“There have been some studies but that is not enough”, said the official who has just been elected as the vice-president of Water Science and Technical Association, an NGO dedicated to water in the GCC.
The world had gone far ahead in harnessing the solar power but the Gulf countries had done precious little to tap it, said the official, who had earlier been director of the Water Research and Development Department, at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture.
He said everyone, including universities, research centres and the concerned government departments had to conduct studies jointly and find the best way to use solar energy.
It was also necessary, Abdel Rahman said, to do joint research on water desalination. “The Gulf countries have 50% of all the desalination plants in the world. We simply import the plant, and install it. We also buy spare parts from abroad. Why can’t we make at least some of the parts here”?
Isolated efforts would not work, he said. All the Gulf countries together should study the matter, conduct research and arrive at a solution.
Water was a major issue for the region, as indeed for Qatar. Its wastage was a serious matter, he candidly admitted. Asked if levying a charge on its usage by nationals was a solution, he said, it could be a part solution.
“There are many aspects. It is true that we are misusing water. This needs to be studied carefully to find a solution. Charging the nationals could be only a part solution”.
He said awareness was important and a new strategy on how to contact people had to be adopted. “We are still talking to people as we did 20 years ago. We need a new approach”.
His NGO, WSTA, which has been in existence since 1987, would try and do something in this direction, he added. It aimed at encouraging and promoting interest in water sciences and strengthening scientific ties among water professionals in the GCC countries.
It also sought to encourage scientific research, training programmes, and the development of local capabilities in the different fields of water sciences and technology.
One of its aims was also to act to conserve water and participate in water awareness campaigns leading to optimum utilisation of water.
The NGO also conducted studies and provided information and statistics related to water in the GCC countries and published them through different information and publicity channels.
One of its major objectives was to act to save groundwater and surface water from depletion and pollution.
The Bahrain-based NGO had membership from GCC nationals and expatriates, he said. A Qatari was selected to be a vice president for the time, he noted. Besides Abdel Rahman, one more Qatari, Jalal al-Salahi, from Ashghal, is also on the board, as a member.
The board is headed by Ali Hassan of Bahrain, and has representatives from all the GCC countries. The NGO would increase its activities by co-opting all stakeholders, he said.
