The Water Resources Department (DRE) of Mila continues its investments in the protection of risk areas against flooding. It is currently piloting four projects on as many sites for a budget of more than 32 billion. Two of these risk zones are located in the commune of Sidi Merouane, the third in that of Tassala Lametaï and the last on the heights of the wilaya capital. Indeed, the head of the sanitation department at the DRE, WahidBaghloul, indicated, very recently, to L’Est Republican, that his administration is currently piloting four operations on sites at high risk of flooding. These are the towns of Ras El Bir and Ferdoua, in the commune of Sidi Merouane, the town center of Tassala Lametaï and the site of 727 Public Rental Housing (LPL) in the Land Occupation Plan (POS) to the south of the municipality of Mila. “These four spaces are classified at high risk of flooding. The sector has taken on the projects of their protection against flood waters. We have allocated an envelope of more than 32 billion for the creation of protection and drainage systems for runoff water which devastates these regions every time it rains,” our interlocutor will explain. This will emphasize that the commune of Sidi Merouane is one of the towns most exposed to the risk of flooding, given its geographical location and the steep slopes which characterize its relief. “Two areas of this commune are particularly prone to flooding: Ferdoua and Ras El Bir. In winter, violent surges of rainwater are regularly recorded on the inhabited part and agricultural land. This is why they will be treated as a priority.” In this sense, Baghoul specifies that his services have released an envelope of 10 billion for the construction of a protection system for the locality of Ras El Bir and as many credits for the protection of Ferdoua. Our interlocutor indicates that the two operations have already been launched: “The Ras El Bir project is being realized. It reached around 85%.” It is described as strategic for the commune, insofar as it will serve to protect nearly 7,000 inhabitants in this mechta, significant agricultural areas, livestock breeding, olive plantations and public establishments (a school primary school, an administrative branch and a post office). For the Ferdoua project, it was re-awarded very recently, after the termination of the contract with the first construction company which did not honor its contractual commitments. “The Ferdoua agglomeration protection project was re-awarded after the termination of the first employment contract. It was taken over by another company and is progressing well. It is already 90% complete.” As a reminder, the first company responsible for this project lifted the site prematurely and abandoned the site. She was officially placed on the wilaya’s blacklist by the wali, Mustapha Koreich. The runoff water pipe system under construction in Ferdoua is no less strategic for the municipality than that of Ras El Bir. This locality is also known for its demographic importance and its agricultural land, its olive groves and its poultry farms in particular. Remember that the municipal capital of Sidi Merouane has already been protected against flooding since 2008. Regarding the protection of the center of the village of TassalaLametaï, to the west of the wilaya, it is in the process of being launched, according to our source. “This project has been awarded and work will be launched in the coming days,” we will be told. For its cost, it is ten billion. As for the protection project provided for in POS 15 of the municipality of Mila, it consists of the construction of a protection channel for the subdivision of 727 housing units intended for victims of the earthquake of the year 2020, according to the name official. The site is not yet occupied, but work to protect it against flooding is already underway. WahidBaghoul assures that an envelope of 3.2 billion was granted to this operation. “The POS 15 area is known for its flooding nature. This is what motivated the registration of this project,” he said. In total, 32.3 billion is the cost of the four flood protection projects decided by the DRE.
Kamel B.
