Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard, today expressed full support to the second phase of the national campaign to educate consumers on the importance of conserving water and rationalizing usage of water resources. In an address to the nation on the occasion, the Crown Prince, quoting from the Holy Qur'an, urged adherence to the directives of Islam in regard to water conservation. He remarked that in spite of the difficulties in a country with a hot, dry climate that lacks rivers and lakes, the Kingdom has provided sufficient potable water from artisan wells and the desalination of salt water; he added that regrettably, however, some people continue to misuse this vital resource.

Earlier, Minister of Agriculture and Water Dr. Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Ibn Mu'amar announced a ban on the issuance and renewal of licenses for agricultural projects that consume large amounts of water. In a press statement, he said the owners of such projects had been advised to switch to advanced irrigation methodology such as using rotary irrigation devices, and covering the ground to prevent evaporation. He declared that the upcoming generations need to pay special attention to the issue of water conservation, and urged imams to bring this to people's attention at Friday prayers.

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