Industry Minister Joe Issa al-Khoury has set up a joint committee with the Litani River Authority to oversee and enforce environmental compliance in industrial facilities across the Litani River Basin, the two bodies said in a joint statement issued Friday.
The committee will survey both licensed and unlicensed factories, document violations, and follow up on judicial and administrative cases. It will also oversee wastewater networks to prevent untreated industrial discharge from polluting the river and disrupting treatment plants.
Teams will be deployed across Bekaa, Baalbek-Hermel, South Lebanon, and Nabatiyeh, with a three-month deadline set for a comprehensive survey. Data will be documented electronically using GIS mapping tools.
Committee members are granted full authority to inspect facilities and collect samples but are barred from issuing compliance certificates or engaging directly with factory owners. They may request technical support from the Environment Ministry and security backing when needed.
“The initiative is part of a national plan to protect the Litani and its tributaries, aiming to preserve clean water resources for citizens,” the statement concluded.
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