The Knesset committee also announced Wednesday that it will crack down on the Ministry of Finance, which has dragged its feet on allocating the funds for engineers to address the issue.
According to the Globes business news service, the committee said it is planning to monitor the Finance Ministry’s compliance with orders to speed up the funding process. Reports are to be submitted on the ministry’s compliance with the timeline set by the government and anyone impeding the process will be held accountable.
Wednesday’s meeting was the committee’s fourth meeting on the issue since 2003, when the state comptroller issued a report condemning the lack of attention being paid to the growing threat in the resort area.
The Ministry of Tourism was ordered to find a solution for the hotels before the Dead Sea Works franchise ends in 2030.
The Environmental Minister also warned that erosion is lowering the level of the water table, which has dropped by 25 meters in the past 20 years.
At the same time, chemical extractions which lead to evaporating industrial pools in the southern area of the sea are already damaging basic infrastructure, water pools and beautiful nature sites along the Dead Sea shores.
Engineers say that the salt which is rapidly accumulating in the nearby hotel area, artificially raising the sea bed by some 20 centimeters per year is also raising the water level.
In addition, mud flats are being exposed as the sea dries up in the industrial area, with sink holes opening up without warning – a major safety hazard – creating an environmental and planning hazard.
According to the Globes business news service, the committee said it is planning to monitor the Finance Ministry’s compliance with orders to speed up the funding process. Reports are to be submitted on the ministry’s compliance with the timeline set by the government and anyone impeding the process will be held accountable.
Wednesday’s meeting was the committee’s fourth meeting on the issue since 2003, when the state comptroller issued a report condemning the lack of attention being paid to the growing threat in the resort area.
The Ministry of Tourism was ordered to find a solution for the hotels before the Dead Sea Works franchise ends in 2030.
The Environmental Minister also warned that erosion is lowering the level of the water table, which has dropped by 25 meters in the past 20 years.
At the same time, chemical extractions which lead to evaporating industrial pools in the southern area of the sea are already damaging basic infrastructure, water pools and beautiful nature sites along the Dead Sea shores.
Engineers say that the salt which is rapidly accumulating in the nearby hotel area, artificially raising the sea bed by some 20 centimeters per year is also raising the water level.
In addition, mud flats are being exposed as the sea dries up in the industrial area, with sink holes opening up without warning – a major safety hazard – creating an environmental and planning hazard.