Caretaker Minister of Environment Nasser Yassin announced on Friday that 72 kilometers of sewage networks have been completed in the areas of Bourj, Al-Mreijat, Mekseh, Qab Elias, Jdita, Chtaura and Taalabaya in the past 12 months.
“This is a crucial part of the pollution prevention project for the Litani River and Lake Qaraoun, that was stalled for many years, and which is funded by the World Bank,” he said on his X account.
In 2016, the Minister of Finance, Ali Hassan Khalil, signed an agreement with the World Bank for $55 million to reduce pollution in Lake Qaraoun and improve sewage networks. The project, which began in 2016, was supposed to be completed by June 2023. However, only meetings and discussions have taken place regarding the matter and the aforementioned loan of $55 million has essentially been spent on contracts with numerous consultants hired by the Council for Development and Reconstruction, at the request of the Ministry of Energy and Water, as per the site “Al Modon.”
Yassin noted that after negotiating with government colleagues, relevant administrations within the Council for Development and Reconstruction and the National Authority of the Litani River, as well as the directors of the World Bank, Lebanese officials have successfully prevented this project from being halted last year for cause of not undertaking any significant work during the previous period since its approval in 2016.
Yassin highlighted the “serious efforts that have been made in the Bekaa Governorate for the past 12 months, and that they will continue until 2024.”
“For the first time in years, and after the enactment of Law 63 (2016), we have taken significant steps towards reducing the sources of pollution in the river and the lake,” he added.
The caretaker Minister of Environment cited the ongoing efforts being done starting with Central Bekaa, “work is ongoing to complete the sewage networks in the Central Bekaa (in Axis 1, 48 out of 71 kilometers were completed, and Axis 2 has completed 24 out of 86 kilometers) and connect them to the treatment plant in the Nasriyah region, which began construction with funding from the Italian government. Additionally, efforts are underway to complete the sewage network in the Zahleh region as part of the World Bank project.”
Moving on to Western Bekaa, Yassin said that “work is in progress to announce a tender for the construction of six pumping stations in Qaraoun and Baaloul, as well as the expansion of the existing station in Qaraoun.”
“These seven stations will pump sewage water to the treatment plant in Aitanit/Qaraoun, which covers the towns of Mashghara, Aitanit, Baaloul, and Qaraoun. We inaugurated the rehabilitation project of this important station yesterday, including the addition of sections related to sludge treatment, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID),” he added.
Yassin assured that, in the coming days, he will follow up on expediting the construction of the treatment plant in Nasriyah, as well as the network in other areas such as Bar Elias, Majdal Anjar, and the plains’ towns. “I will also ensure the continued operation of the treatment plant in Jeb Jennine, which UNICEF will support in terms of operation and maintenance for the next two years in cooperation with the Bekaa Water Establishment,” he said.
The World Bank issued a detailed statement back in 2016 about the development objectives of the Lake Qaraoun Pollution Prevention Project for Lebanon. It is to reduce the quantity of untreated municipal sewage discharged into the Litani River and to improve pollution management around Qaraoun Lake. This project has three components: the first component is the improvement of municipal sewage collection, the second component is the promotion of good agricultural practices, and the third one is solid waste, water quality monitoring, capacity building and project management.
