AL-HAREEQ — A number of farmers in Al-Hareeq Governorate have called on the authorities for help following indiscriminate flooding of their farms. Some reckless youths opened the gates of Al-Hareeq dam and swamped the surprised farmers with a deluge on a sunny day. Concerned bodies intervened and closed the gates, and investigations are under way. This incident was apparently a repeat of previous incidents. Similar acts occur when the dam is full. Al-Hareeq dam is one of the largest in the Central Province. It is 1,700 meters wide and 13 meters high. It was constructed in 1983 (1404H) to hold 7 million cubic meters of water. The water level has reached 6 meters following rains last month. Khalid Al-Hazzaa, the director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Water branch in Al-Hareeq Governorate, cautioned of arbitrary opening of the dam gates. He said that his branch monitors the water level in the dam, and the amount that leaks into the ground to feed the wells.
