The Minister of Irrigation discusses arrangements for preparing a documentary film on the history of irrigation in Egypt in cooperation with "UNESCO"
The Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Dr. Hani Sweilem, discussed with a number of the ministry’s leaders the topics to be discussed and the coordination to be initiated between the ministry and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization “UNESCO.” Regarding the preparation of a documentary film on the history of irrigation in Egypt, the restoration of historical documents, collectibles, and facilities of an archaeological nature belonging to the Ministry, and the establishment of an irrigation museum in the New Administrative Capital.
The meeting, today, Friday, discussed, Procedures for cooperation with development partners to finance the maintenance of the Ministry’s historical facilities and collections, such as the old Delta Barrage, which was established in 1862, the old Aswan Reservoir, which was established in 1902, the old Assiut Barrage “in 1902”, the old Zefta Barrage, “in 1902”, and the old Esna Barrage. “in 1906”, the ancient Nag Hammadi Barrage “in 1930”, and the Edfina Barrage “in 1951”, in addition to the rare books, encyclopedias and albums owned by the ministry such as “The Book of Description of Egypt”, and the album of the opening ceremony of the Suez Canal in 1869, And the Atlas of maps of Egypt for the year 1928, and others.
Dr. Sweilem directed the preparation of an inventory of all historical collections and facilities belonging to the Ministry, including a detailed description of their condition and the available data on their history, in preparation for coordination with UNESCO to determine Required rehabilitation priorities and coordination with development partners to provide the necessary funds for the required rehabilitation and restoration work.
He stressed taking into account the preservation of the historical character of the water facilities that are being restored through the use of the best specialized companies in this field.
It is worth noting that the Minister of Irrigation had met with the Assistant Director-General of UNESCO for Natural Sciences, Lydia Arthur Brito, on the sidelines of his participation in the organization’s celebration on the occasion of “World Water Day.” Which was held recently in Paris, where the two sides discussed the support that could be provided by the organization to protect the global irrigation heritage in Egypt by contributing to the production of a documentary film on the history of irrigation in Egypt, supporting the Ministry in restoring historical documents and establishing an irrigation museum, and benefiting from the “Memory of the World” program. UNESCO documents ancient irrigation facilities.
