DHIBA — Residents of Dhiba governorate are complaining about "water thieves" who encroach on underground water sources in the region. They say thieves sell water stolen from Ainouna farms to tanker companies, exploiting the ongoing water shortage in the region. The residents said they had complained to the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture several times to take action against violators to protect the region's water resources and environment, but did not receive any positive response from the ministry. "The ministry's lukewarm response has given water thieves a suitable atmosphere to continue their illegal practice without any deterrent," said Mohammed Hamid Al-Mashhouri. "Some people have set up pumps in Ainouna farms to sell water and they receive more than 100 tankers. This has depleted water resources in the region. The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture should take action against these farmers," he told Okaz/Saudi Gazette. He said devices that suck underground water were not operating more than 10 minutes due to the depletion of underground water in the region. "This situation has been created by water thieves who drain the village," he said. Previously the companies were bringing water from Sharma, Khariba and Bidae farms but when owners realized the long-term danger posed by such supplies they stopped selling water. "This situation prompted companies to take water from Ainouna farms." Salim Mahmoud Al-Huwaiti said the government had given loans to farmers to dig wells to irrigate their farms. "But some farmers used the opportunity in a wrong way to sell water to tanker companies. This has dried wells and affected farms and plantations in Ainouna, which has been a principal source of water in the region for centuries," he explained. "The authorities should ban farmers from selling water to companies in order to protect water sources in the region. They should punish the violators," Al-Huwaiti said. Khaled Hamid Salama said the water resources department at the ministry's branch office in Tabuk has not taken any action against violators. "Why are they not taking any action against those who sell water in Ainouna to companies endangering water sources in the region." He said many farmers have bought water tankers and hired workers to sell water. "They do this in broad day light without fear," he added. Sulaiman Al-Qaraani described water shortage in Ainouna as a dangerous development. "But this situation has not moved any official in the ministry. This is really strange." He said five farmers in the area are involved in selling water to companies. "One of them has dug a big well in the middle of Ainouna and appointed a Bangladeshi worker to sell water to companies. When we approached the ministry to stop this violation, they said they were not responsible to prevent such activities," he pointed out.
