The absence of a normally functioning central authority in the country has resulted in the increase of various forms of abuse, including those severely impacting the environment. From the indiscriminate felling of trees for commercial purposes to encroachments on public lands and the mismanagement of the quarry sector leading to mountain destruction and the diversion of watercourses, Lebanon’s natural environment and resources are under severe strain.
Construction work carried out in Faraya in disregard of common sense and contrary to the provisions of the permit issued to the author posed a threat to the Nabeh el-Assal water source located in an ecologically vulnerable area. Thanks to the intervention of the municipality, these works were suspended.
In a statement released on Thursday, the NGO Terre-Liban announced that it had “conducted a site visit after receiving several complaints from concerned residents about the ongoing construction work.” They reported “significant excavations and construction work exceeding the authorizations and limits set in the renovation and maintenance permit issued by the Faraya municipality.”
One of the potential initial effects of this abusive construction work was observed in the quality of water supplied to households in the region. Residents were dismayed to find muddy water flowing from their taps, immediately attributing it to the ongoing excavations.
Upon being alerted, the municipalities of Kfardebian and Faraya promptly intervened by dispatching municipal police to the site. The municipality of Faraya, responsible for the area where the excavations were taking place, identified the violation. After ordering the suspension of the works, which “will not resume,” as stated by its president, Michel Salameh, to This Is Beirut, they had samples of the spring water analyzed. According to Salameh, the results showed that the water “was not polluted,” even though it was cloudy. He added, “It is not certain that the muddiness is due to the construction work,” noting that “at this time of year, the water level in the Chabrouh reservoir drops, sometimes resulting in households receiving cloudy water.”
