By Prensa Latina,
Canberra : The Australian government bought 35 billion liters of water from farmers to return them to the basin of the rivers Murray and Darling, in response to the growing drought affecting the country.
Canberra destined 50 million Australian dollars (47 million US dollars) to buy the licenses of seven of the 18 headwaters of the basin, said Australian Climatic Change Minister Penny Wong Friday.
Wong said there will be a time before water flow is reestablished, because of the great drought and low levels of water in the swamps.
She added the amount of water disappeared each year, is equal to the amount consumed in the Australian main cities,
It is scheduled to dedicate another 2.8 million dollars to acquire new licenses in the next 10 years.
The basins of the Murray and Darling Rivers, forming the most important water supply system in the country, irrigate 34 percent of the Australian agricultural production, including 96 percent of cotton, and supply three quarters of the grain and pasture cultivations with water.
The project will be negotiated and carried out by the Commonwealth’s Environmental Water Organization.