ShareKUWAIT: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry formed a special committee to re-evaluate the prices of freshwater carried by tanker trucks from distribution pumps to various areas, said informed sources. The committee will make a report to the minister for a final decision. The sources expected that the committee would recommend increasing the price, because the current price of KD 3.75 has remained unchanged for a long time despite the fuel price increases, and is no longer profitable for truck owners.
The sources said that the committee was formed to regulate freshwater prices on local markets after the ministry noticed that some vendors did not respect the prices set by the government and usually bargained selling their loads for twice as much. Notably, a large segment of citizens, including farmers, ranchers, residents of new areas, houses under construction and camps use these trucks for water supplies.
Healthcare cards
Member of the parliamentary health affairs committee MP Khaled Al-Otaibi said the committee has contacted the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MSAL) to list the numbers of Kuwaiti housewives and people with special needs to add them to those to be covered by the 'Afia' healthcare cards. Otaibi added groups of beneficiaries from Afia will gradually increase, pending including all citizens in the system. He also noted that the total cost would be calculated based on the numbers to be provided by MSAL. 'Afia' is a governmental healthcare program that covers private medical expenses for retired citizens.
Suspended
In view of the growing number of families applying to own farmlands, the farming lots department at the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) has temporarily suspended issuing certificates proving that they do not already possess ones. Informed sources said PAAAFR was waiting for the new structural plan and the municipal council's approval to determine the border areas to be allocated for granting Kuwaiti families farmland plots in Abdaly, Salmi and Wafra.
Strong cabinet
MP Safa Al-Hashem stressed the need for the new cabinet to be a strong one and fully aware of the tasks and challenges it ought to overcome by group work and proper executive procedures. "We need a government that works and speaks correctly," she stressed, noting that she expects the new government to fight corruption. "Only then will we be convinced with the new government's performance," she added.
"This is your seventh cabinet. I hope you will be aware that you once said that welfare will not last long," she added, addressing His Highness the Prime Minister, noting that the public debt bill recently sent to the financial committee is a "real massacre" and that the welfare state will actually come to an end through such measures. "Therefore, oh Jaber Al-Mubarak...I urge you to reconsider this bill," Hashem said, noting that nothing much is expected from the new Cabinet since a certain minister has been a member in four previous Cabinets and faced a unanimous no-confidence motion, but was reshuffled and returned in new Cabinets with different portfolios.
Renewable energy
The renewable energy projects' committee is currently consulting the Supreme Planning Council on offering a $10-billion solar energy project for public bidding, especially since Kuwait had succeeded in using renewable energy to generate electricity at the Shaqaya project which provides the national power grid with 23 million kilowatts.
Informed sources said that the project will be built over an area of 40 sq km with an estimated total capacity of 30 million kilowatts per hour. The sources added that the project will annually save KD 15 million of the total cost of generating electricity and that investing in solar and renewable energy is an integral part of Kuwait's 2035 vision.
By A Saleh
