Thiès, May 10 (APS) – Municipal councilors of Fandène (Thiès-east) demanded Thursday the restitution of a strip of 9 hectares which would be unduly included in the subdivision of the new town of Thiès, called Mbour 4, whose allocation of plots to several personalities is the subject of great attention from the country’s new authorities, learned APS.
According to Cheikh Diop, municipal councilor of the commune of Fandène, the developments carried out in the classified forest, to house the new town of Thiès, have “considerably impacted” their commune, over an area of just over 9 hectares.
“The commune of Fandène is relieved of an area of at least 9 hectares intended to (be attached) to the town of Thiès,” said Diop, during a press briefing of members of the municipal council of Fandène, held in Mbour 4.
According to him, the property right of the municipality of Fandène on this strip of land was “attested and confirmed” by the National Agency for Regional Planning (ANAT).
Cheikh Diop, recalled that the commune of Fandène had “requested and obtained”, from the former President of the Republic (Macky Sall), that this area very contiguous to the classified forest be excluded from the subdivision of Mbour 4, after the announcement of declassification of this part of the Plateau de Thiès forest to meet land demand.
“Our surprise was great, when the subdivision of Mbour 4 was published, to realize that (this part) of our commune was indeed included in the subdivision in question,” he was indignant.
The local elected official indicated that the commune of Fandène initially submitted a complaint to the governor of Thiès, on July 24, 2023, followed by another by the mayor of Fandène, himself, on March 7, 2024 , in order to re-establish our local authority, in its rights and for the benefit of its population”.
The advisors appeal to the arbitration of the President of the Republic, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who traveled on May 1 to the Mbour 4 site, to see first-hand the situation on the ground.
ADI/ASB/AB
