Khaberni - The Cabinet in its session held today, Sunday, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dr. Jafar Hassa, approved an amended bill for the Jordan Valley Development Law for the year 2025; in preparation for its referral to the House of Representatives to proceed with its endorsement procedures in accordance with constitutional norms.
The bill aims to enhance the capabilities of the Jordan Valley Authority in protecting water resources within its jurisdiction, and to expand its powers through the study, design, construction, execution, operation, maintenance, and management of all types of dams throughout the kingdom.
It also aims to enhance work efficiency in the Jordan Valley areas, accelerate services, protect rights, speed up investment decisions and land leasing for development and facilitation purposes, simplify procedures, enhance oversight, and activate partnerships with the private sector.
The amendments open up broader opportunities for the private sector to participate in development and investment, which contributes to creating new job opportunities and improving the level of services provided to the citizens of the Jordan Valley, through access to services and land leasing, protecting them from encroachments, improving infrastructure, and services in agricultural projects, supporting farmers and investors through clarity of powers, and stimulating investment through private sector involvement, alongside reducing burdens and accelerating procedures through electronic means.
The amendments are likely to encourage investment in large agricultural projects that use modern farming technologies, and contribute to solving marketing problems and agricultural patterns.
Under the amendments, employees of the Jordan Valley Authority, delegated by the minister or the secretary general, will be granted the status of judicial officers, enabling them to conduct inspection and enforcement operations, which will help protect water sources and the authority's and its affiliated companies' resources as public assets collected under the Public Money Collection Law.
The amendments also grant the Jordan Valley Authority the exemptions and facilitations enjoyed by ministries and government departments.
