Algeria / Local associations urge President Bouteflika to open inquiry into “century’s hydraulics project” in Ouargla province

A host of local associations in the province of Ouargla, in southern Algeria, have appealed to the President of the Republic Mr. Abdellaziz Bouteflika to intervene personally to salvage “the endangered century’s hydraulics project” initiated by the government in the dry province to the cost of 21 billion Dinars.

• The disgruntled local associations have expressed their discontent at the ongoing hydraulics works now being conducted by several foreign firms in the region saying that the rehabilitation and building works were not going on smoothly and not according to plan.
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• They contended that the works had not been correctly undertaken stressing that the potable water system, which was intended to be rehabilitated and upgraded, was still lacking owing to gross technical blunders on the part of these foreign firms, which they said, are not living up to their commitments accordingly.
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• They further complained that they now receive in their water-taps at home, particularly in the housing compounds of Kaskara,  Beni Thour, Hai Bouzid, Al Mekhedma and Kasr Al Kadim, polluted water as a result of faulty works conducted on the main sewerage piping network of the city.
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• These associations also called for the urgent setting up of a special inquiry commission to look into the feasibility and smooth running of this multi-billion project before it goes awry.