (injection) of the aquifers without a license, with a minimum of 12,500 riyals, and a maximum of 25 thousand riyals, and for each day until the violation is removed, with the license being canceled if it is repeated.
And the violation of dredging sediment and silt from the dam lake without a license, with a minimum of 25 thousand riyals, and a maximum of 50 thousand riyals, and for every day until the effects of the violation are removed, with the activity suspended if the same violator is repeated.
And a violation of sand dredging and dredging sediments from valleys without obtaining the approval of the Ministry, with a minimum of 25 thousand riyals, and a maximum of 50 thousand riyals, and for every day until the removal of the effects of the violation, and not licensing for the next 5 years.
And a violation of the practice of activities affecting surface water sources in rocky geological excavations or valleys without obtaining the approval of the Ministry, with a minimum of 25 thousand riyals, and a maximum of 50 thousand riyals, and a measure is taken to stop the activity and not license for the next five years.
And a violation of setting up desalination plants located on the sea without obtaining the Ministry’s approval, with a minimum of 125,000 riyals, and a maximum of 250,000 riyals, and a procedure is taken to stop the activity until a license is issued.
And a violation of non-compliance with the technical specifications of the water harvesting facilities specified in the license, with a minimum of 12,500 riyals, and a maximum of 250,000 riyals. As for the procedure, the violation is removed and all repair expenses are incurred.
And a violation of cloud seeding without obtaining the Ministry’s approval, with a minimum of 12,500 riyals and a maximum of 500,000 riyals, and damages and compensation resulting from the violation will be repaired. And a violation of exceeding the quantities of water allowed for use specified in the license, with a minimum of 12,500 riyals, and a maximum of 25,000 riyals.
And a violation of drawing water directly from the dam lake or from inspection chambers, with a minimum of 12,500 riyals, and a maximum of 25,000 riyals. A violation is made for the first time, and the license is suspended if it is repeated.
Violation of sand dredging or dredging the sediments of valleys from depriving surface water sources before obtaining the Ministry’s approval is a minimum of 12,500 riyals, and a maximum of 25,000 riyals, and for each day until the effects of the violation are removed, and non-licensing for a period of five years.
Ibrahim Al-Alawi (Jeddah) @i_waleeed22
