“FATIA” project jeopardized by a row between farmers and a building contracor

Hell will freeze over before the production of the first Algerian car. Indeed, “FATIA” project plant located in the region of Boucheggouf, Tiaret (western Algeria) is not connected to the hydraulic network of the adjacent Dahmouni dam.

• Local authorities didn’t proceed to the expropriation of the farmers’ properties on which the waterway is set to be installed; some farmers stooped the building contractor from starting the works.
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• The matter broke out few weeks ago when the hydraulic director summoned the contractor to resume works after stopping them under relentless pressures from the angry farmers. The manager assured him that the expropriation problem will be resolved soon.
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• But the contractor lodged a complaint against the director after sending several letters to the governor and water resources minister joining documents issued by the hydraulic department. According to documents, the Dams National Agency didn’t allow the starting of the works on account of the fact that it didn’t receive a formal request from the Hydraulic department.
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• Still, the contractor took on him to start the works at a distance of the dam, till the day when a farmer obliged him to stop because he was “violating” a private property, but once again the Hydraulic department assured him that it will fix the problem.
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• For his part, the Hydrailuc director Meftah Lekhal declined to give us further details on the matter contenting to minimize the facts and accusing the contractor of ignoring the legislation.