Israel today received a United Nations Special Fund grant of $489, 300 to aid a $2, 173, 000 project for investigation of problems of underground water storage. The Fund’s Governing Council made the allocation here in open session, after it had been previously approved at a closed meeting on the recommendation of Paul G. Hoffman, managing director of the Fund.
Under the grant, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization will work with the Government of Israel during a three-year period to probe the feasibility of storing water deep underground in geological formations. Part of the project will include the establishment of a pilot plant in Israel to study techniques for utilizing the underground water, much of which is known to contain a heavy salt content.
Under the plans as worked out by experts for Israel and the FAO, Israel will spend $1, 684, 000 for the entire project, more than three times the amount of the grant by the UN Special Fund. The Fund is, essentially, a “pump-priming” operation, intended to stimulate development projects by providing relatively modest amounts to help countries launch certain works through counterpart contributions.
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