Algeria spends 1,000 billion to rehabilitate buildings

The rehabilitation of 17,617 buildings in Algiers in 2014 triggered satisfaction among residents. Yet, questions are raised: was it an emergency decision? Did the project of rehabilitating vulnerable buildings work or not?

The Algiers Province allocated 10 billion DZ. Of them, 5 billion were offered by the housing ministry and 5 billion by the Province’s Treasury to rehabilitate vulnerable buildings through 20 municipalities.

A report shows that 17,617 buildings will be rehabilitated. Of them, 6,663 will be completely destroyed and reconstructed. 

It says that 1,000 billion centimes were allocated for the rehabilitation operation. More than 1,800 buildings which were constructed 100 years ago will be rehabilitated. That means 22,859 houses need rehabilitation. Of them, 30 percent are owned by private sector.

The operation was launched in February 2014. A total of 792 buildings were rehabilitated. 

Earlier, the Algiers Prefect Abdelmakder Zoukh ordered to preserve buildings architectural and historical character. They were examined by experts and a commission was set up to follow up rehabilitation operations.

The largest rehabilitation operations were conducted in Alger Centre municipality.

Residents in building No 51 in Alger Centre complained of the elevator which does not work. They also said some rocks fall down in stairs and rains water enter houses and balconies.

“I am afraid of staying in my house balcony fearing of falling down,” Mohamed, a resident, told Echorouk.

Malika said residents still suffer from leaked water although their buildings were decorated and rehabilitated.

A delay of 9 months was reported in the rehabilitation of 20 buildings in some areas in Didouche Mourad Street, 21 buildings in Mohamed V Avenue and other buildings in Sidi Mhamed, Hussein Dey, El Harrach and Bab El Oued municipalities.

Private building contractors refuse to maintain their properties. Some of them prefer to destroy their buildings in order to recover the land after residents leave.

According to a local official, the rehabilitation project faces other hindrances. There is no law meant to determine procedures. Algerian enterprises specialized in rehabilitation and skilled manpower are absent. Because of that, the Algiers Prefect assigned vocational trainees to conduct the operation.

A deal was concluded with an Italian company to continue the operation. This raises the following question: will another budget be allocated to conduct the rehabilitation operation?