Tunis, May 31 (TAP)- Water resources management expert Houcine Rehili deplored the "failure" of public policies which, he said, "have clearly shown their limits over the years."

These "very conservative" policies were dictated by Tunisia's economic openness, the expert said in an interview with TAP.

"Economic openness embraced since the 70's changed the order of things, directing policies towards more water-consuming and export-oriented agriculture and industries," he added.

"The formulation of policies is solely the task of the administration in total exclusion of other actors," he said, "fuelling their failure," Rehili highlighted.

Public agricultural policies also proved to be ineffective, especially amid climate change challenges, exacerbating the water crisis. Tunisia, the expert said, is lagging behind 69 years in agricultural census and there is a regretful lack of strictness and oversight in implementing the agricultural map.

Water policies in rural areas made no progress as the water distribution utility (SONEDE) intervenes in big rural agglomerations, the expert added.

Likewise, economic policies failed to keep abreast of developments and take into account scarce water rescources. The latest water resources programme devised by the State is the ten-year strategy of water resources mobilisation (1990-2000) which addressed conventional ressources while stopping short of taking into consideration water stress and climate change.

The exploitation of water ressources has more than doubled over the last three decades amid the absence of policies to rationalise their use. There is need to foster a culture of responsible consumption, integrate sustainable water management in school curricula and engage in collective reflection on water issues.

A clear-cut Tunisia by 2040-2050 vision is required to regreen the country, ensure food sovereignty, make sure resources are properly used and reduce indebtedness.

A revamp of the industrial policy is an imperative; taking heed of available water resources is a sine qua non condition along with pushing for high value-added industries instead of low value- added polluting industries.