Ali Abu Sedeira, adviser to the environment minister for technical affairs, said on Sunday the Nile river and fighting industrial pollution are the most important files being tackled by the Irrigation Ministry.

Thermal pollution is the main cause of Nile river pollution, he told MENA.

He also referred to the October 31 deadline granted to companies and factories that release their waste into the Nile river to settle their conditions.

"We are cooperating with them and we have also advised them to resort to Cairo University to inquire about the best scientific techniques to settle their environmental conditions," he added.

No violations will be made against these companies until after the deadline expires, he noted, saying "we are trying to help them abide by the deadline".

Financial problems could be behind the delay in settling their conditions, he added.

He warned that legal action would be taken against these companies if they failed to rectify their conditions.