Responding to oral questions from members of parliament, Nizar Baraka said the kingdom’s water situation had seen a “major improvement” following substantial rainfall during the current hydrological year. According to the minister, increased inflows and higher dam storage levels now provide between two and five years of drinking water and irrigation reserves, depending on the region.
He said this improvement in water security would be reinforced by the government’s ongoing structural programs, particularly seawater desalination projects, the reuse of treated wastewater, efforts to improve the efficiency of irrigation networks and canals, and the expansion of storage capacity.
In this context, Baraka announced that eight dams have already been completed, while 14 others are currently under construction. Three additional projects are expected to be launched before the end of the year. These infrastructures contribute not only to securing water supplies but also to flood protection, he noted.
Turning to transport infrastructure, the minister said that 45% of his department’s budget is allocated to road maintenance and the construction of new infrastructure. He stressed that efforts to improve access to rural areas are continuing in order to enhance territorial attractiveness and support investment.
Regarding the maintenance of regional roads, Baraka said the ministry has established local intervention units tasked with ensuring close monitoring and scheduling maintenance work based on updated criteria that take into account infrastructure conditions and users’ needs.
To improve services for citizens, the ministry has also launched a digital platform centralizing information related to projects and works carried out across its areas of responsibility—including water, roads, infrastructure, and public procurement—while allowing users to submit and track complaints.
The minister also recalled that the new Royal strategy for territorial development, which provides for 208 billion dirhams in investment for rural areas, includes a major component dedicated to road infrastructure and the expansion of the network across several regions of the Kingdom.
