British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume I - Page 402

CHAPTER X.

Hamama-Majdal Drainage

El Burj (Benyamina) Drainage Mallaha Irrigation (Huleh) Sahl el Battauf Drainage.

Preliminary inspections and reconnaissance have been made in respect to the following hill reservoir schemes :-

Wadi Qarn, Wadi Halazun , River Qishon, Wadi Abu Nar, Wadi Massin, Wadi Zeimar, Wadi 'rin, Wadi Ishkar , Wadi Sarida, Wadi Natut, Wadi Jindas, Wadi Sarar and Wadi Ajjur.

THE BEISAN AREA.

48. One of the most important irrigation areas in Palestine is that lying in the plain of Beisan. Here there are some 30 perennial springs discharging per second four and a half cubic metres of water, a proportion of which is unfortunately somewhat saline. The land within the spring area amounts to some 110,000 dunums. The population living in these lands is approximately 10,000 Arabs and 2,000 Jews. The land is owned, 52,000 dunums by Arabs and 40 ,000 by Jews; the remainder is State Domain.

49. A comprehensive irrigation scheme for the whole area depends on

(a) the settlement of water rights, and possession by Government of statutory powers to distribute the water on a beneficial has is; and

(b) a contour survey.

The contour survey has been completed, and a great deal of investigation has been made into the question of water rights. Although unable, in the absence of legislation, to proceed to execute a comprehensive scheme, the Water Commissioner's staff have been able to survey and design several subsidiary schemes which it is thought can be executed in existing conditions without prejudice to the comprehensive scheme.

50. Government has already developed one of the springs, the Jausaq, and begun to canalise with concrete the channels in this area, which is a Government estate of 7 ,500 dunums. The work of canalisation is not yet completed, since part of the area is in military occupation.

The headwaters of the Maddu' springs have also been concreted.

WADI FARI'A AND JERICHO.

51. Another area in which Government has improved the existing system by canalisation is the Wadi Fari'a. This is a valley'

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