Barker: Proactivity Protects Against Flood Risks
The Minister of Equipment and Water, Nizar Barker, stated yesterday in Rabat that proactive management and the establishment of preventive plans to face flood risks have become more crucial than ever to protect the population and ensure the safety of property.
Barker, through his representative, the ministry’s Secretary-General, Abderrazzak Sahbi, highlighted that flood risks pose a significant challenge for the Kingdom, especially in light of climate change and increasing pressure on natural resources.
During a workshop presenting the results of a study on preparing flood risk prevention plans for the Abou Rquerq basin, organized by the Abou Rquerq and Chaouia Water Agency in partnership with the French Development Agency, the minister noted that these plans play a vital role in organizing urban expansion in vulnerable areas.
He explained that the development of these plans relies on a scientific, technical, and participatory approach that considers field realities, hydrological data, and urban expansion dynamics to create sustainable strategies that align with the needs of watershed areas.
He emphasized that these plans aim to reduce the vulnerability of existing infrastructure, prevent the aggravation of risks, and implement concrete measures for flood risk prevention and mitigation.
For her part, the Director of the French Development Agency, Catherine Bounau, confirmed that teams have dedicated efforts to mapping, monitoring elements, conducting forecasts, and developing warning and communication systems, indicating that preventive measures intersect with planning policies, resource management, and local governance.
Bounau explained that these preventive measures also serve as a source of social cohesion and require a comprehensive approach that intersects with various sectors, based on local specificities, asserting that the development of flood risk prevention plans is a pioneering project supported at the highest levels by Morocco and France.
In turn, the Director of the Abou Rquerq and Chaouia Water Agency, Omar Chafiqi, noted that the agency has launched the first experience in Morocco in preparing these plans at the level of municipalities in the Casablanca-Settat and Rabat-Salé-Kénitra regions.
He clarified that this project, supported by the French Development Agency, involves five municipalities in the basin (Rhamani, M’Aaziz, Zhilika, Tighza, and M’rirt), aiming to regulate land use in vulnerable areas and proactively take necessary preventive measures to ensure residents’ safety.
Chafiqi added that the project also includes the development of a hydrological and hydraulic model to forecast floods, thus enhancing the basin’s capacity to withstand extreme climatic phenomena in the Abou Rquerq Valley downstream of the Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah Dam.
This workshop provided an opportunity to highlight progress made in the project and future measures to enhance flood prevention in the region. Plans for flood risk prevention have been completed in preparation for the gradual implementation of preventive measures, installation of warning systems, and raising awareness among local residents.
