Six arrested in illegal well drilling case in west Amman

AMMAN — Authorities arrested on Wednesday six people for allegedly drilling an illegal well in Wadi Al Sir district in west Amman, according to an official at the Ministry of Water and Irrigation.

The ministry received information from an area resident about suspected drilling of a well in Wadi Al Sir, according to the official, who noted that, after verifying the reports, a ministerial team escorted with a security force raided the location.

“A huge tent was erected over the site to conceal the illegal activity, which has been going on for days since the well was already drilled to 30-metres deep and water was already being pumped out,” the official, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, told The Jordan Times.

Six people, three of whom are Jordanians and another three are Syrian nationals, were arrested for allegedly being involved in the drilling of the well, the official said, noting that the technical team was now in the process of sealing the illegal well, after confiscating the drilling rig and the equipment.

The ministry banned the drilling of wells in 1998 to limit random pumping of water, in order to preserve aquifers from depletion and salinity. In 2013, the ministry launched a nation-wide crackdown on water violations and theft across the Kingdom.

Recent ministry figures show that over 1,063 wells have been sealed, and more than 65 drilling rigs have been seized and confiscated.

In addition, more than 38,213 violations on water networks and resources have been stopped. Over 286 water-related cases are currently at court against violators, while the ministry collected JD3.45 million in cost of water pumped from illegal wells, according to the ministry.

Stiffer penalties for infractions against the water system have been introduced under the amended Water Authority of Jordan Law. Those who abuse water carriers and mains, wastewater, pumping, purification or desalination stations, cause the pollution of water resources, pipes or stations used for drinking water, dig or are involved in the digging of wells without obtaining a licence face a prison sentence of up to five years and fines of up to JD7,000.

In addition, violators of water and wastewater projects can be jailed for up to three years and fined up to JD5,000 under the amendments while all penalties are doubled in the case of repeat offences.