فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Several communities in Al-Hajeb Province, like many other regions in Morocco, are suffering from an escalating water scarcity crisis that casts a shadow over the daily lives of residents, especially amid consecutive years of drought and increasing water demand. This crisis, which goes beyond environmental concerns to touch upon fundamental citizens’ rights, places the legal responsibilities of public authorities under scrutiny and highlights the shortcomings of the legislative and enforcement frameworks in addressing the excessive depletion of groundwater resources.
Article 31 of the 2011 Moroccan Constitution enshrines the right to water, stipulating that the state, public institutions, and local authorities must mobilize all available means to ensure equal access to potable water for all citizens. This constitutional provision obliges the state and local councils to guarantee this right. However, the reality in many communities in Al-Hajeb reveals a significant gap between this constitutional mandate and everyday life. Residents, particularly in remote rural areas, struggle to obtain even a drop of water, while efforts made remain insufficient to address the scale of the crisis. This shortfall opens the door to legal and administrative accountability for authorities failing to fulfill their constitutional and legal duties.
Law No. 36.15 on Water, enacted in 2016, provides a modern legislative framework aimed at updating water resource management in Morocco. The law is based on key principles such as integrated water management, protection of water resources from pollution and over-extraction, and rational use of water. It grants Water Basin Agencies broad powers to manage water resources at regional and local levels, including issuing permits for well drilling and groundwater exploitation. Nevertheless, the main challenge in Al-Hajeb and other areas lies in weak enforcement and monitoring mechanisms. Despite clear legal provisions criminalizing unauthorized well drilling and excessive groundwater extraction, such practices remain widespread, especially in the agricultural sector.
Excessive depletion of groundwater in Al-Hajeb is at the heart of the crisis. Although groundwater is public property, it is being drained excessively through numerous deep wells, often unlicensed, to meet growing agricultural demands. This over-extraction leads to deterioration in water quality and declining water levels, directly threatening the region’s long-term water security. Legally, these practices violate Law 36.15, which requires permits for exploitation and criminalizes unlicensed well drilling. Exceeding authorized extraction limits exposes violators to legal accountability. However, the question remains: to what extent are these legal provisions enforced on the ground?
The water scarcity crisis in Al-Hajeb is not merely an environmental issue but a legal and human rights challenge that demands officials fulfill their duty to protect water resources and guarantee citizens’ right to water. This crisis should be seized as an opportunity for a comprehensive reassessment of water management policies and strict enforcement of laws before the water source runs dry and the situation becomes irreversible.
from: fesnews
