Tunis — In collaboration with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources has developed a master plan based on a study on the integrated management of the Medjerda River, one of the most important and longest river in Tunisia, dammed in several locations and a crucial waterway providing precious water to the country's water collecting facilities.

The project aims at monitoring this important waterway and protecting towns, villages and agricultural areas as well as preventing the risk of flooding in catchments areas.

According to JICA, investments will reach 580 million dinars over a period stretching from 2008 to 2030.

As part of the projects afoot there will be re-development of the waterway from the dam of Laroussia up to Wadi Mellegue, as well as the maintenance of the Medjerda canal and construction of a basin and related channels in Boussalem and Medjez El Bab.

An average of one billion cubic meters of water sweep along the Medjerda over 500 km.

Among the many wadis (rivers) that pour into Medjerda are wadi Mellegue, Tessa, Siliana, Khallède, Bouhertma, and Kasseb Zarga.

Seven dams have been built for the retention of Medjerda water, namely in Sidi Salem, Mellegue, Bouhertma, Siliana, Beni M'tir, Larousse and Kasseb.