On the orders of the Ministry of the Interior, the local authorities of Casablanca have launched a sanitation campaign aimed at eradicating the illegal constructions which are proliferating on the outskirts of the city. This initiative is part of a broader framework of urban readjustment in greater Casablanca, where uncontrolled construction, particularly in rural and coastal areas, has become a major problem.
The authorities mainly aim to punish all those responsible and accomplices of these illegal constructions. The Ministry of the Interior has decided to take action against officials whose responsibility or complicity in the organization of these constructions without a building permit has been proven. This particularly concerns governors who have facilitated, directly or indirectly, access to essential services such as electricity for illegally built homes. Indeed, certain governors and local officials will be held to account for having allowed the extension of these constructions without respecting the necessary administrative authorizations.
The bosses and local agents exercising a function of authority on the ground are also in the crosshairs. According to information relayed by the media, some of them, accused of negligence or direct involvement in these matters, have already been sanctioned. Several bosses have been transferred, particularly in the province of Nouaceur, where notifications have been issued. In addition, other officials have been dismissed due to their participation in corruption cases linked to housing and urban planning.
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According to the media, the sanctions are based on tangible evidence, including aerial images obtained by the Land Conservation services. These photos revealed numerous urban planning violations, particularly in agricultural and coastal areas. These areas, which should be protected against excessive urbanization, have seen the rise of illegal constructions, such as houses with gardens, depots, and even clandestine plastic bag manufacturing factories. These constructions, which were carried out in total violation of the legislation, were notably detected using drone surveillance techniques, which allow precise mapping of the areas affected by these urban planning anomalies.
Faced with this situation, commissions of inquiry from the Ministry of the Interior were sent to the field to carry out inspections and determine the extent of the offenses. This process aims to establish a detailed inventory and identify all those responsible for these constructions. At the same time, the ministry expressed its dissatisfaction with the delays in the execution of control measures, emphasizing the urgency of strengthening action against these illegal practices.
Furthermore, the ministry has set up operations to dismantle networks specialized in the organization of these anarchic constructions. Auxiliaries of authority, often complicit or abusing their prerogatives, have been identified and are currently under investigation, with sanctions expected to follow. In addition, the actions undertaken as part of this sanitation campaign are also reinforced by the use of advanced technologies, such as drones, allowing precise mapping of risk areas. These technologies are essential for continuous monitoring and to ensure more rigorous control of urbanization in the Casablanca region.
This initiative is part of a long-term strategy aimed at reestablishing urban planning order in greater Casablanca. This work is all the more crucial as major events approach, such as the African Cup in 2025 and the World Cup in 2030, which require optimal management of infrastructure and urban spaces.
